Well, Those Were the 2023 BAFTAs

How much can you actually change the BAFTAs? In many ways, they reflect the period they were founded in, where war movies, theatrical performances, and poetic, wryly comedic dramas in picturesque locations struck accord with voters. The winners this year were only surprising in terms of how far the British Academy was willing to commit to its unsurprising-ness; certainly, there were no undeserving wins, but also no creative ones. Maybe the hope of transforming the BAFTAs within a few years is a pipe dream, but if we’re going to over-award the same type of performances and filmmaking year after year, can we at least make sure the ceremony isn’t a total chore?

Not to compare the BAFTAs to the Oscars, but we Brits do have to hand it to America — they know how to pull off a live telecast. The 2023 BAFTAs, held for the first time at London’s Royal Festival Hall, were a smorgasbord of awkwardness, hosted by Richard E. Grant and British daytime TV presenter Alison Hammond — two darling, National Treasure caliber personalities who were hung out to dry by a chaotically directed and woefully unfunny gala showcase.

It wasn’t just them who suffered, every celebrity presenter of the awards was forced to a) describe in plain, ineffectual detail how each category was crucial to the magic of movies or b) the most elongated, painfully scripted banter. The best presenter charisma came from Jamie Dornan, who, off-the-cuff, waved to Michelle Yeoh in the audience and said, “Michelle Yeoh and I just made a movie together, and I really recommend doing that if you get the opportunity.” Truth.