One Battle After Another led literary adaptations at the British Academy Film Awards, or BAFTA Awards, which were given out at a ceremony in London on Sunday night.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, won the prize for best film, and also scored victories for best director and best adapted screenplay (both Anderson); best supporting actor (Sean Penn); best editing; and best cinematography. The movie previously won four Golden Globes, including best motion picture, musical or comedy, and is nominated for 13 Academy Awards.
Accepting the award for best director, Anderson said, “I feel like the prettiest girl in the room right now. This is very overwhelming and wonderful….I’m so happy about your appreciation for this film.”
Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro’s film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 Gothic novel, notched BAFTA wins for best production design, best makeup and hair, and best costume design. The movie was nominated for five Golden Globes, but didn’t win any, and is also nominated for nine Oscars.
Chloé Zhao’s movie adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet took home the BAFTA Awards for outstanding British film and best leading actress (Jessie Buckley). The film won the Golden Globes for best motion picture, drama, and for best actress in a motion picture, drama (Buckley).
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
