As La La Land lands a whopping 11 Bafta nominations, star John Legend shoots down hopes of a sequel
AS soon as I saw La La Land I knew it would be an instant classic — and now Britain’s biggest movie awards has given the film its most shining endorsement yet.
After winning a record number of Golden Globes on Sunday, the flick has continued its awards domination by landing an astounding 11 nominations at this year’s EE Baftas.
As well as leading the race for Best Film, stars RYAN GOSLING and EMMA STONE are also up for Best Actor and Best Actress.
Making La La Land’s Bafta success all the more incredible is the fact it hasn’t even been released in the UK yet, not reaching cinemas here until Friday.
But having had a sneak preview already, I can confirm it is a masterpiece and the best musical in years.
Emma Stone is enchanting and deserves her nod, while Ryan Gosling is simply excellent.
However, the roaring success comes with a downer, as one of the film’s lead stars has thrown doubt on hopes of a sequel.
In an exclusive interview, JOHN LEGEND, who plays bandleader Keith in the DAMIEN CHAZELLE-directed flick, said: “I don’t know if these things have sequels. I don’t know if it’s that kind of movie.
“But if it is and Damien wants me to do anything I’d love to work with him again on anything he’s doing.”
On Sunday, La La Land — a modern, romantic musical about an actress trying to make it in Hollywood — won a record seven gongs at the Golden Globes, including Best Director and Best Screenplay.
He added: “He’s a wonderful director and filmmaker and I’m glad that he asked me to be a part of the film.”
John reckons it’s all down to Damien, who was also behind Oscar-winning film Whiplash.
Just behind La La Land in the Bafta nominations are films Nocturnal Animals and Arrival with nine nods each, while Manchester by the Sea, starring CASEY AFFLECK, trails with six.
Battle of the Brits
ANDREW GARFIELD and EMILY BLUNT are the only UK stars to be nominated in the Best Actor/Actress category, but there is a big battle of the Brits looming between DEV PATEL and AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON in the Best Supporting Actor section.
Personally, I think Dev should clinch it after an incredible, coming-of-age performance in Lion, but the smart money is on Aaron in Nocturnal Animals after his shock Golden Globes victory.
The 70th EE Baftas take place on February 12 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Let battle commence.
[boxout featured-image="2582829"]LAST year Hollywood was hit by the OscarsSoWhite protest, over a lack of diversity in nominations. Now US film writer Scott Feinberg says the Baftas has its own race problem, citing DENZEL WASHINGTON – six Oscar nominations, two wins, NO Bafta nods – and MORGAN FREEMAN – five Oscar nods, one win, NO Bafta mentions. Only time will tell how this will end.
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Bizmeter: The Baftas' biggest snubs
SULLY
TOM HANKS’s emotional depiction of US pilot Chesley Sullenberger in the film Sully definitely deserved a nomination.
The gripping film told the story of the captain who successfully landed his jet on New York’s Hudson River after a bird strike wrecked the engines.
LION
It received five nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor nod for Brit Dev Patel, but it’s a shocker that Lion is not in the Best Film category.
He’s a revelation, NICOLE KIDMAN is simply brilliant, and all in all it’s an extraordinary piece of cinema.
EDDIE REDMAYNE
He's been nominated for Best Actor for two consecutive years, winning it in 2015 for The Theory of Everything, but EDDIE REDMAYNE has missed out this time.
His Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts is up for five gongs, but he didn’t get a nod.
THE BFG
MARK RYLANCE was overlooked for his enchanting portrayal of the Big Friendly Giant.
I thought it was magical when I caught it at Cannes, but STEVEN SPIELBERG’s live-action adaptation of the ROALD DAHL tale did not get a single nomination.
A winning Streep?
ON Monday, US President-elect DONALD TRUMP lashed out at MERYL STREEP, describing her as “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood”.