Loach drama to challenge musical at Bafta awards
GRITTY BRITISH drama I, Daniel
Blake will take on exuberant Hollywood musical La La Land at the EE British Academy Film Awards, while Andrew Garfield and Emily Blunt are among the acting nominees.
Ken Loach’s examination of life in the UK benefits system will compete for the best film Bafta against the starry love letter to Los Angeles, which won a record seven Golden Globes earlier this week.
Also vying for best film will be sci-fi movie Arrival, melancholy drama Manchester By The Sea and Moonlight, a coming of age story about a gay black man growing up in Miami.
Garfield scored a leading actor nod for his role as a combat medic in Mel Gibson’s Second World War film Hacksaw Ridge, while Blunt picked up leading actress nomination for her starring turn in The Girl On The Train.
While Garfield’s performance has won critical praise, he faces competition from Casey Affleck, who has already won a Golden Globe for his performance in Manchester By The Sea.
They will both compete against La La Land’s Ryan Gosling, who
also scored a Golden Globe, Jake Gyllenhaal for Nocturnal Animals and Viggo Mortensen for Captain Fantastic.
Blunt will go head to head with Meryl Streep for the film Florence Foster Jenkins, Amy Adams for Arrival, Golden Globe winner Emma Stone for La La Land and Natalie Portman for her portrayal of the former First Lady in Jackie.
Hugh Grant could land a supporting actor award for his role as
Streep’s devoted husband in Florence Foster Jenkins.
Skyfall star Naomie Harris has scored a nomination for best supporting actress for her role as a crack addict in Moonlight, alongside I, Daniel Blake’s Hayley Squires, Manchester By The
Sea’s Michelle Williams, Lion star Nicole Kidman and Viola Davis for Fences. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on February 12.