BAFTAs 2019: 6 Ups & 8 Downs
Downs...
8. The Awful Opening Segment
In the grand tradition of awards shows, this year's BAFTA ceremony opened with a bloated, cringe-worthy segment which was desperately low on entertainment value while wasting time that could've been spent, you know, actually giving out awards.
From a wince-inducing pre-taped skit featuring Joanna Lumley dressing up in costumes from the various nominated films, to a turgid Cirque du Soleil dance sequence and a witless opening speech from Lumley, the opening 15 minutes of the show were a stamina-draining bore.
It's certainly not Lumley's fault: she tried her best here, but what can really be done with embarrassing jokes about BlacKkKlansman's apparent success at the "Klan Film Festival"? Oof.
Lumley was game, but the material was severely lacking this year and got the show off to an interminable start.