BAFTAs 2019: 6 Ups & 8 Downs
3. Rami Malek Wins Best Actor
While it wasn't at all surprising, it was still disappointing for BAFTA to give the Best Actor award to Rami Malek for his performance in Bohemian Rhapsody. Was he good? Yes. But was he also severely limited by the by-the-numbers material? Absolutely.
This really should've been a lock for either Christian Bale (Vice) or Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), but given Queen's stature as a British institution combined with the film's general baffling over-performance on the awards circuit, Malek managed to scoop the gong.
With a tighter script and less workmanlike direction, Malek clearly could've been a truly worthy awards contender, but instead this feels like an incredibly soft, sentimental pick for Best Actor.
Brace yourself for the increasing likelihood that he actually wins the Oscar, too.