BAFTAs 2020: 10 Ups & 5 Downs

1. Joaquin Phoenix Calls Out Systemic Racism In His Best Actor Speech

And finally, the easy highlight of the night wasn't so much Joaquin Phoenix's expected Best Actor BAFTA win, but rather his fantastic acceptance speech.

A typically nervy Phoenix focused his speech on calling out systemic racism and urging those in positions of power to do more to make their productions inclusive.

He dropped a devastating truth bomb when he told the assembled audience, "I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you're not welcome here."

To his credit, Phoenix accepted that he and other affluent white actors were themselves complicit by benefiting from the system and not doing enough to change it.

He added, "I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that's on us."

Phoenix was widely praised for his speech on social media, and at this point, it seems that regardless of what you make of Joker, the actor is destined to win his first ever Academy Award in the coming days.