BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, awarded Roman Polanski, fugitive and convicted child molester, its award for Best Film today, making him a front runner for the Oscar in March. VARIETY noted "...one person who will be absent from the Oscars is Polanski, who lives in France after fleeing the United States as he was about to be sentenced for having sex with a minor, and would face immediate arrest if he returned."
In the finale. producer Saul Zaentz was honored with one of the "highest honors in film," the Academy Fellowship. Mr. Zaentz chose to use his acceptance speech to re-fight the Bush-Gore election, claiming the Bush administration is illegal and illegitimate -- essentially dishonoring his country abroad during a time of war. Naturally, he got a standing ovation from the movie crowd. What a great example they all set for Western culture.
Only good moment was when The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers won the Orange award as favorite film, as voted by real people. The pros raced by that as fast as they could.
Posted by Alan at February 23, 2003 05:55 PM