BAFTA Film Awards host Alan Cumming largely distanced himself from domestic and international politics outside the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, but he couldn’t resist a sly nod to world affairs, asking Americans in the audience (including Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone and Donna Langley) whether the plot of Zootopia 2 (known as Zootopia 2 in the UK) reminded them of world leaders.
“Watching movies this year was like participating in a collective nervous breakdown,” he said before summing up some of the season’s biggest nominees. “Hamnet, the movie about the death of a child, Constant Stress, One Battle After Another, Hurry up Leo (…) Any Scottish or Irish person would say “sinners”, don’t let folk singers into the party. They’re always vampires. Oh, and watching “Marty Supreme” was so disturbing and anxiety-filled, like a dog almost dying doing core training. Can you even do that?”
“Bugonia, with Emma Stone, the loveliest person in the world. It’s over. Have you seen her? She’s trying to kill us all (…) Even in Bridget Jones – they killed Colin Firth, who would do that?”
“Then I decided to watch a nice animated movie to relax and cheer myself up. Do you know the plot of Zootropolis 2?” Lies, corrupt leaders, poisoning and racial persecution. Too soon, Disney. Come on, everyone. Please give me some leeway here. What happened to escapism? I’m exhausted. It’s as if there are things happening in the real world that, I don’t know about, affect the filmmakers. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? no? Would you like to ring a bell, especially to Americans? Well, I think it would be good if we all let out a big primal cry in unison. Are you ready? Okay, let’s count to three and shout. Are you ready? 123, aaaaaaaaaaa. It felt better that way, didn’t it? ”
Zootopia 2 has been nominated for two BAFTA awards: Best Animated Film and Best Children’s or Family Film. In the latter, it lost to “Arco”.
Notably, Mr. Cumming, host of “The Traitors US,” made no mention of British politics or specifically about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, who was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Prince William, the former duke’s nephew, was in the front row of the audience as he is BAFTA chairman.
Ahead of the ceremony, Mr Cumming told the Press Association: “We know we have to balance celebration and prank, but we’re not going to be too satirical or mean, because we’re here to celebrate people’s achievements.”
