Joker, an origins story of the villainous comic book character, led the nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards on Tuesday, earning 11 nods at Britain’s top movie honours.
Netflix film The Irishman, a star-studded gangster drama directed by Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which won the best comedy/musical Golden Globe on Sunday, followed with 10 nominations each.
Also fresh from its triumph at the Golden Globes – where it picked up best drama and best director for Briton Sam Mendes – immersive World War One drama 1917 got nine nominations.
The four movies will compete against South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s darkly comic Parasite for best film at the Feb. 2 awards in London as well as for best director.
Joker won the top Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe acting prize for Joaquin Phoenix, who has received critical acclaim for his transformation from vulnerable loner into a confident villain in the movie.
Phoenix got a BAFTA leading actor nod and Joker was also nominated for adapted screenplay, original score, casting, cinematography, editing, sound, production design as well as makeup and hair.
