What’s interesting, however, is that Best Film was the only award it picked up that night; the evening more dominated by the likes of Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, which picked up both Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress, and Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester By the Sea, which won both Best Actor and Best Screenwriter.
The most surprising wins perhaps came from Holocaust drama Son of Saul, which won László Nemes the Best Director award, and Whit Stillman’s Austen adaptation Love & Friendship, which picked up Supporting Actor (as a tie) and Best Actress.
Damien Chazelle’s life-affirming, modern musical La La Land is securing its place as the one to beat on Oscar night.
Isabelle Huppert expectedly picked up Best Actress, but for Things to Come and not for Elle – which was not eligible – alongside the award for Excellence in Film.