THE BAFTA awards were on Sunday and I struggled a bit with the way they seem to have turned into the Oscars of the UK.

There was a lot of politics and Stephen Fry’s gibes at a President, in connection with Meryl Streep, which were amusing, but it seemed to go on rather a lot. There were many of the endless thank yous and love yous, as well as thank you mum and dad.

I enjoyed the presentation overall. Best Film was La La Land, but I had hoped for Hacksaw Ridge because of the content, but I did like La La Land for different reasons.

I took time to watch Denial and as usual, where it is history I have lived through, I really wanted to watch it and see what I have missed.

I remember it was on the news at the time and as the story built, even though I thought I knew the result, I was still hooked throughout.

Rachel Weisz plays Deborah Lipstadt, the author sued for libel in the UK by Holocaust denier David Irving, played brilliantly by Timothy Spall.

There is so much to this film with so many excellent performances. I was completely engaged and moved throughout.

Tom Wilkinson, whom in his early years I did not connect with, was so much the barrister in his part.

The importance of what was on trial and the way the British legal system works was superbly presented as the story opened up and explored though not always without emotional impact.

So, after watching Denial I decided to forgive the political messages at the BAFTAs as there is a lot that the art form we call film can do to be a conscience for society whether contemporary in I, Daniel Blake or something from history brought to the fore with Denial

As it is the half-term holiday, we are opening from 10.45am again with films starting soon after.

Films showing from Friday, February 17

Fifty Shades Darker (18 and number one in the top 10) - I haven’t taken time to watch this episode yet as we don’t want to preclude a paying customer from getting in to see it. Or maybe we are not in a great rush.

Whatever the reason it has been a sell-out with us though while it is number one in the chart it has not had the appeal in the wider country, it seems, as the opening weekend it grossed only £7.5M compared with the first film which had nearer £13M.

The Lego Batman Movie (U and number two in the top 10) - So funny and entertaining though a trifle long for really young ones I fear.

Hidden Figures (PG and on release) is the story of the black women who were hidden behind closed doors at NASA and provided the power house of the calculations behind the space race in America. It looks like a great film which I will be looking to watch as soon as it comes out.

The Space Between Us (PG and number 10 in the top 10) is the story of the first human born on Mars who visits Earth for the first time and has an adventure with a street smart girl finding himself.

Moana (PG) returns for half-term as it has been so popular.

Sing (U and number three in the top 10) - I haven’t seen it yet so I will this week.

Coming soon

Viceroy’s House (12A), on release date of March 3, has an excellent cast, including Gillian Anderson, Michael Gambon and Lord Grantham...err I mean Hugh Bonneville.

This is the story of Lord Mountbatten who is the last Viceroy charged with the task of handing India back to its people.

Stage shows

Due to popular demand we are taking an encore screening of Amadeus on March 12 at 4pm. Still some good seats for this one.

National Theatre Live has given us some more titles; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, starring Daniel Radcliffe, on Thursday, April 20, at 6.45pm.

The classic tale of Peter Pan plays live on Saturday, June 20, at 4.15pm with plenty of seats.

The last is Yerma, starring Billie Piper, where a young woman is driven to the unthinkable by her desire to have a baby.

It plays on Thursday, August 31, at 6.45pm and plenty of seats still available.

The Palace Cinema schedule for the week beginning Friday, February 17

Screen one and two

Hidden Figures (PG) 4.45pm and 7.30pm daily.

Fifty Shades Darker (18) 7.45pm daily.

The Space Between Us (PG) 2pm and 4.30pm daily.

The LEGO Batman Movie (U) 3D - 11.15am daily. 2D - 1.45pm daily

Sing (U) 11am daily.

Screen three

Moana (PG) 11am daily.

Sing (U) 1.15pm daily.

Hidden Figures (PG) 3.25pm daily.

Fifty Shades Darker (18) 5.50pm daily.

The LEGO Batman Movie 2D (U) 8.10pm daily.