Paul Thomas Anderson on ‘One Battle After Another’ Winning Best Film at the BAFTAs: ‘Anybody That Says Movies Aren’t Any Good Anymore Should Piss Right Off’

After “One Battle After Another” claimed the BAFTA for best film on Sunday night, director Paul Thomas Anderson had a simple message for critics of modern cinema.

“Anybody that says movies aren’t any good anymore should piss right off,” Anderson, who both wrote and directed the action thriller, said to cheers and laughter. “I want to say thank you, and I know that there’s a bar somewhere, I think we should all go there. It’s been a long evening, but we have so much to celebrate.”

Anderson ended his speech by sharing a quote from pianist, singer and activist Nina Simone that he admitted “we stole in our film.”

“She says, ‘I know what freedom is, it’s no fear,’” Anderson said. “So let’s keep making things without fear. It’s a good idea. See ya at the bar!”

Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland,…