Thursday, December 17, 2009

SAG Nominations

The precursors have been squeezed into an unusually small period this year. The Globes, BFCA, NYFCC, LAFCA and SAG all announced in the space of one week. That's not business as usual. I guess this is one way to squeeze out all those regional critics groups because... who will care now? What does all this mean for Oscar? Generally clear consensus between the major precursors means that Oscar will be nearly a carbon copy. But with an unusual amount of time between the actors announcement and the announcement of Oscar nominations (Still more than a month away) it MIGHT mean that Academy voters react to and against these lists, rather than along with them if you know what I mean. Do you know what I mean?


The Hurt Locker team is having a great awards season run.


Ensemble Cast
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious

  • Thankfully they did not pull a Million Dollar Baby here and nominate all the principles for their own awards while also handing them the ensemble honor. This category always fascinates me because of the odd way in which films include and do not include certain cast members as "nominees". You may remember my fury that Matt Ross was not included in the Aviator nomination five years ago despite having tons of screentime and giving one of the film's strongest supporting performances while Gwen Stefani was included for her cameo.
  • This year's stingiest cast list 'winner' is The Hurt Locker which excludes the valuable lengthy cameos from Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce but includes the throwaway lengthy cameo from Evangeline Lilly.
  • Special dishonorable mention goes to An Education for giving Cara Seymour the shaft. That's a real pity because she's such a sturdy screen presence and has added a lot to many ensemble performances over the past ten years (American Psycho, Adaptation, Hotel Rwanda, Birth, The Savages, The Notorious Bettie Page) . She practically deserves her own honorary award in this category by now.
Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Public Enemies, Star Trek, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
  • I like that they added this category, don't you? Stunt people rarely get any respect.
Actress
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

  • Your Oscar list unless something very strange or off-puttingly scandalous happens in the next 4 weeks.

Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

  • I could definitely live with this being the Oscar list. But I will undoubtedly worry about the Renner situation until the last possible second since he is a) young and b) in a non-Bait role.
Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
  • zzzzzzz. Same list all season. And it's not like these were the only supporting performances. And are all five of them particularly noteworthy? I'd say no. Especially considering the Anthony Mackie factor. How is that performance lesser than Tucci's? Or Damon's? Oh, yes. He's not as famous. Never mind.


Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious

Julianne Moore's cackling drunk will be in tears at this announcement (snubbed!) but the Kruger nomination is great surprise fun. I loved her default ownership of a room and her movie star annoyance at any detour therefrom -- Bridget will go along with the plan, even sacrificing glamourous footwear, but she'll let you know she's put out by it. Marion Cotillard's absence here can be attributed to the Weinstein's greed at placing her in Lead (SAG voters are not allowed to go against the studio mandated categorizations. Oscar voters do not have to follow the studio's wishes)

Television

Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Kevin Bacon in Taking Chance, Cuba Gooding Jr in Gifted Hands, Jeremy Irons in Georgia O'Keeffe, Kevin Kline in Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac and Tom Wilkinson in A Number

Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries Joan Allen in Georgia O'Keeffe, Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange in Grey Gardens, Ruby Dee in America and Sigourney Weaver in Prayers for Bobby

  • This category, here and at the Emmys I think of as "where aging movie stars go to die". All of these women, save Drew, are Oscar nominated actresses. But they're not getting great parts anymore, damnit. At least not on the big screen.


Actor in a Drama Series Simon Baker in the Mentalist, Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad, Michael C Hall in Dexter, Jon Hamm in Mad Men and Hugh Laurie in House

Actress in a Drama Series Patricia Arquette in Medium, Glenn Close in Damages, Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: SVU, Holly Hunter in in Saving Grace, Julianne Margulies in The Good Wife and Kyra Sedgwick in The Closer

Actor in a Comedy Series Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock, Steve Carell in The Office, Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Tony Shalhoub in Monk and Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men.

  • Charlie Sheen and Tony Shalhoub must know where all the bodies are buried in Hollywood. I'm just sayin'

Actress in a Comedy Series Christina Applegate in Samantha Who?, Toni Collette in United States of Tara, Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie, Tina Fey in 30 Rock and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Ensemble in a Drama Series
The Closer, Dexter, The Good Wife, Mad Men and True Blood

  • I watched only one episode of The Good Wife -- I know that's not much to judge a series on -- but I remember the acting be exceptionally underlined and boldfaced and coarse. Or was that the direction? Anyway: Hated it.

Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, Modern Family and The Office


Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24, The Closer, Dexter, Heroes and The Unit

46th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award
Betty White

  • This last award title will be misleading to many young readers. SAG didn't join the Oscar precursor game until the 1994 (which is why Meryl Streep had never been a SAG winner until Angels in America for television and Doubt for film) but they have been giving out Lifetime Achievements for a good long while.
for the complete press release, click here.

69 comments:

DJ said...

I am so unbelievably distraught that Marion Cotillard didn't get a nomination. She should have gotten in over Sandra Bullock (I didn't give a rat's *** if she's given the performance "of her career"; she should give the performance of the year, which she hasn't) OR what really should have happened is for her to have gone supporting and she would have gotten in over Cruz or Farmiga... but no, Mr. Weinstein has to be a greedy pig.

Rant over.

par3182 said...

why isn't cara seymour listed in the an education ensemble nod? it seems sag always manages to omit someone from that category

James said...

I'm really worried about Julianne Moore's exclusion from this list. She's gone from 2 years of double (triple if you count ensemble) nominations at the SAG to snubbed. Does this hurt her Oscar chances?

Amir said...

nat, do you think there's a chance alfred molina can turn things around? i mean i know you still have him pretty high up in your predictions, but it looks like he's falling behind matt damon.

also, sandra bullock is really pissing me off. how can no one notice abbie cornish?

also, i'm so happy for diane kruger's nomination. i wish julianne moore was included too though obviously. (i haven't seen the performance yet but she's my fave after all)

Guy Lodge said...

The sizable British voting contingent will likely come through for Molina, I think.

ferdi said...

Where's my Julianne? Hope this snub doesn't mean her oscar nomination chances are in danger. Kruger was great in Inglorious Basterds but I'm beginning to feel tired about all the love and the buzz surrounding Penelope Cruz. In the end there will be Marion Cotillard to take her spot... Sandra Bullock? She is nice, but if I go to see movies I prefer the emotions Pfeiffer and Swinton can give me. So maybe it's time for me to stop having faith in academy awards rightness.

Marsha Mason said...

The SAGs are good at pulling a WTF nom every year or so (Remember CLoris Leachman for "Spanglish" or Bill Macy for "Seabiscuit"?), so I think Kruger counts as this years'. I hope with "Nine" tanking critically, Cruz doesn't get a nod, even though she may have enough momentum now regardless. Either way, that's two slots that aren't close to finalized, so I think Julianne is still likely.

Best Actress looks like a six-person race now; these five plus Cornish. I doubt there's much stopping Sandy now. Ugh! (Not that I've even seen the movie!)

And hooray for Betty White for lifetime achievement!

ferdi said...

Nat, my dear, what do you really think about julianne moore situation by now?

adelutza said...

I love Kruger's and Cruz's nominations. Still annoyed at all the love for Sandra Bullock, but hey, at least it's not Marion Cotillard ;-)
Inglorious Basterds and An Education are the films I liked best as of now - but I haven't seen yet the limited releases. Hope one of them wins the best Ensemble.

Richter Scale said...

Correction: Chris Cooper was nominated for Seabiscuit (William H. Macy got nominated for the Globes that year).

And, Nat, Clint Eastwood didn't get an individual SAG nomination for Million Dollar Baby that year (just the OScar nomination). But I see your point (though you should've said pull a Doubt, like last year, where literally all four performers were nominated).

Ramification said...

I am not getting all the Bullock hate, but I havent seen Birght Star to compare

Sid said...

Mariah Carey is a SAG nominee! Who would've thunk? "Up in the Air"'s absence from the ensemble category leads me to believe that she will be a SAG winner soon!

Anonymous said...

I seriously, don't know why everyone keeps crying over Abbie Cornish...... Yes she was good, but come on, if she hasn't gotten any recognition by now, it probably won't happen, and we should all hike up our skirts and move on.....lol. And I for one enjoyed Sandra Bullock. It's a commercial movie that did well in the BO, and her inclusion in the final 5 (which I think she will be) will bring in alot of viewers to the telecast. Not just just film snobs (which we all have to admitt we can be sometimes)

Ramification said...

I actually remember Bullock's performance much more than I do Mulligan or even Streep (and I watched all three films at around the same time).

Roxy said...

How is Christoph Waltz not worthy of his awards run? FAIL. Anthony Mackie should be in the mix if Jeremy Renner is though. And the Alfred Molina snubbing is really depressing, though I haven't seen Plummer, Tucci, or Harrelson yet (blame the Man!).

Those are our five for Best Actress! Take it all in . . .

Even worse than the names left off of "The Hurt Locker"'s list (Fiennes, Pierce) are ALL OF THE GIRLS in "Precious"! That's horrible. They had as much screentime as Mariah had. Another FAIL.

Diane Kruger! WHOA! That's crazy. It should be Melanie Laurent's nod, but there's that pesky category placement.

No "Up in the Air" for Ensemble? I thought that British productions weren't eligible for this. Hmmm.

Nick M. said...

The only thing to look forward to if/when Sandra Bullock is nominated for an Oscar is if, on the red carpet, she tries to adopt Gabby Sidibe.

cinephile said...

The nomination of the "actress" Diane Kruger over Julianne Moore is everything but great gun. I think it's rather disgusting and shocking for Moore's Oscar nom chances.

I can't believe Mariah Carey and Diane Kruger are SAG nominees this year and Moore isn't.

And why doesn't get Viggo Mortensen anything anywhere?!

Ramification said...

'The only thing to look forward to if/when Sandra Bullock is nominated for an Oscar is if, on the red carpet, she tries to adopt Gabby Sidibe.'

That deserves a LOL and a ROFL

Michael Parsons said...

I was kind of upset some of the girls in 'Precious' were not mentioned. They had more to do than Sherri Shephard.

NATHANIEL R said...

@ROXY - i didn't mean to imply that Waltz wasn't worthy. he totally is. But those 5 names (collectively) worth more than some of the snubees? I don't think so.

@CINEPHILE -- you really think Moore is that good in A Single Man? She's one of my favorite people of all time (obviously) and she'd alrady have two Oscars in my world. But I guess I don't see what the big deal is about that particular performance. I like it just fine...maybe even a lot ( i want to see the movie again) . But I'm just not sure what's extraordinary about it.

so...

@FERDI i don't think she's "locked" for a nomination (I still suspect the Academy may auto-correct the Weinstein greed on Cotillard in NINE) but i do think Moore is still likely. Especially since Firth isn't going anywhere.

MrJeffery said...

agree that Krueger was a fun surprise!

reserving judgment on blind side but i think bullock is a terrible actress. i feel the odds are in her favor here and at the golden globes.

surprised up in the air missed out on ensemble!

Robert Hamer said...

"Oh, yes. He's not as famous. Never mind."

And he's black. Oh, come on, we know it's true!

Anonymous said...

Very sad about Moore being absent from the Supporting Actress list. This particular category has always been my favorite. Looking back over the years you can find some of the best work in the nominated and winning performances. This year I am just not feeling it. Perhaps it Monique overkill ; perhaps it is the fact that I am simply reading too many blogs regarding the awards.

Last year was great. We had Kate's possible category fraud, etc. It was a great year for the supporting actress category ... very lively - great performances. This year is anything but.

Interesting tidbit - after this year's Oscar telecast one particular blog had Monique listed as a possible nominee for 2009. Perhaps this is why I am so sick of Monique. It has been relentless and non-stop for months.

My Oscar ballot will have Moore checked as Best Supporting Actress.

Mamie said...

I'm so bored this season. Bullock? Streep in Julie & Julia (and I'm the biggest Streep fan...)? Ugh.

I'm just not passionate about anything but Carey Mulligan and Christoph Waltz. Plus that whole So You Think You Can Dance Winners to perform on the telecast irks me.

Face it, the great days of Oscarblogging are over. It's simply getting too boring.

adam k. said...

The Diane Kruger nomination is pretty fun. Deserving or not (and I think it is, more or less), these kinds of shockers are what make awards season obsession-worthy in the first place.

And I can't help but wonder whether the decision to put Laurent in lead helped Kruger to this nod. Perhaps Laurent would've been here herself had she been placed there, but I think it might be more likely that they would've split the votes, and neither would've made it. So Weinstein may in fact be in evil genius.

Looks like the other 3 categories are locked and loaded, so supporting actress is the only place left with any suspense. Glad to see Mo'Nique, Kendrick and Farmiga locked in - they deserve to be - but the last two spots could go anywhere. Moore, Cotillard, Cruz, Kruger? With an outside chance for Morton, still, I think, or even from Laurent if enough voters want her here.

I'm also a bit shocked about the Up in the Air snub. I was kind of expecting it to win here. I guess it's nice that they didn't feel the need to nominate a 3-person ensemble (plus Jason Bateman), but does it impact the film's chances elsewhere? It was more in the Sideways vein than anything else, and I really think it had some of the very best acting of the year.

What will win now???

Timothy said...

Sandy could really win this. Meryl just won, voters can't choose between the newbies, and Helen's a recent winner in an under-the-radar film. "The Blind Side" is the biggest moneymaker of the group, will have been seen by the most voters, and is the most populist choice of the group to award. It might not be smart to pick against Meryl (for being Meryl), Carey Mulligan (with the added boost of the ensemble nod), or Sidibe (the people that love "Precious" really love it), but I think I'm predicing Bullock to win lead actress now. Can't believe I'm writing that!

adam k. said...

I have a feeling that what ever happens here, BULLOCK vs STREEP could be the major story of the season right up until the end.

I do think Bullock is taking the GG. In which case, Streep needs to watch out. If Bullock wins here, too, there will be a real race for the Oscar. And thankfully, I'll be able to root for Streep wholeheartedly.

Dude said...

thank god this blog has sane people in it. Over at GoldDerby everyone's still going gaga over Bullock's cheesy work in that dreadful, outdated movie. "She's having a moment", "it's her time", "she's paid her dues". F that... She's mediocre as always and is taking the spot from much more deserving contenders, even Cotillard with her category fraud. She ain't winning the SAG, at all. She's dead last with Mirren in this race.

Pf_iggy said...

Good lord, I thought that being actors they'd know their craft better. There's very little difference with all the critics lists we've seen this week.

I'm going to change my nickname temporarily to see if that helps :).

Wes said...

I liked "The Blind Side", so I'll be happy with any recognition Sandra Bullock receives for the role. I'll proudly said that I hope she's nominated for the Oscar. Was it my favorite of the lineup? No, Carey Mulligan is. But I think that Sandra Bullock has more than paid her dues in the industry, and this is one of the best roles she's ever portrayed. Yeah, her bar might be low compared to the Streeps of the world, but that's not the point. She did excellent work in her film, and more and more people are seeing and realizing that. The SAGs didn't have to nominate her, but they did. The Globes didn't have to nominate her for it either (she was taken care of already for "The Proposal"), but they did too. The snobby actors of the world nominated Sandra 'rom com' Bullock for a SAG, and the Academy's going to do it too, so deal with it.

Dude said...

I know she's getting nominated, I've dealt with that. What's your point? She still sucks :)

Rich Aunt Pennybags said...

'The only thing to look forward to if/when Sandra Bullock is nominated for an Oscar is if, on the red carpet, she tries to adopt Gabby Sidibe.'

That deserves a LOL and a ROFL


I second that. I was definitely wrong about The Blindside not being Sandra Bullock's Oscar vehicle, but after the second weekend when it made a bazillion dollars, I quickly got over my resistance over Bullock being nominated over the likes of Tilda Swinton and Abbie Cornish. :(

But with an unusual amount of time between the actors announcement and the announcement of Oscar nominations (Still more than a month away) it MIGHT mean that Academy voters react to and against these lists, rather than along with them if you know what I mean. Do you know what I mean?

Yes, I think they place Cotillard where she belongs. I don't know about that last spot for supporting actress. I should probably go with Moore or Cruz, especially the latter who got the trifecta this week, but my heart wants to go with Samantha Morton because she got two nominations with little precursor support before. Of course, if I do predict her though, then I think that she won't get nominated. If I don't though, then she will. So I'm not sure if I'd rather predict her and possibly be right. Or not predict her, and think that she would have a better chance if I don't predict her.

Then again, I also thought that Mickey Rourke would win last year because I thought it was a sign that his beloved dog died, and his dog would lead him to victory from doggie heaven, so maybe I should just go with Moore or Cruz.

NATHANIEL R said...

Pfiggy -- as I've said many times... actors are not the best judges of their own craft ;) They're just as susceptible to star worship as civilians are when its time to recognize the art of performances.

Wes -- but shouldn't that be the point? Isn't it "best" not "best that this particular actor is capable of"... i'm not trying to knock Sandra. even if it sounds like i am. I think she's really good in the role and way better than the crap pandering movie that contains her. But she's not on the level of the others.

Ryan said...

I'm speechless. in total jaw-dropping euphoria. i must be dreaming...

DIANE KRUGER!!!

wow. i just. wow.THANK. YOU. SAG! I wanted her in SO fucking badly. and now... just... bliss!

Ryan said...

P.S...

fuck SANDRA BULLOCK! this better not repeat on Oscar nomination morning. or god help us all...

Marylou said...

I'm still hoping Bullock pulls a Ziyi Zhang and gets left out on oscar morning.

It may be the best performance of her career. But that's not saying much...

Wes said...

I think she is one of the best of the year and have already said so. And even if I didn't, the standard of "best that X has done based on prior work" has been enough to earn plenty of people nominations before now. She's earned her Oscar nomination for "The Blind Side." My personal choice would be Carey Mulligan, but that doesn't diminish what I think of the film or Sandra Bullock's role in it. Nor do I think the film was "crap" or "pandering" to audiences.

Anonymous said...

I think that people are thinking WAY TOO extreme of what a good performance is. Does a period piece = a good performance. or a gender bending role? The fact is that Sandra Bullock portrayed a character that is not her persona that ALOT of red state america can identify with. And she was rather good at it. IMO. I just do not like that people have such heat about sandra b's performance. Cause let's be honest, Meryl streep has gotten nominated for stuff where there were alot more people who were better in the year, but we don't get this much negative talk about her

NATHANIEL R said...

@Wes -- that's very true (about other people earning nominations that way). Good point.

But that's also why i was harping on Pfeiffer in CHERI so much all year. No, it's not her best work. But damn if she hasn't earned an Oscar with her career. I mean Jesus. The way they've treeated her over the years. (Same goes for Glenn Close, Sigourney Weaver, etcetera)

@Anon -- well Meryl Streep is sacred. We all know it. Certain actors are immune to criticism and others are like walking targets. It's not fair but that's the way it shakes out. I know this because

NATHANIEL R said...

... of the way people treat NICOLE KIDMAN. Which strikes me as ridiculous given the size of her talent.

but it is what it is. Some actors skate by and everyone loves them (Bullock), others can be utterly brilliant repeatedly and people feel frosty towards them. It's just part of human nature. The same that's true in life is true of the way we deal with movie stars.

Paul Outlaw said...

@ Nat: Charlie Sheen and Tony Shalhoub must know where all the bodies are buried in Hollywood. I'm just sayin'

I think it's Julianna Margulies who knows it. She's the only actor from a brand-new Fall '09 series to be nominated, and the show got nominated too. On the comedy side, Glee and Modern Family were acknowledged, but no individual freshman performers.

Babs Johnson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Babs Johnson said...

Thinking that Stanley Tucci will get an Oscar nod for
"Julie and Julia" (and not "Lovely Bones"), and that Cotillard will bump Cruz from Supporting Actress.

And still not underestimating Samantha Morton. Somehow I don't see Julianne Moore making it in, so maybe Morton will take her spot...

steve said...

how is "Nine" getting all these nominations?

every review i have read thus far seems to indicate that the film is an absolute train wreck with the exception of Cotillard

i get more cynical with each awards season - these awards/nominations seem so bought & sold

Anonymous said...

Random thought- I pray to God that they have clips for the acting nominees this year. '02 and '08 felt empty without them.

- Sean C.

Andrew K. said...

I don't even feel shocked when precursors pull this crap anymore. Just disappointed. I fear that we must bury any hopes of Bright Star getting any love [whatever happened to Schneider being a shoo in?] and now I don't want to see it this weekend because I know it'll just make me depressed when it gets no love. Kinda like Marisa Tomei and comapny in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Thoroughly ignored all season, just as it seems Bright Star will be. Whatever.

steve said...

another thing -

it really a sad state of affairs that the inclusion of *one* additional supporting actress on the list is considered the big "shocker" of the day in Hollywood

*one*

oy vey

The Pretentious Know it All said...

I'm fine with Sandra Bullock getting a nomination, especially if Meryl Streep WINS for "Julie and Julia." Both films, to me, are examples of actresses doing halfway decent work in films that are otherwise a complete mess.

I want to preface what I'm about to say with the fact that I love Streep AND I'm not a believer in the "Spread the wealth" school of thought. I'm completely merit-based. Reward people when they're worthy. In my universe, Streep would have statues for "Sophie's Choice," "Silkwood," "Postcards from the Edge," "Adaptation" and a "She-Devil" nomination to boot. That being said, I am not a fan of "Julie and Julia" insomuch as I didn't like the film and I didn't find her to be spectacular in it. So, if she can potentially WIN for that performance, then I'm willing to drop all snobbery and pretension and allow Sandra Bullock to sneak in. It's not like Bullock is going to win anyway (knock on wood).

NATHANIEL R said...

@Andrew -- ACK! Don't not see BRIGHT STAR because it's getting snubbed. It's so good. You'd be robbing yourself of a beautiful movie.

part of the problem

@Sean -- I agree.

@Steve -- i think this isn't so much "bought and sold" as everything crammed together in a tight time frame. I couldn't believe how short the time frame was between screening invites and the ballots being due and given that BFCA awards were announced the same week as everything else i assume all these other voting bodies were on just about the same time schedule. So not a one of these groups had much time to think about the movies or to let it settle in how poorly some of them have been received (Lovely Bones and Nine in particular it seems) while still hyped up on their "oscar potential"

which is... a self fulfilling prophesy every year. It takes a certain kind of movie to be a contender no matter when it opens (THE HURT LOCKER) but can you imagine some of these movies getitng multiple nominations if they had opened in June?

@Babs... i'm starting to think Moore is toast too. THough it could be totally suspenseful as to who replaces her.

I suppose it's worth noting that SAG's supporting actress lineup is their most unruly (in terms of where they'll go even if Oscar won't)

O. Andrew D said...

Could Sandra Bullock win the Oscar?
- It seems like her momentum is the only one of the actress' that is actually picking up.

gabrieloak said...

Well I bet Bullock will not receive a BAFTA nomination. Not that anyone in America cares.

Jeffrey said...

Why on earth didn't the ensemble of "Up In The Air" get nominated??
Every last cast member was perfect in that film. And the 3 leads all got individual noms. What more do you have to do to get an ensemble nod?

The Pretentious Know it All said...

@ O. Andrew D...
Yes, Bullock's pedigree is considerably rising but let's not forget...the ceremony is in March. I think she's fading for sure by Oscar time. A nomination, yes. But I think by the time March rolls around, it'll be between the three original locks (Mulligan, Sidibe and Streep).

Can I just find it refreshing that no one seems to be nominating Johnny Depp for "Public Enemies?" I could have very easily seen them going there with this performance a la Blanchett for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," where the reasoning is "Oh, we like this performer. Here's a nomination so we don't have to think." We gripe about the choices awards bodies make, which is understandable, but they're being particularly discerning in this one aspect which makes me happy.

Pony said...

No ensemble nod for "In the Loop"? Really? wtf? I officially hate awards season (but I won't leave him, I mean, it). At least the film got it's very well deserved Golden Globes nominations for Best Comedy, Screenplay and Supporting Actor...

Ps. Why doesn't anybody talk about Pippa Lee anymore? It wasn't perfect or anything, but, you know, Robin Wright deserves as much attention as Charlotte Gainsbourg and Tilda Swinton are getting. (that's right, I've retreated to my own parallel universe where everything makes much more sense. you should totally try it).

adelutza said...

Does anybody keep track of how many awards a particular film or actor gets during the award season? Does it really matter? I mean, even Indiana has bestowed upon us its critic awards. What critics? It's so ridiculous , it's almost funny. I shouldn't even get upset. I mean, how can you nominate Sandra Bullock over Tilda Swinton, Abbie Cornish, Michelle Pfeiffer, AMy Adams and I only mention "big movie" performances ? I mean Bullock was OK, but really, over Tilda Swinton? Really? I don't think I will ever get any respect back for the SAG after this. Not that they or anybody else cares, but I'm really upset ;-)

NATHANIEL R said...

Pony -- i'm going to blame PIPPA LEE's lack of reception on it coming out when it did. I don't even remember when it came out but i remember i was so busy i couldn't bother *and i actually wanted to see it*

PPO-10 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
PPO-10 said...

No ensemble nod for "In the Loop"? Really? wtf? I officially hate awards season (but I won't leave him, I mean, it). At least the film got it's very well deserved Golden Globes nominations for Best Comedy, Screenplay and Supporting Actor...

Not only had I never heard of this movie before this week (and that's saying a lot), but it didn't get any Globe nods...

Anonymous said...

I'm really happy for An Education. I find that to be one of the better films of the year. Also, I'm (pleasantly) surprised that they didn't nominate Up in the Air for ensemble just because the three actors were individually nominated. Having said that, I wish The Messenger was recognized in that category instead of Nine.

amir_uk said...

No, Nathaniel! Don't give up on Julianne Moore! Even with the latest snub, I still feel she'll make it in at Oscar-time... You of all people should be keeping the faith (and keeping her buzz going!)

Also - Molina, really? I hope the Brit contingent don't get him in. I'm glad he missed here as well. There was nothing - absolutely nothing - special about that performance. Broad comedy, serviceable, boring work.

I hope the Brit contingent get behind McKay instead. Though it would be at the expense of Matt Damon, right? Who really should be nominated again, dammit! And not for The Informant, please.

Actor and Actress seem locked up.

amir_uk said...

Also-- the Diane Kruger nom - even as the only surprise of the lot - was not welcome.

Paul Outlaw said...

@ Pony:
You're not alone--I mention Pippa Lee every couple of days ;-) but no one really listens.
@ Nat:
The movie premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and played the festival circuit until its US limited release opening Thanksgiving weekend. Seems also to have been an unlucky date for The Road (also limited), but the jury's still out on The Princess and the Frog (opened in NY-LA that weekend), Fantastic Mr. Fox (went wide that wekend) and Me and Orson Welles (opened limited).

S. said...

I mean, how can you nominate Sandra Bullock over Tilda Swinton, Abbie Cornish, Michelle Pfeiffer, AMy Adams and I only mention "big movie" performances?

Pretty easily, especially considering SAG's membership. More of them saw Sandra Bullock than any of those other women combined (though I don't know what Amy Adams performance you're talking about -- "Julie & Julia"? Why would anyone want to nominate that mess?). "The Blind Side" is on its way to 200 million. "Julia" made $64,000! Thousands! Tilda Swinton can't combat that. Anyway, BO numbers, bandwagon effect, they just actually liked her performance better, didn't see the critical darlings, etc. all contributed to one event happening over the other.

Goran said...

Cara Seymour was more crucial to her ensemble than most of that cast.

Diane Kruger's performance wasn't really one of the year's best 5, but it was excellent. I was by no means a fan, and unexpectedly she convinced me not only as a movie star, but a crafty one with old-time-glamour. It was a much stronger performance than Laurent's slightly one-note dour resolve.

I don't understand how Kendrick can be a lock and Farmiga not quite. Kendrick is solid and visibly trying very hard (with reasonable payoff), whereas Farmiga is layered, charistmatic and effortlessly bewitching. Who could possibly watch that movie and consider Kendrick the superior actress?

Another thing I don't get - Clooney. Tell me he hasn't already given this same performance 11 times, and tell me 47 other actors of that age range couldn't do exactly what he does with the role (not to mention the approximately 20 others who could do much much more).


Also, have you read Mo'nique's reaction quote re: her Globes category (where Julianne God Moore is a co-nominee)? She said Penelope Cruz was the only name she recognized on that list. I don't care how brilliant this woman might be in that eerily exploitative-sounding movie but I really really don't want her to win.

Bryan said...

Does everyone really think that Bullock is the favorite to win the Globe? I would have thought it would be a two-horse race between Mulligan and Sidibe.

I'm hoping that Marion Cotillard can edge someone out for Supporting Actress.

@Goran- I was wondering if Mo'Nique would say anything this awards season that would rub people the wrong way. Though perhaps that was a bit of a slip-up, she hasn't really said anything ridiculous like some people were predicting.

@Nate- How are the cast lists for the best ensemble award determined? I never understood why some films have four cast members cited and others have, like, 27...

Peggy Sue said...

Maybe I'm mad or something but I strongly believe that Meryl's third Oscar is closer than ever... unfortunately I don't think she really deserves it for Julie & Julia.

NATHANIEL R said...

Bryan -- as far as I'm aware the studio determines the cast list. So, yes there are built in fuckover moments for dependable actors who are not also celebrities.

only sometimes they are and they still don't get listed. No Fiennes in The Hurt Locker freaks me out. I loved his scene.

Alex said...

I haven't seen A SINGLE MAN yet, but once I think about it, the Julianne snub doesn't surprise me too much. She never got rave reviews for the film, so maybe the buzz was just because she was Julianne Moore and we felt obligate to nominate her?

That comment about not knowing who Julianne Moore is really makes me want Mo'Nique to lose. But who else would? Anna Kendrick?

I'm hoping maybe Abbie Cornish over Sandy is our Laura Linney (2007) of this year. That still seems possible, right?

surreal87 said...

My Predictions For The Winners For SAG Awards

Film
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up in the Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Morgan Freeman – Invictus
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker

My Prediction: Colin Firth
Expected Result: Jeff Bridges

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia

My Prediction: Meryl Streep
Expected Result: Carey Mulligan

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon – Invictus
Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

My Prediction: Christoph Waltz
Expected Result: Christoph Waltz

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Penélope Cruz – Nine
Vera Farmiga – Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air
Diane Kruger – Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique – Precious

My Prediction:Monique
Expected Result: Monique

Outstanding Performance by a Cast
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious

My Prediction: Inglorious Basterds
Expected Result: Precious