SAG Nominations: Surprising, Silly, Shame-less 
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 9:25AM
NATHANIEL R in Armie Hammer, Judy Greer, Oscars (11), Regina King, SAG, TV, gender politics, precursor awards, release dates

Regina King and Judy Greer announced the SAG nominees

Before we begin can I get something off my chest. You've possibly noticed that I always list actresses before actors when I do lists or my own awardage. Beyond my own actressexuality there is another reason for this. It galls me that they're listed second everywhere as if they're just slightly less important than actors. Now, you might say that's just a matter of alphabetics since "Actor" comes before "Actress" in correct alphabetization and that's true enough. But it's not only alphabetics, its our lazily sexist society. Please to note that SAG makes a point of calling all acting professionals "actors" without gender division and yet they do this and then STILL list men first even though "female" comes before "male" in correct alphabetization of category titles.

Grrrrr and also "girl!"

So women first when I list it because that's how we like it! 

MOVIES

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE 

These are strong nominees this year but as usual they left great actors out, even when their films were nominated.  Some comments on that problem in a separate post.

One theory of SAG ensemble voting is that actors vote for the movies that they wish they'd been in and that theory definitely holds up this year. All five of these sets must have been a blast when you think of the actors involved, the costumes, the color, the comedy (all five have comedic spirit even the two that are dramas).

 

poll by twiigs.com

 

 

It's also worth noting that this list is 80% identical to the BFCA list for ensemble. The only difference is you need to swap out Midnight in Paris for Ides of March. Still... it's clear that voters don't watch the more under the radar movies. I wish A Separation had opened a few months ago and built up to the acclaim it so deserves.

How fun would a win for Bridesmaids be as a ceremony capper? I demand a Wilson Phillips song be played when they take the stage should it occur.

COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES & MAJOR SURPRISES AFTER THE JUMP. 

I'll get to my annual gripe / discussion of the ensemble category later today. But congratulations to Judy Greer on her Ensemble SAG Nomination. We've just interviewed her and she's very flattered to be included in the awards race for such a well received film. 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Best Moment of Entire Announcement: Regina King (♥) saying "We Need to Talk About Kevin" like a line reading rather than a movie title. Hee.

INTERESTING NOTE: Though the SAG nominating committee largely ignored December releases and one week qualifiers (good on them. Studios MUST stop trying to be "last"... it's anti-audience!) they did stump for those with significant headstarts like Close, Streep and Swinton. Close & Swinton's films have been screening for awhile as far back as Cannes in Swinton's case. Streep could show up on NY's Eve after ballots are already turned in and still make alist. You know voters leave space for her well before they've seen the performance.  Oh, you know it's true. Reputation helps in balloting since you don't have to fight at all to get your name in the conversation.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE 

SURPRISE! Demian Bichir had a very good year with the acclaim for his work in A Better Life (see our converation here) and now he's a SAG nominee.

SNUBS! This list again shows that voters made up their minds before the December madhouse. Note the preferencing of DiCaprio's performance over any of the late buzz bloomers (Fassy, Shannon, Harrelson, etcetera)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Surprise! SAG voters historically like young to very young actresses more than Oscar but they left out Shailene Woodley's work in The Descendants. They also left out Vanessa Redgrave's towering work in Coriolanus which indicates that one-week qualifiers just don't cut it. Or that they weren't in the mood to watch a Shakespeare tragedy from that huge stack of screeners.

What does this mean for Oscar? It's tough to say. Jessica Chastain is still being cited for other performances in critics awards and could theoretically still split her votes. Woodley & Redgrave can't be counted out for Oscar given their film and their legend, respectively. We shall see. But this is very bad news AGAIN for Carey Mulligan's riveting work in Shame which can't seem to find traction.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE


Surprise! Even while buried in unflattering "I'm 200 years old!" latex, the Screen Actors Guild is very excited to welcome beautiful Armie into their ranks. Less surprising are the citations for Jonah Hill and Nick Nolte given their film and their actors actor reps respectively. But the snub of Albert Brooks is interesting and I'm sure some will find it horrifying.

What does this mean for Oscar? Maybe nothing. But then again beyond the Brooks vs. Plummer lifetime achievement battle that category does look suspiciously unformed. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow at the Globe nominations!

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE 

What, no DRIVE, which exactly involves a stuntman? Ah well. These seem like solid choices though we readily admit ignorance about what is difficult and what is not in stuntwork, especially when so much CGI is involved in these nominees.

TELEVISION

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

I still can't get over how long we've had to go without Mad Men. I weep. I smoke. I pour myself a vodka tonic.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

Are SAG voters illiterate? Sound out the words "outstanding" "performance" "ensemble" and "in" "a" "comedy" or "series" You can do it. It sounds just like Parks & Recreation. Ignoring that show in THIS category is as stupid as anything I've ever seen in awards voting and I mean that in the least hyperbolic way possible. It's just plain idiocy.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Look, I love Kathy Bates but she is sleepwalking through that show. At least in the episodes I've witnessed which were thankfully few. Glenn Close is a double nominee this year, huh? I'm sure fans of AHS are glad to see Jessica Lange's batshit crazy work here. But where is ____________  insert your gripe in the comments!

Was REVENGE eligible? If so where the hell is Madelein Stowe who is giving the best performance I've seen in a night time soap since the genre's 80s heyday.

Remember when Coach Taylor won the Emmy? LOVED.OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

The usual suspects plus newbies Adams & Chandler. I don't even know what "Suits" is. It sounds like a procedural or a monk-style comedy. runnnnnnn.

If only that Emmy win had come earlier for Chandler, that series might have had more trophies.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

 The only dumpee is Glee's Jane Lynch from last year's list and you can hardly blame them for that. Glee would be a stronger show if it dumped Sue Sylvester altogether. That's a one joke character and the joke was REALLY funny for one season. Now, not so much.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Chris Colfer is another Glee dropout signalling that the love affair is ending between the world and that show.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES

Expect Kate to triumph again... unless SAG needs their Betty White moment annually.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES

I think few viewers have caught on that they've added stunt categories. Maybe they weren't in the actual broadcast last year? I can't recall. But three of these are repeat nominees with Spartacus and newbie Game of Throne shoving out Burn Notice and CSI:NY. I love True Blood so much but I'm guessing this is Game of Thrones to lose. 

 

Related Post: BEST ENSEMBLE... Except You!

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