SAG Live Blog: Bridesmaids, Silent Stars and The Help
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6:35PM 6:30 I was writing an (unrelated) short little note about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy moments ago and am suddenly thrust onto a red carpet with fast talking E! reporters uttering inanities while stars explain who they're wearing. These are things old spies never have to think about. But tonight is not about the spies. It's about bridesmaids, silent film stars, time travelling writers, Hawaiian land barons and maids. The first four things I hear are two engagement stories (good news for Bridesmaids or mere coincidence?), one ode to George Clooney via The Good Wife herself. Then Octavia Spencer -- love that bun (is there are name for those high buns on steroids?) -- announcing that she's robbed Cougar Town of Josh.
Which begs the question: Is anyone in Hollywood not friends with Octavia Spencer?
6:37 Armie Hammer on his wife's bakery. He's not the baker, he's the, uh, taster. The reporter or his wife I can't recall calls this "out of the closet taster?" which he confirms. I'm not making this up.
I'm an out of the closet taster and Elizabeth is the master baker: lemon pies, tiramisu, many cupcakes. Let's just say we now have the most special red velvet recipe there is.
For some reason when he's talking about food it sounds utterly filthy. I'm having a flashback to Rock Hudson talking about recipes in that one movie.
6:40 Rose Byrne is wearing a sparkly jumpsuit and reminding me that she is Australian. I always forget the she's Australian and that jumpsuits exist. The latter by choice. Although she says Scarface was her inspiration and I can sort of see Michelle Pfeiffer circa 1983 in this look. The BEST part is when she leaves the reporter who is going to commercial and Glenn Close (Damages reunion!) looks her jumpsuit up and down... more than once. She doesn't know what to make of it until...
No, she definitely doesn't like it. Hee.
6:53 Viola Davis is talking about her new daughter. I didn't realize she had adopted. Somewhere I missed that. She sounds happy and nervous and she definitely isn't completely comfortable in her Jimmy Choos. Since we're talking about feet, I feel the need to share this photo.
Regina King tweeted "toes done" an hour ago.
I did not retouch this photo so either her camera phone has some issues or her feet are sunburned. Ouch. Put some aloe vera on that. If feet horrify you I apologize. But, true story, it's how I remembered it was time to live blog.
This live blog is brought to you Regina King's pedicure.
7:02 Jonah Hill says everyone can't believe he was Oscar nominated. To his credit he says that he can't believe it either so he understands.
7:08 Michelle Williams, who clearly does not like talking to reporters about her personal life, does a pretty good job of pretending to be okay with it whilst astrally projecting herself away. I'm reasonably certain she was floating somewhere over Montana whilst Guiliana was inundating her with questions about child rearing.
7:17 E! talks to so many people I don't care about. I sometimes wish I was their boss so I could redirect their energies. But then I'd probably not bother and just fire them all.
7:20 Giuliana is so intrusive into celebrity lives. She's constantly asking about children and boyfriends and romance and underwear and personal stories. Jesus! I'm actually shocked that she restrained herself and didn't ask Sofia Vergara how big her boyfriend's dick was once she started grilling her on her own body parts.
7:27 It's weird to be annoyed with George Clooney but I really really am. It's like the Charm Offensive. Stop it. "Is it still so humbling to you? It's really nice."
7:29 NOOOOoooooooooooo Guilana. Down girl. I didn't mean to be predictive. She is now asking Clooney about his dick. I'm not making this up. "Would he ever drop trou for a movie?"
7:34 A conundrum. I watch Glee and though it's totally wrong, I look forward to doing so. But when Glee actors are interviewed I always astral project myself away. Right now I'm headed north trying to spot Michelle Williams.
7:39 Brad and Angie have arrived. I tried to take a photo but they're all blurry like a mirage. A mirage of beauty. Movie Stars. Two people you can say that about with a straight face.
7:41 Meryl Streep was talking to Guiliana and it seemed so unnatural. Curiously, perhaps momentarily stunned by the realness of The Meryl, Guilana was gazing at her as she left and narrating Meryl's conversation with Steve Carrel once she had left the stage -- Meryl and Steve looked like they were laughing and Meryl did this cute little crouch thing as if she was giggling/giddy. Guiliana "This is obviously a real moment, a real conversation. Not like some Hollywood conversations.' GUILIANA SAID THIS.
It is 2012. I worry.
7:53 And Ross and Guiliana talking to Brad are suddenly all sincere... talking about particular moments they loved in Moneyball (like they've actually seen it). Ross telling Brad his kids won't be embarrassed by him when they grow up and see his movies is somehow endearing against all odds.
The Mayans were right.
THE SHOW !!!
8:03 The writing on this SAG Awards info is hurting me. "Have a great night Brad and Angelina". "Jean Dujardin. No words are needed. And now they're starting with Ducky (Jon Cryer forget his name for a sec). Not a good sign, Jon Cryer not my forgetfulness.
8:06 SUPPORTING ACTOR goes to Christopher Plummer
Heartfelt speech, longer than he's been giving with a nice shout out to Ewan McGregor for making acting look so effortless. Exactly. That's why he never gets nominations.
8:13 George Clooney is mysteriously bad at a teleprompter tonight
8:15 SUPPORTING ACTRESS goes to Octavia Spencer
Team Help is really good about playing their awards wins for emotional narrative value. She let's out a squeal of Ohmygooooodddd as she leaves the stage. Octavia and Plummer are now mortal locks for Oscar wins... not that they weren't before.
I believe Joe called The Golden Globes a "bullet train of awards" on the last podcast but honestly that's even more descriptive of SAG. There's no time to type before they're handing someone else an actor.
8:23 They're showing clips from Supporting Actor in a Comedy and Two and Half Men feels like such a dinosaur. Laugh tracks are so anachronistic. Ugh. Stop it. If you can't make people laugh on your own you don't deserve a nomination as "Best"
8:24 ACTOR TV COMEDY goes to Alec Baldwin, his sixth consecutive win! After a bunch of squealing "ohmygoddddd"s he gives a bunch of credit to Tina Fey's writing. Nice.
8:26 ACTRESS TV COMEDY goes to Betty White
My dears. My dears. I don't think they can read. I think they made a terrible mistake."
Gooey Love for her castmates with just enough bite to also be funny.
8:30 This is maybe my favorite thing I've ever seen on the SAG Awards. Theyre highlighting dayplayers by showing clips of various movies with these unknown actors getting their names on screen. It's like my bit player awards (coming soon) only less specific.
8:35 BEST COMEDY SERIES ENSEMBLE goes to Modern Family
The speech, naturally it's a joke, doesn't quite come off. Which is weird for this cast. I do feel the need to point out that young Nolan Gould (who got speech duties today) who plays Luke Dunphy on the show is the brother of Aidan Gould who played Tilda Swinton's kidnapping victim in Julia.
ISN'T THAT CRAZYYYYYYYYY?
8:43 BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE goes to Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce. She's not there so Glenn accepts on her behalf.
8:46 Team Help is on the stage introducing their movie clip. The clip has this really sitcomy music over Viola's "you a godless woman" bit. Awkwaaaaard.
8:50 BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE goes to Paul Giamatti for Too Big To Fail. He's also not there. The other nominees look around for him like he'll spring up from a seat heretofore unknown.
8:56 I'm sorry I'm so slow with the live blogging tonight. Computer acting up and I don't have $1,500 for a newbie.
9:07 Fact: There has not been enough Bridesmaids up in my awards season.
Their Scorsese drinking game --" drink every time you hear the word "Scorsese". It happens more than you'd think" -- will get you very very drunk here in NYC. The only single name that might rival it in terms of speedy inebriation would be "Woody" or "Tarantino"
9:10 MARY TYLER MOORE TRIBUTE
Lovely to see her and Dick Van Dyke again. I couldn't buy MTM as a nun in that one clip. Ah well, you can't win them all. I love career tributes. There is a strange gap when she finishes speaking where she says nothing on stage and there is no music and no cut to commerical. Dick Van Dyke rescues her with a kiss and they cut to commercial. Whose fault was that? Was someone chatting in the control room or did Mary just space out? This is not necessarily a sign of age as I've been doing that since i was like 10. Sometimes you're just suddenly not there. Like Michelle Williams on the red carpet.
9:15 Commercials. But maybe everyone is just tired. Nick being his brilliant self, tweets:
His math seems right.
9:19 BEST ACTRESS DRAMA SERIES Jessica Lange for American Horror Story
It's her first SAG Award and it's spooky that I name checked her super-fan Nick just before she won it.
It's great to play such a BIG character with so much to do."
Ummm. what other size characters do you play, Jessica?
9:28 Meryl Streep introduces the In Memoriam segment: Farley Granger, John Wood (in Ladyhawke clip no less!), Betty Garrett, Doris Belack in Tootsie (LOVE) Jane Russell, two principal cast members of They Shoot Horsese Don't They? (Such a great movie. See it!) Elizabeth Taylor gets the ending "Bye now". Okay, I'm sad. Thanks a lot Meryl! There will never be another La Liz.
9:35 The SAG Actor statue looks so indecendent when it's brightly lit what with that huge package. I always want to move one of its face masks down for a fig leaf. #Prude
9:37 BEST ENSEMBLE DRAMA SERIES goes to Boardwalk Empire
I just can never become interested. But I have too many shows anyway. I'm okay with my lack of interest.
9:41 BEST ACTOR FILM goes to Jean Dujardin !!!
Zoinks. I think this needs three screencaps for the excitement.
Love Penelope Ann Miller's reaction. She's feeling what I'm feeling. Although I'm also feeling what Bérénice is feeling at the end there, glowing pride. Not that I had anything to do with it. But it really is quite a performance.
He says "mygodmygodmygod" a bunch of times. God has been name checked a lot in a comic way tonight. He reads his speech (he doesn't speak much English) with nice shout outs to his cast -- which prompt him to finally look up from the page. Lovely. Clooney & Pitt both seem totally fine with it, happy even.
10:01 My laptop all but froze up for the last 15 minutes of the show. So sorry. Time for it to go to... where do old computers go? A few observations about Viola Davis and The Help, which won all three of its awards tonight... (give me a sec)
Amazing reaction from the crowd and another really heartfelt speech with very specific inspiring honors going to Cicely Tyson (the first actress that made her want to be an actress) and Meryl Streep in her college years for inspiring her. Lots of tearful eyes in the crowd. She's clearly loved. Viola's speech about racism is beautiful and I'm thinking back to the Peggy Siegal luncheon I attended in which she talked about the controversy surrounding The Help and she and Octavia both understood some of the criticisms of the film but were completely proud to be a part of a movie that had sparked so much dialogue and discussion.
10:15 I must power down. But congratulates to all the winners! Did you enjoy the show? Do you think all these winners will repeat on Oscar night?
ADDENDUM: "Dream Big. Dream Fierce" Notes on the Viola Davis Win
Bridesmaids, Meryl Streep, Octavia Spencer, SAG, The Help, Viola Davis
Reader Comments (115)
Maybe it would help Meryl's chances if she appeard in a good film for once. Just a thought?
If Viola Davis wins an Academy Award for her extended bi-cameo performance in "The Help" then spread me a schmaltz. In the words of that pardo chick in the Blind Side "Is this a white guilt th'eng?"
Homegirl practically disappeared in the third half of the movie, which would probably be titled "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Blue Jays on a Pedestal" on Lifetime. Ooohhh is Angela Bassett available? And Monique (where is she?) can play the Spencer part.
Ms. Davis underwhelmed me in the "breakdown" moment and the "confrontation" scene. She wasn't all that. I literally said "that's it?!" when the DVD faded black and Mary J. Blige started to sing about... I don't know something to do with the color purple?
All the buzz and traction Ms. Davis been getting goes to show that this awards circuit is all but decadent politics.
Oh, not racist. I'm gaysian.
My best friend used to be black.
I mean she's still black.
Well, we're not really friends anymore.
@ Nathaniel, and Adaptation and The Hours don't count as beloved films?! Come on, you could say that again and again. Next year, next time: she will be in a best picture nominee and she'll lose again.
When Streep is in a BP nominee by an acclaimed director she'll win easily. Stop whining, Zooey. It's her fault that she continually chooses to do movies in which she's the only good thing.
@ Rex, she was in The Hours and Adaptation in the SAME year. Did she win? No. She lost for great work, so don't make it look as if she's lost for mediocre stuff.
@ Nathaniel, I'm really disappointed because you now seem to be in the 'next time, in the best picture nominee' camp. Because she could be in a best picture nominee, but there will be another younger actress going against type or somebody they consider overdue and despite of being in a best picture nominee, she will lose - AGAIN and AGAIN. And yes, it's something. There will always be an excuse and in the end I hope you all are happy when she wins a lousy supporting actress Oscar in her 80's. And will that (potentially) represent a great career? Because years go and Meryl's 63 soon. How many shots at a great leading role does she have??? And if you have to be honest, do you think she has a real shot?
And Nathaniel, Hepburn was ONE YEAR YOUNGER THAN MERYL when she won her third Oscar.
Zooey -- but THE HOURS she was playing a contemporary ordinary woman. As i've said before in my streep studies, this is THE ONLY TYPE OF ROLE that Oscar doesn't care about her in. They need her to be doing an accent or revealing she can do something else (like singing: postcards from the edge). They need her in some way "extreme"
I absolutely believe she will win if she headlines a Best Picture. Unless there's a beautiful young actress deglamming. But thankfully that's not happening every year any more.
@ Nathaniel,
yes - unless, but come on, they prefer Sandra Bullock and Viola Davis who've they haven't heard of until recently.
Even if she's in a best picture nominee, the blacklash is bound to occur. Not dramatic enough, not big enough. If it were today, ADAPTATION would be a best picture nominee. I believe that. So what? And do you really want Meryl to win in supporting for a minor role in 20 years?! But maybe she won't get even that. There's always somebody else. Can you think of a year in the past 10-20 years when it wasn't somebody's turn?!? Come on.
And how many chances does Meryl have to highlight a best picture nominee? She'll be 63 soon. And you pointed out that thanks to Meryl and Helen Mirren older actresses have success in Hollywood, but it doesn't translate into Oscars. It could be acclaim, b.o., but Oscar still prefers the younger ones. So it doesn't work for Meryl either. And this time she had Harvey and she had the press as well. Next time they won't go for her again.
I would love to see Meryl win a 3rd for playing an exaggeration of herself. Some diva "greates actress that ever lived" and she just scares the crap out of everyone on set with her demands!
It's "postcards" meets "Prada"... And she can make fun of Hollywood and youth and "it's their time mentality."She needs a dramedy. An " all about eve" type of thing! And she can show all these obscure accents for the films they are filming. I would love it!
@Jamie - Oooh, the idea of Meryl in something like "All About Eve" or "Sunset Boulevard". I'm salivating!
@zooey - I want Meryl to win her third as much as anybody, but, even if she doesn't, hasn't she been recognized enough? I mean, very few actors ever win two Oscars, and there's no actor, living or dead, who's even in shooting distance of Mery's nomination tally. No way Jack Nicholson is going to make it at this stage of the game, and even Katharine Hepburn was in her 80s when she got her twelfth nomination (and fourth win)--you'd have to tack on someone like Cate Blanchett's entire career to tie them up.
I do want her to win again, but not when she's outclassed by so many other actresses this year. That's not to say she's bad--she's quite good--but I don't think The Iron Lady falls within her top ten nominated performances, never mind her entire filmography. I would've liked to see her win for either Prada or Adaptation (even though Zeta-Jones is a tough winner to argue with), but I definitely DON'T want her winning for something like Doubt, Julie & Julia, or The Iron Lady. Particularly this year, when it's looking like Davis really could win. Davis is magnificent, and elevates everything around her, in The Help. Meryl, on the other hand, is very good in the Iron Lady, but the movie still sucks.
I mean to say Hepburn was in her SEVENTIES when she won for On Golden Pond. Excuse the typo!
"Ms. Davis underwhelmed me in the "breakdown" moment and the "confrontation" scene. She wasn't all that. I literally said "that's it?!" when the DVD faded black and Mary J. Blige started to sing about... I don't know something to do with the color purple?"
First of all, your whole post sounds a teeny bit racist. Just sayin. Color purple? That was necessary?
And if she underwhelmed you, clearly you are someone who equates "most" acting to "best."
You all repeat that but if Hepburn, Bergman and Nicholson could win three, why can't Meryl? Yes, a third Oscar wouldn't mean way too much, but it means something. Because after all it's the big one, the one that matters. And with Streep being nominated again and again and again and losing - even for great work (and sometimes in great films) - leaves a certain unpleasant feeling. And she'll win one some day - for a minor, forgettable supporting part when she's in her 70's. They'll throw her a pity Oscar and will it represent her great career?!
Other than that, let's not pretend that Meryl has been in shitty movies. The Iron Lady isn't good. Doubt wasn't very good, even though it did well with critics - much better than The Reader. Julie & Julia had better reviews than The Blind Side. Yes, not great films, but let's look beyond that - Adaptation is probably one of the most beloved movies of the past decade and in that particular performance Meryl was a knockout. The Brides of Madison County was critically acclaimed and if you check, the prestigeous CAHIERS DU CINEMA named it the best film of the 90's. Meryl has been in films that won awards in Cannes, from critics, the best picture Oscar (or a nod) and she lost.
Somebody responded to the performances I listed. It's always a question of taste, but at least to me it's laughable to state that Zeta-Jones in Chicago is one of the best musical performances ever. It's not even close. But I can argue all night about Silkwood. It's a performance for the ages as is A Cry in the Dark.
And Hepburn was in the 70's when she won her fourth Oscar. But tell me something, how many actresses in their 70's have won since 1990? ZERO. That's 22 years. Older actresses may have great careers nowadays, but Oscar doesn't respond. And Meryl is 63 - older than when Hepburn won her third. So you can say 'next year', 'next time', 'best picture nominee', but it will happen and somebody else will do what you call 'the role of a lifetime' or 'the baity part' or 'going against type' and it will be a better narrative. Oscar will respond. Meryl will get snubbed. And she won't get meaty parts forever. How many great leading parts are their for women her age? Come on! You repeat the 'next time', you may feel better, but it isn't the truth.
@ philip,
And if she underwhelmed you, clearly you are someone who equates "most" acting to "best."
PLEASE finally understand that people have different opinions and your opinions aren't facts. I disagree with a lot in that particular comment that you're addressing as I disagree with most of what you say. But it's an opinion. So respect people's opinions so that they respect yours.