26th Annual SAG Awards
Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 10:50PM by Nathaniel R
It's SAG night. Let's jump right in...
Christina Applegate got here SAG card in the 70s on an indie film. She doesn't remember what it was (yeah, right) but everyone was "really really high". Cynthia Erivo played a shepherd -- "Everyone lauded my performance." she was hooked at five years old. Eugene Levy dreamed of being the next Mr Whipple but goes on and on in a funny bit. They are actors! (We always love that corny intro.)
Levy and (hot/gay) Son present Male Actor, Comedy Series for which, inexplicably, neither of them is nominatd. The statue goes to awards magnet Tony Shalhoub in Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Female Actor, Comedy Series is presented by Jharrel Jerome and a suddenly bespectacled and mature Millie Bobby Brown. She still plays "Eleven" on TV but she must be angling for college comedies now. The actor goes to Phoebe Waller Bridge for Fleabag and we're hoping her home has steel girded mantles for all the statues she's collecting.
Taking a trip to to the Spahn ranch for the intro of the clip from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood we hear from Squeaky (Dakota Fanning), George Spahn (Bruce Dern), and Pussycat (Margaret Qualley) who call Tarantino the greatest movie lover. QT raises his glass in gratitude.
I voted for Fleabag. This is really weird. This makes no sense.
Ensemble in a Comedy Series goes to Marvleous Mrs Maisel for the second year in a row. They seem genuinely shocked and keep talking about Fleabag before saying "this is a mistake". It's kind of a delight to hear genuine fandom cross shows rather than just the typical 'so honored to be in your company'
Taron Egerton gets to present Best Supporting Actress. He booked this gig before getting snubbed by Oscar. Don't you always feel bad for those particular actors on the circuit?
That JLo clip is great and brings the hurt right back (*weeps*). Laura Dern wins and gives a lovely heartfelt speech to her actor's community with special attention to her parents Bruce & Diane.
The Parasite ensemble gets a standing ovation when they come out to share their clip, how cool is that? Still hoping they win.
Best Supporting Actor goes to Brad Pitt who calls acting a team sport (yes!) and tells at least three jokes that get a huge response about: Tarantino's foot fetish, his own tindr profile, and a self-deprecating take on his own performance "a guy who gets high, takes his shirt off, and doesn't get on with his wife -- a real stretch" Utterly adorable.
Actress in a Limited Series goes to Michelle Williams for Fosse/Verdon. It's actually her first win after several nominations (individual and cast). Lovely speech with generous praise of Sam Rockwell.
Gabrielle Carteris and Gwendolyn Christie both give little speeches, one about the acting as an art, one about heroism, activism. The montage for heroes is completely all over the place but given that it thankfully stretches back to the 1970s and includes a million movies we weren't expecting.
Taika, Scarjo and a hilariously enthusiastic Roman Griffin Davis (who is very exciting when he nails his cue card reading) to introduce the clips of Jojo Rabbit.
Female Actor in a Drama Series goes to Jennifer Aniston for The Morning Show. She is shocked. Fun speech. There's a shout out to Reese about it taking 20 years but we did it. Were they trying to reunite since Reese's awesome guest spot on Friends? The answer to this is surely obvious if you've been following the Morning Show press which we must admit we haven't.
Leonardo DiCaprio comes out to introduce his This Boy's Life co-star Robert DeNiro...
Robert De Niro Lifetime Achievement Award
Standing ovation of course. He talks about no victory laps because you're always worried about your next job (and here a little plug to the fact that he's working Scorsese and DiCaprio together next). He speaks about the power of unions and about his political outspokennss. He believes in always speaking out against blatant abuses of power.
The three stars of Bombshell come out to introduce it. And they're followed by two more goddesses Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o to introduce the next category
Actor in a Limited Series goes to Sam Rockwell, who is also legitimately shocked, for Fosse/Verdon. That's followed by the In Memoriam which is always both sad and inspiring, the latter because it brings so much great work back to mind.
Best Leading Actor goes to Joaquin Phoenix for Joker. And wow... a loveely speech from Joaquin where he spends the bulk of it just speaking to the brilliance of his fellow nomineees and even suggests that Adam Driver should be up there winning (yes).
Best Leading Actress goes Renée Zellweger. It's her 3rd individual SAG win. She celebrates her costars with a "popcorn breakfast". (Tom Hanks' intro is funnier mentioning that this is the first time Judy Garland, Megyn Kelly, and Harriet Tubman have ever been together in a category.)
Eugene and Dan Levy who began the show also close it.
Outstanding Cast goes to Parasite.
Couldn't have happened to a more deserving cast, every performance is just modulated perfectly to deliver a remarkable whole. This is the first time a foreign language film has ever won the top prize at SAG. No foreign film has ever won the Best Picture Oscar and SAG's top prize only translates to a Best Picture win at the Oscar about 46% of the time. However, there's a first time for everything so we'll keep the dream alive thanks to this blessed results at th Screen Actors Guild Award.
Reader Comments (34)
what the heck is on everyone's plate? a mound of kale and some huge carrots? what are they rabbits? lol
PARASITE is THE Win of the Night!!! After the ACE Eddie Award I start to Dream it could Win not only "Best international Feature"!
"Actress in a Limited Series goes to Michelle Williams for Fosse/Verdon. It's actually her first win after severak nominations (individual and cast). Lovely speech with generous praise of Sam Rockwell." Severak?
As far as the acting categories go, this year's Oscars is going to have all the suspense of a California Senate race.
This has been a satisfying awards weekend, all things considered.
Helena Bonham Carter is delightful as a winner, giving a brief, funny very on brand speech. Her wit and Sam Rockwell's delight was the high point of the evening.
Brad Pitt and HBC should do something together.
And once more I must say that the SAG award is the ugliest award. truly awful.
Meryl Streep is rocking a pair of Rachel Maddow's glasses.
Yes!!! Parasite!!!!!!
I have a crush on rich dad from Parasite. He was sexy in the movie and remains dapper in real life.
Wow, way to go SAG voters. Funny that the PGA winner and the SAG ensemble winner, arguably the two frontrunners now, have no acting nominations. PARASITE has the actors of SAG on its side, but does it have the actors of AMPAS? Hmm.
I have a crush on the son from Parasite. Does that make me a perv?
Unless I'm mistaken, in order to be a (voting) member of AMPAS' acting branch, you need to be a working actor, i.e., a SAG-AFTRA member.* Of course, you might have voted for Parasite for Best Cast without considering it to be the Best Picture of the Year.
*Unless you're a foreign AMPAS member who has never worked in US productions, I suppose, in which case you might be favorably disposed towards Parasite anyway...
What was up with Renee's southern twang? I know she's southern but it's been a while since she turned it up like this.
"I have a crush on the son from Parasite. Does that make me a perv?" // If it's the son from the rich family, definitely. But if it's the son from the poor family, Choi Woo-shik is actually 29 (turning 30 this year) so not at all.
Phoenix sealed the Oscar with his speech tonight. He came across as magnanimous when he mentioned his fellow nominees, he sounded genuine, made reparations for his earlier misgivings about awards in general and added a nice little emotional touch by honouring the late great Heath Ledger.
I love Brad,he is such a MOVIE STAR,the humour in the speech was great but doesn't it feel like someone of his stature should win a Lead trophy.
@LadyEdith, they did work together 21 yrs ago in Fight Club.
Omg, the win for Parasite is such a historical win!! 😘 I knew it is the Dark Horse and but like most I thot Once Upon will get this!! Wat a delicious surprise!! 😋
I tink the four film winners r locked... Renee's tribute to Judy gets alots luv!! Who doesn't want more tribute to Judy on stage!!
Btw, I finally see Judy. Its not perfect but Renee is so heartfelt as Judy!! I dun get the hate fr Judy stan?? It's a nice n respectful tribute n she got all the tics n mannerisms down pat!! She may not exactly look or sound like Judy, but she channel the essence o a down n out icon on her last days, superbly!!
She totally deserves the win!! U go, Renee!! 3 more televised speeches to go!! Yay ✌
I know I'll be a minority here, but this is a blog that respects diverse opinions. To me, Brad Pitt winning all these acting awards, honestly, just sounds like a bad joke. And I saw Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, an amazing Tarantino.
I thought Laura Dern had 10 SAG's. It was her very first! And film pundits were speculating with a J-Lo win. I love how they're still trying to insufflate suspense to the acting races. LOL
Melchiades -- It's a joke. Stay positive and imagine that someone rebranded the category to Best Co-Lead and you''l be fine. It's what I'm doing.
Great speech.
Thanks for the words, would rather you didn't lie and renege on your own "rebranding". You can 'insufflate' hot air elsewhere. xo
My Parasite crush is Kim Ki-Jung (the poor family sister). Man, Park So-Dam is so attractive.
And maybe I'm just nit-picking, but even though it was primarily a British production, wasn't half of Slumdog Millionaire in Hindi making it a foreign-language film that won Best Ensemble?
Melchiades - I'm not on the Brad train either. The "wife" part of that joke was cringeworthy, since his character in the film murdered his wife.
But yay, Parasite! What a great surprise. Though I agree this is a very strong season overall.
Parasite!!!!!
Phoebe and Michelle won all the big TV awards for their category this season.
Renee became the most winning actress at SAG, which is crazy.
Lol at people cringing at a joke like that.
Let's all be boring!
ajnrules: I know, right? She and Song Kang-ho were my MVPs the first time I saw Parasite (she makes Ki-Jung so deliciously sociopathic). I couldn't be happier for this particular ensemble of actors.
The acting categories are so boring this year. 4 sweeps in acting: Phoenix, Zellweger, Pitt and Dern. BOOORIIIING!
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Best Picture (on the other hand) is quite interesting
@Irvin Whew! Yes, it's the poor family's son in Parasite who's stolen my heart. So glad I'm not a perv. He's young enough to be my son, but he's NOT my son.
I missed the awards last night so I appreciate this write up! The glamour of that supporting actress fivesome took my breath away.
It feels a bit like Lemming-Season ... and I really wonder about the different juries diversity, and their thought process when they vote ... will all of this translate to Oscar ??
That said - I don't think we do have a bad year at all in the acting department, if you look at it from career celebrating point of view. I LOVE the Oscars - I always have - since I was little and I don't want all this moaning to take away the fun !!!
For years I wished Phoenix would finally get recognition - he was so superb and my Oscar choice 2005 in "Walk The Line" - loved his work in "The Master" and so much more where he came very close to be nominated ... if he sealed his win this year with this Tour de force I'm very happy with that ! Is it my favourite performance of the year ... I go more subtle but want Phoenix having the statue.
Pitt is a Hollywood force that should be awarded - some of his performances over the years are absolutely magnetic ! I saw "Thelma & Louise" last year again after decades - he blow my wig off.
Love Dern in a lot - not that much in Marriage Story - but the movie is so strong that it should have an Oscar, if she's the only chance - then hey - I swallow that pill gladly, I also think she is a wonderful person that you just want to spend a day with. The only person out of the lot I would like to award is Pugh - but she has the advantage of being super young - she'll be back !! So go Laura we love you !!!
Well Renee - I haven't seen "Judy". Maybe I missed it ... but I would really like to hear Nathaniel's thoughts on her performance, as we all know you're admiration for Garland. Maybe we hear it when she won...
My 'relationship' towards Zellweger is as strange - and hot & cold as she is. At the moment I'm routing for ScarJo - but I change in a heartbeat if Renee gets me ...
Amen ;-)
Nathaniel - this is the best awards show recap I have seen. The pictures and the commentary - you didn't have to watch the show. Like brilliant.
@ Martin
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2019/10/7/podcast-judys-pain-glory.html
I find it hard to listen to Renee's speech suggesting that, by bestowing the prize on her work in JUDY, the acting community is indirectly honoring Garland. How nice it would have been for her to acknowledge the sad truth that Judy Garland never won a competitive Oscar for her work as an actress while many other actresses of lesser talent received their share of recognition. As an actress who has won three competitive SAG awards, Renee could remind people of the many great actors who never won competitive awards (Garland wasn't alone in this category) and then give a shout-out to them, their brilliance, and the fact that those who fail to receive recognition may be the ones whose work will be ultimately remembered as eternal. And, who knows, cap that sentiment by encouraging her fellow-actors to look harder, dig deeper, and be more generous in terms of who they choose to nominate in the future.
Four actors sweeping the awards is so boring. Three of them are deserving except Renee. She makes almost a caricature of Judy Garland. For me, actress is like this:
1.Scar Jo
2.Saiorse
3.Charlize
4.Renee
5.Cynthia
Renee feels strangely the least sewn up of the four.....