previously on SAG Red Carpet, Kurt and I discussed the huggability of Sally Field and which Best Actress we preferred. Now we're on to other more varied cloth.
NATHANIEL:We move on now to Screen Actor Beauty Guild members who were not nominated -- I amend! Not nominated in categories I tend to obsess over. That's an important distinction. To some degree I find myself surprised with TV awards. It's not that I don't know who is nominated, just that I don't commit it to memory and on awards night I'm like "ohmygod Michelle Dockery!". I love so much as "Lady Mary" on Downton Abbey and I'm happy she emerged a winner (for Ensemble) but this dress was already a big win, modern and sexy enough to pull her away from that massive PBS estate in casting director's imaginations I hope. And speaking of winners, I'm as happy as anyone that Julianne Moore is finally struggling to climb steps in tight gowns in order to give acceptance speeches. That's been a long time coming. And I'm especially glad that she chose this dress at this moment. Juli has always been delicious in deep plunge necklines and at 52 years young, she's still definitely got it. She kept it tight.
KURT: What a terrific lineup! I'm mad for Michelle Dockery, and Lady Mary Crawley may just be my favorite female TV character since Carmela Soprano. I hear her icy-perfect British voice in my head all the time now. It's like my new conscience: "Oh, Sir Kurtis, don't be absuuurd!" This is the first time I'm seeing her SAG frock in its entirety, and I must say, I'm a little alarmed by that much boobage from the aristocracy. But I do like it, and you're spot-on regarding the message it sends--she certainly doesn't want to get pidgeonholed in Corsetville.
To be honest, I've thought of you often this season as Julianne has repeatedly climbed the stage steps to collect her metal. I know we share the long-delayed thrill of seeing her so honored, even if it's for the circus-act dreck that is Game Change (each time, I just pretend it's for something else: Far From Heaven! Safe! Assassins!). I'm not really feeling this dress, nor do I usually admire her awards-show outfits, but I certainly agree about the neckline, and holy moly, that age defiance. Moreover, I think she falls just second to Naomi Watts in the sideswept hair department.
I'm not quite sure what's going on with Melanie Lynskey (nor can I pinpoint what she was doing at the SAGs). I know she's close to TFE's heart, and we all adore her, but this green getup, while flattering at the waist, isn't quite doing the trick. The girls look trapped and even she seems anxious to remove it with that not-so-comfortable smirk. My gold medal here goes to Amanda Seyfried, who looks regal, and whose talent I believe in without reservation. Lovelace may not be the vehicle to bump her into a higher league, but I trust she'll get there. I even find her compelling in garbage like Gone, and if I were a young, female, Best Ensemble nominee, this is what I'd wear.
NATHANIEL: Every time I begin to doubt Amanda's talent -- it's hard not to because it seems she chooses projects with several shot glasses and a dartboard -- I think back onMean Girls or Big Love and all is forgiven. It's too bad she didn't play Eponine because that Les Mean Girls tumblr could have had a field day with all the 'my breasts know when it's raining' absurdist comedy. As a celebrity she somehow manages to exudes both total confidence and 'where am I?' nonchalance like fame is a natural fit but she's forgotten to make a fuss of it.
I actually really like Melanie's dress -- great color on her but I mostly included her in the lineup because I am always surprised/ delighted to see her and if you look back through the history of the red carpet lineups, i like to throw in curveball choices that other blogs aren't featuring in their same old same old stargazing. As for Juli in Assassins! LOL. I'm sure that sentence had readers doing a double take which is good since reading comprehension in the days of blogs and twitters - yeesh. But speaking of assassinations, figurative mind you!, here's my votes for people who killed the red carpet (it hides stains well)... not in the good way..
I don't understand what is happening with these massive unflattering front pieces like silk bibs that Sigweavie and Rose Byrne are wearing. I don't understand why the usually perfect looking Frieda looks so frumpy in such a loud color and with January Jones' paired with Nicole Kidman's hair from the previous lineup, maybe David Bowie was the unofficial spirit animal of the SAG nominees this year.
KURT: basically always hate January Jones's looks. She seems to believe that she moonlights as an edgy, avant-garde model, yet she always misses the mark. At least this one is uncharacteristically undersexed, unlike that one outfit a while back that was very Fifth Element. Rose Byrne is giving you real fish--sailfish, that is. And those fins are swallowing her, poor thing. I saw her in the flesh once at Bryant Park, and she certainly didn't look so...engulfed. I do like the pseudo-finger-weave coif, though.
I was thrilled to see Sigweavie in attendance, as she is, if I'm not mistaken, a frequent no-show, but I'm not getting this slimmed-down homage to Missy Elliot's "I Can't Stand the Rain." She's in pretty good shape for her age, and needn't hide it behind a virtual breastplate of cheap-looking fabric. I like my Sigourney when she's working with what she's got, whether that's barely clothed in a Gigerian escape pod, or playing sexiness one-ups with daughter J. Love-Hewitt in Heartbreakers (remember the line when she insisted to Jennifer's character that she was as tight and toned as ever? "Feel my butt!" Love.).
And, yes, Freida looks afright. I generally believe that she is one of the most good-looking women on the planet, and she usually turns it out on the red carpet, but this oddballs. One might make an argument for Weaver covering up, but what on Earth does Frida Pinto have to hide? Beneath a neon smock, no less? She's my worst offender in this lineup, and needs that thing torn off of her. Where are Anastasia and Drizella when you need them?
NATHANIEL: i can always trust you to put me in a good mood by coming from a Ripley-Loving place.
Finally, I thought we'd sign off with some men since they never get their fashion due but I think there was slightly more going on than usual men's fashion wise at the SAG awards. This lineup is weirdly symmetrical and I'll tell you why: all of these men are over 6' tall? Aren't male movie stars supposed to be short?
Hugh Jackman and Daniel Day-Lewis went classic but they should since they're both true movie stars -- albeit in diametrically opposed ways. Bradley Cooper went blue (I wish he would chop off the hair but I guess he can't mess with The Hangover paychecks). Justin Timberlake went very slim tight in multiple patterned grays.I would never be brave enough to wear something like that but it looks great on him (though this isn't the most flattering photo). My choice for best dressed is totally 100% I'd-love-to-wear-what-he's-wearing is Eddie Redmayne. It's SO perfect for his coloring.
KURT: Yes, I've been very pleased with Eddie Redmayne's maturation on all fronts, and good style is certainly among them. I think he's one of the most appealing untraditionally-handsome male stars to come along in some time. And I agree, he gets best-dressed here by a mile. Not to imply any femininity whatsoever, but he takes after SJP--clothes just look good on him. I'd often say the same about JT, and this look is fine, but rather predictable. Very Timberlake-y. His best move next time would probably be to subvert his own hipness by going more traditional.
Bradley Cooper makes me yawn in general, and here we are again. I suppose there's nothing wrong with a blue suit and a bowtie, but this just reads prom-ish to me, and while I don't begrudge Bradley any of his success, I just find him to be such an unremarkable entertainer overall. In Silver Linings Playbook, there was simply more volume and flailing about. I won't comment on the hair, as the "Hangover paycheck" point is a good one. Agreed completely on the apt simplicity of all-stars Jackman and Day-Lewis. The transcendant ones needn't get flashy with the rabble. I'm always taken aback by how dashingly handsome Hugh is, and, no offense to the other gentleman, that kind of magnetism tends to make accessories irrelevant. I suppose the big race really is down to these two gents. Will they dial it down and penguin it up again on Oscar night?
NATHANIEL: If they penguin it up, Jackman wins. He already played one. And a singing penguin no less. Not that Daniel Day-Lewis wouldn't be convincing as a penguin if he put his mind and method to it.
Readers, who was your best dressed penguin at SAG?
Could you pull off Justin Timberlake's suit and tie shit?
Do you hear Lady Mary's voice in your head?
Do you think Amanda Seyfried won the gown wars?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 11:04PM 
Kate Winslet with Michel Gondry filming Eternal Sunshine Michael C. here back with the return of Burning Questions, the weekly column where I answer all the most pressing film issues of the day, and, more importantly, address whatever is rattling through my head at any given moment. It’s a pretty sweet gig. First up is a growing concern I've been nursing for one of our best filmmakers.
Twee, clouded?
