Review: Adam Sandler's SAG-nominated ‘Hustle’

By Abe Friedtanzer

Twenty long years ago, popular comedian Adam Sandler was in serious awards conversation for the first time for his dramatic collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson in Punch-Drunk Love. Three years ago, a handful of prominent citations and an Independent Spirit Award for Uncut Gems looked like it might finally help him breakthrough to a first Oscar nomination (it did not). Now, Sandler is somewhat unexpectedly making an awards play (sports reference?) again thanks to a surprise SAG nomination for his basketball drama Hustle, which is streaming on Netflix.

Sandler stars as Stanley Sugerman, a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers who becomes tired of missing his daughter’s birthdays each year while he’s traveling throughout Europe or somewhere else in search of the next great talent...

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Left off the "Cast" list! (Our annual SAG outrage)

by Nathaniel R

It's a tradition of ours at The Film Experience for a long time now to note the egregious problem that they never fix in SAG voting. Which is that you have to be famous enough to get your own title card in order to be included in your movie's "Outstanding Cast" nominations. This has led to some truly grotesque omissions over the years... especially for scene-stealers whose breakout performances weren't honored even though they definitely helped the film to that very same "Cast" nomination.

If you're curious about this rule we explain it better here. This year we're already very late with this annual article, so let's get right into the SAG Outstanding Cast nominations and complain about who ISN'T nominated despite doing great work in those ensembles...

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What Are Each Actor's Chances at Oscars Post-SAG Nominations?

By: Christopher James

After a surprise omission at the SAG Awards, what are Michelle Williams' chances at scoring an Oscar nomination for The Fabelmans?Now that the SAG Awards nominations have been announced, we have a slightly clearer picture of the acting races as we get closer to Oscar nomination morning. I use the word “slightly” because there’s always room for surprises. In fact, last year saw four acting nominees earn Oscar nominations without any precursor citations from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and SAG Awards.

At this stage of the awards race, we have two questions to ask. Which actor with nominations from all three groups will be snubbed by Oscar? Which actor can sneak in without these precursors?

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"Banshees" and "Everything Everywhere" lead the SAG Nominations

by Nathaniel R

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE scores 5 SAG nominations. One for each hot dog finger on a hand

It’s a rapidly changing world. This year’s 29th annual SAG Awards are leaving their usual home on cable for a live stream on Netflix’s YouTube channel. The 30th edition a full year from now will set the new norm (?) as SAG will begin streaming live globally on Netflix. That potentially means more viewers given Netflix’s popularity and reach, and it potentially means less as awards shows continue their trending to more niche entertainment that's exclusively for us obsessive awards nerds despite its annual attempts to appeal to everyone.

But we’re here to discuss the nominations which are upon us...

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Chaotic SAG Predictions. You ready?

by Nathaniel R

BABYLON

Beyond the Golden Globes, the most unpredictable of the major awards historically, in terms of nominations, has been the Screen Actors Guild. Their nominations will be announced on January 11th which is just a few days away. The nominating committee rotates each year so it's never the same group of people doing the judging. Sometimes they'll spring for a performance no one (at all) saw coming ("Naomi Watts in St Vincent" / "Sarah Silverman in I Smile Back") and sometimes they'll stump for a major star and give us false hopes that their delicious work won't be too outré for Oscar voters (hello, "Nicole Kidman in The Paperboy"). Sometimes they seem a month or two behind the general Oscar buzz or contrarian and other times they fall right in line like they've been studying prediction charts from pundits. In short, which kind of year will it be for them?

You won't want to hear this but our crystal ball keeps saying "Babylon" despite its harsh reviews and tepid box office. Is this thing broken? Anyway, ON TO THE PREDICTIONS...

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