Thursday , March 28 2024
And the SAG award nominees are... plus a few editorial comments.

Awards Nomination Week Begins with the SAGs

Tomorrow morning, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will announce its nominees for the Golden Globe Awards, but this morning it is all about peer recognition as the Screen Actors Guild announced its nominations for the 2013 SAG Awards.

These are two very different awards (and awards shows). The SAG awards are given by actors to actors, and many performers value this recognition more highly than any other award; it is recognition by their peers. 

I’ve not seen all the nominated movies or television series. Some of the movies haven’t yet opened in Chicago, and a girl (even a television journalist) can’t watch (or cover) everything on television. I tend to watch (and cover) the scripted dramas and spend very little time on sitcoms, no matter how good they are. There’s just no time. So I will comment on those categories in which I have an opinion, and leave to you the other categories to debate in the comment thread at the end of this article.

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor in a Leading Role

  • Bradley Cooper Pat – Silver Linings Playbook 
  • Daniel Day-Lewis – Abraham Lincoln – Lincoln
  • John Hawkes – Mark in The Sessions
  • Hugh Jackman  – Jean Valjean – Les Misérables
  • Denzel Washington – Whip Whitaker – Flight

I have not yet seen some of thse films, so it’s hard to say. I did see Lincoln, however, and Daniel Day-Lewis is remarkable in it. Besides the makeup (which isn’t his doing), he really becomes Lincoln as I would imagine him to have been. I really love all the other nominated actors in most of what they do, especially John Hawkes (who is always so interesting and quirky), and Denzel Washington who just exudes intelligence and cool no matter what role he plays. On the other hand, Denzel often plays Denzel, so that might go against him.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

  • Marion Cotillard – Stephanie – Rust And Bone
  • Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark 30
  • Jennifer Lawrence – Tiffany – Silver Linings Playbook
  • Helen Mirren – Alma Reville – Hitchcock
  • Naomi Watts – Maria – The Impossible

Outstanding Performance By a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Alan Arkin – Lester Siegel – Argo
  • Javier Bardem – Silva – Skyfall
  • Robert De Niro – Pat, Sr. – Silver Linings Playbook
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman – Lancaster Dodd – The Master 
  • Tommy Lee Jones – Thaddeus Stevens – Lincoln

Very tough category. Alan Arkin is fantastic, but he’s really reprising a role he’s done so many times before. It’s still perfection, but… Tommy Le Jones is also fabulous in the sort of role he’s noted for: tough, smart, folksy – all at the same time. Love the idea of Bardem winning for what is being touted as the best Bond movie of all time. But Hoffman is such a brilliant character actor, I’d love to see him get this.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Sally Field  – Mary Todd Lincoln – Lincoln
  • Anne Hathaway – Fantine –Les Misérables
  • Helen Hunt – Cheryl – The Sessions
  • Nicole Kidman – Charlotte Bless – The Paperboy
  • Maggie Smith – Muriel Donnelly – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Perhaps another “you like me!” moment from Field? She is terrific as the solid, fragile Mary Todd Lincoln. Although I’ve not seen Les Miz yet, I know the role of Fantine is a difficult role and musically challenging, so maybe… 

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

  • Argo 
  • The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 
  • Les Misérables 
  • Lincoln 
  • Silver Linings Playbook 

Argo is a great ensemble performance, and Ben Afleck is a wonderful director. I’d really love to see this one win. It’s not as flashy as either Les Miserables or Lincoln, but this award is about ensemble acting, costumes or special affects. It’s a very, very tough call. Without having seen Les Miserables, I would have to lean towards Lincoln or Argo.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

  • Kevin Costner – Devil Anse – Hatfields & McCoys
  • Woody Harrelson – Steve Schmidt – Game Change
  • Ed Harris – John McCain – Game Change
  • Clive Owen – Ernest Hemingway – Hemingway and Gelhorn
  • Bill Paxton – Randall McCoy – Hatfields & McCoys

I have seen all of these performances, and it’s extremely difficult to speculate. Devil Anse might be the best work that Costner has done since Field of Dreams, and despite great performances from all of the above, I’d have to go with Kevin.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

  • Nicole Kidman – Martha Gellhorn – Hemingway and Gellhorn
  • Julianne Moore – Sarah Palin – Game Change
  • Charlotte Rampling – Eva Delectorskaya – Restless
  • Sigourney Weaver – Elaine Barrish Hammond – Political Animals
  • Alfre Woodard – Ouiser– Steel Magnolias

I’m going with Julianne Moore. She has Palin to perfection. Full stop.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

  • Steve Buscemi – Enoch Thompson – Boardwalk Empire
  • Bryan Cranston – Walter White – Breaking Bad
  • Jeff Daniels – Will McAvoy – The Newsroom
  • Damian Lewis – Nicholas Brody – Homeland

All great performances. I confess, however, that I’m really pulling for Jeff Daniels. This is the best part he’s had in years either in movies or television. He brings fire and pathos to his complex portrayal of news anchor McAvoy. Plus, he’s the only new face in the lot this year!

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

  • Claire Danes – Carrie Mathison –  Homeland
  • Michelle Dockery – Lady Mary Crawley – Downton Abbey
  • Jessica Lange – Sister Jude –  American Horror Story
  • Julianna Margulies – Alicia Florrick – The Good Wife
  • Maggie Smith – Violet – Downton Abbey

I’d love to see Jessica Lange win in this category.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Alec Baldwin –  Jack Donaghy – 30 Rock
  • Ty Burrell – Phil Dunphy – Modern Family
  • Louis C.K. – Louie – Louie
  • Jim Parsons – Sheldon Cooper – The Big Bang Theory
  • Eric Stonestreet – Cameron Tucker – Modern Family

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Edie Falco – Jackie Peyton – Nurse Jackie
  • Tina Fey – Liz Lemon – 30 Rock
  • Amy Poehler – Leslie Knope – Parks and Recreation
  • Sofia Vergara – Gloria – Modern Family
  • Betty White – Elka – Hot in Cleveland

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

  • Boardwalk Empire 
  • Breaking Bad 
  • Downton Abbey
  • Homeland 
  • Mad Men 

It’s sort of the usual suspects this year, but I’m going with Downton Abby.

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

  • 30 Rock 
  • The Big Bang Theory
  • Glee 
  • Modern Family 
  • Nurse Jackie 
  • The Office 

Nurse Jackie, I think.

About Barbara Barnett

A Jewish mother and (young 🙃) grandmother, Barbara Barnett is an author and professional Hazzan (Cantor). A member of the Conservative Movement's Cantors Assembly and the Jewish Renewal movement's clergy association OHALAH, the clergy association of the Jewish Renewal movement. In her other life, she is a critically acclaimed fantasy/science fiction author as well as the author of a non-fiction exploration of the TV series House, M.D. and contributor to the book Spiritual Pregnancy. She Publisher/Executive Editor of Blogcritics, (blogcritics.org).

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