With the Academy award nominations announced last week, Americas peer voted SAG Awards will surely give us a preview as to how the Oscar race may take shape in late February. or maybe not. Last weeks announcement saw a few SAG nominees shunned from the what is essentially the Olympics of awards nominations. Poor Jennifer Aniston found herself on the outer, as did Jake Gyllenhaal who gave as strong performance in Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler. Let’s have a look at this years contenders.
Best Ensemble for A Motion Picture
BIRDMAN
BOYHOOD
IMITATION GAME
THEORY OF EVERYTHING
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
WHO SHOULD WIN
The Grand Budapest Hotel could stage an upset here. Historically SAG is known to favour the large ensemble pieces. And for crying out loud, give Ralph Fiennes a bloody award already. No one has led a cast like that since Anne Hathaway hosted the Oscars with James Franco. Enough said.
WHO WILL WIN
The cast of Birdman seem set to take the ensemble award because everyone single cast members gets to be loud, showy and over the top. It’s an actors wet dream. They win. The end.
Best Lead Actor in A Motion Picture
Steve Carell – FOXCATCHER
Benedict Cumberbatch – THE IMITATION GAME
Michael Keaton – BIRDMAN
Jake Gyllenhaal – NIGHTCRAWLER
Eddie Redmayne – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
WHO SHOULD WIN
There is no denying Keaton’s astonishing and tongue in cheek turn in Birdman, but there’s only one man that deprived me of sleep this year thanks to his creepiness and that honour goes to you Steve Carell.
WHO WILL WIN
Keaton wins. Go home. I’ve heard chatter about young Eddie Redmayne possibly stealing Mr Keaton’s award thunder. Let me say this: the only thing I took away from The Theory of Everything was that Stephen Hawking’s isn’t American. What?
Best Lead Actress In A Motion Picture
Jennifer Aniston – CAKE
Julianne Moore – STILL ALICE
Rosamund Pike – GONE GIRL
Felicity Jones – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Reese Witherspoon – WILD
WHO SHOULD WIN
In what has been a pretty weak year for women in film and in the awards season all round – along comes Rosamund Pike with possibly the best performance of the year. You may remember Pike from that film with that whatever character that flails about and isn’t given the opportunity to do much. No? Well thanks to a bit of hair dye, a few kilos and a penchant for being an all round psycho Sally I guarantee you won’t forget her for years to come.
WHO WILL WIN
Having said that, this is Julianne Moore’s year. Her performance in Still Alice will stay with you for some time. Also, for those that want to see the film check your local cinema guides. ADVANCED SCREENINGS start this long weekend!
Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture
Robert Duvall – THE JUDGE
Ethan Hawke – BOYHOOD
Edward Norton – BIRDMAN
Mark Ruffalo – FOXCATCHER
JK Simmons – WHIPLASH
WHO SHOULD WIN
Edward Norton probably gives his best performance since?……. Since a long time. Have you seen Whiplash? If not, change that. The most underrated and unseen films of the year and one of the most awe-inspiring performances.
WHO WILL WIN
JK Simmons. Game over.
Best Supporting Actress in A Motion Picture
Emma Stone – BIRDMAN
Naomi Watts – ST VINCENT
Patricia Arquette – BOYHOOD
Meryl Streep – INTO THE WOODS
Keira Knightly – THE IMITATION GAME
WHO SHOULD WIN
Emma Stone should win just because of the incredible effort she went to, to rip holes in her stockings to attain the post rehab chic look.
WHO WILL WIN
Patricia Arquette – because she had to live with Nicolas Cage once and because the whole world watched her age over 12 years in 3 hours.
Hush Hush Biz Guest Writer PH
