The SAG Awards were handed out tonight. For my purposes only four awards truly matter, so this is a quick one for me to go over, plus a bunch of TV stuff I don’t care about.
What I liked about this show is how it managed to be diverse without forcing it. All the performances that won truly felt deserving of a win while also not just being white people like usual. I also was a huge fan of the commercials that ran for the movies during the show. It’s almost as if they know how to promote the purpose of the show and try to get people interested in seeing the nominees. And yet the Academy’s out here like, “Who needs to see people accepting awards? More montages and bad jokes!”
Anyway, here’s what won and what it means going forward:
Outstanding Ensemble
Belfast
CODA
Don’t Look Up
House of Gucci
King Richard
Winner: CODA
This doesn’t particularly mean much of anything, since Power of the Dog looks to be running away with Best Picture. But it’s absolutely lovely that this won. How can you not feel amazing for this cast and what it means for actors with disabilities and representation? The best part about awards shows is when they make you feel good. And this is a win that makes you feel good.
Best Actor
Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield, Tick… Tick… Boom!
Will Smith, King Richard
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Winner: Will Smith, King Richard
I am so happy for him. This is so deserved and I’m glad it’s all gonna work out for him. I’m not sure I consider him 100% locked yet (BAFTA’s gonna do that, if it happens), but he’s close. And honestly it’s great. If ever there was a perfect moment for a star of real magnitude to win an Oscar for all of the work they’ve done and success they’ve had and for a completely worthy singular performance as well, this is it. You don’t get this often. You got it with Julia Roberts, you got it with Leo. It rarely works out as perfectly as this, and I think that’s the big takeaway here.
Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
Winner: Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Oh hell yeah. I got so worried after the Globes that we were gonna see a runaway Kidman train happen the way that Renee Zellweger train happened a few years ago. Now it looks like we’re gonna get a repeat of what happened last year, where everything goes to someone different and it’s just chaos. Chaos is so much more fun. Especially since BAFTA went totally off the board entirely, so now all we have left to go by is who wins BFCA. That means that Chastain now has the biggest precursor and we have to figure out if that actually means something. Big fan of everything that just happened with this win.
Best Supporting Actor
Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
Bradley Cooper, Licorice Pizza
Troy Kotsur, CODA
Jared Leto, House of Gucci
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog
Winner: Troy Kotsur, CODA
This was a lovely surprise to kick off the night. And it’s honestly a deserved one. I think he gave an incredible performance. I’m not sure he pulls off the win in the end, but you never know. BFCA and BAFTA still have to hand out. There’s a chance he builds momentum after that speech. We’ve got a different kind of awards season this year and something like this could actually sway some voters.
Best Supporting Actress
Caitriona Balfe, Belfast
Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Ruth Negga, Passing
Winner: Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Who’d have thought that this category would end up being the one that got locked up the earliest? I mean, it could still open up based on BAFTA (and to a lesser extent BFCA), but this sure seems locked for DeBose. Which is gonna be awesome for so many reasons if and when she wins.
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble
Black Widow
Dune
The Matrix Resurrections
No Time to Die
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Winner: No Time to Die
That’s hugely deserved. The Bond franchise might be the best franchise in film history for stunt performers. Honestly I just wish they handed these awards out on camera.
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Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Morning
Squid Game
Succession
Yellowstone
Winner: Succession
You saw this one coming. Squid Game won all the individual awards but you knew this was gonna win the big one. And honestly it’s a little surprising they didn’t sweep the individual categories too. SAG is a pretty basic group. They’re usually gonna sweep vote the big shows they watch if they’re not voting for the actor they all love.
Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The Great
Hacks
The Kominsky Method
Only Murders in the Building
Ted Lasso
Winner: Ted Lasso
I mean, no shit. Of course it won. It’s on season 2. The people who needed to catch up have caught up. And now Hacks is the show they’re all gonna catch up on for next cycle.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Brian Cox, Succession
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Winner: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
This was cool. Happy for him. I haven’t seen a second of any of these shows past the clips they introduced the actors with, so cool. Though I will say, watching that Billy Crudup clip reminded me of how good he is and how little respect he gets having to play so many thankless parts.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Jung Ho-Yeon, Squid Game
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Sarah Snook, Succession
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Winner: Jung Ho-Yeon, Squid Game
Again, happy for her and for the show. Seemed like it was either her or Sarah Snook, so I’m guessing people are happy with this whichever way it went. At least this brings some diversity into the mix, especially for Asian actors, who often get the short end of the inclusivity stick when it comes to roles.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Winner: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
I mean, clearly. He wasn’t high and in pajamas this time though, which feels like a step down.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Elle Fanning, The Great
Sandra Oh, The Chair
Jean Smart, Hacks
Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Winner: Jean Smart, Hacks
Good for her. It was an obvious winner just glancing at the category, so cool.
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus
Oscar Isaac, Scenes from a Marriage
Michael Keaton, Dopesick
Ewan McGregor, Halston
Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown
Winner: Michael Keaton, Dopesick
I like when Michael Keaton wins awards because he reminds us all how amazing he is and how he should be in more things. That entire speech was perfect on every level. From him being in the bathroom and running to the stage while Salma Hayek awkwardly stood there, to talking about how he gets to make stuff that leads to discussion and maybe even change, to that incredibly emotional ending, and then the fact that Jeff Goldblum came out immediately afterward. Absolutely perfect. No notes.
Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
Margaret Qualley, Maid
Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown
Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
Winner: Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
I mean, obviously. Though kinda weird they had her record the bit for Helen Mirren and then not a speech in case she won. Part of me hopes they did ask her and she said “fuck that.”
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
Cobra Kai
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Loki
Mare of Easttown
Squid Game
Winner: Squid Game
From what I know about the series, it’s basically Battly Royale, so it makes sense.
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That’s SAG. Mostly interesting choices, nothing that feels like it made the races worse or boring and overly predictable. So that’s nice. And this coming a few weeks before all the other precursors, this could potentially sway some people to vote for other things. So I’m curious to see what, if any, effects this has on the race going forward..
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