Drama about Vietnam War protest is big awards winner
NETFLIX LEGAL drama The Trial Of The Chicago 7 won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The Trial Of The Chicago 7, which tells the true story of a group of Vietnam War protesters accused of attempting to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, won outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. It won ahead of Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Minari and One Night In Miami.
Members of Chicago 7’s ensemble cast – including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Keaton and Frank Langella – gathered virtually to accept the prize.
Langella delivered an acceptance speech on behalf of his co-stars. He praised director Aaron Sorkin and said the filmmaker’s voice was the “soul” of the movie.
The awards honour excellence in TV and film but for the first time in their 27-year history, the ceremony was pre-recorded.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom costars Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman won the leading actor and actress awards.
Davis was honoured for her portrayal of a revered blues singer in the movie while Boseman, who died in August last year aged 43 following a battle with colon cancer, was recognised for playing an ambitious trumpeter.
His wife Simone accepted the award in his memory and paid tribute to the cast and crew of the film. Boseman looks likely to win a posthumous Oscar later this month.
A rare British victory came in the form of Daniel Kaluuya’s triumph in the supporting actor category. He won for playing Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in Judas And The Black Messiah and dedicated his award to Boseman: “This one’s for Chadwick Boseman and Fred Hampton.”
In the supporting female actor category, South Korea’s Youn Yuh-jung won over star-studded competition and was recognised for her portrayal of a wily grandmother in moving family drama Minari.
In the TV categories, The Crown won the ensemble in a drama series prize while Schitt’s Creek was honoured with the comedy equivalent.
Gillian Anderson won in the female actress category for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, in The Crown, beating her co-stars Olivia Colman and Emma Corrin.
Other British nominees who missed out included Vanessa Kirby, Carey Mulligan, Riz Ahmed and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
This one’s for Chadwick Boseman. Thank you so much.
Daniel Kaluuya was a rare British winner. He dedicated his award to the US actor.