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CELEBRITIES
Go figure! ‘Hidden’ wins SAG cast honor
The cast of “Hidden Figures” rocketed to the Screen Actors Guild top award at a fiery, protest-laden ceremony that was dominated by defiance over President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration ban.
An uplifting drama about African-American mathematicians who aided NASA’s 1960s space race, “Hidden Figures” was the surprise best ensemble winner Sunday. With the Oscar front-runner “La La Land” not nominated in the category, most expected a contest between “Moonlight” or “Manchester by the Sea.”
“This story is about unity,” said Taraji P. Henson, who stars alongside Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae. “This story is about what happens when we put our differences aside and we come together as a human race. We win. Love wins. Every time.”
Perhaps the most moving speech came from Mahershala Ali, who won best supporting actor for his performance in Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-age portrait, “Moonlight.” Ali said he saw lessons for today in “Moonlight,” in which he plays a character who makes a difference in a shy, gay Miami boy’s hard life.
“We see what happens when you persecute people,” Ali said. “The fold into themselves.”
Ali was among the several Oscar favorites who cemented their front-runner status, including best actress winner Emma Stone for “La La Land” and best supporting actress winner Viola Davis for “Fences.” But best actor went to Davis’ co-star (and director) Denzel Washington for his performance in the August Wilson adaptation. Most expected the award to go to Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea.”)
The most blistering speech was by David Harbour, who led the cast of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” another big surprise winner, onstage to accept best ensemble in a TV drama series. “We will hunt monsters,” Harbour vowed, drawing a standing ovation.
“La La Land” wasn’t competing for the top Screen Actors Guild award. That means if Damien Chazelle’s musical is to go on to win best picture, it will be just the second film to do so without a SAG ensemble nod in the category’s history. Only Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” managed it in 1996.