What SAG results mean for the Oscars
Screen Actors Guild Awards firmed up some races, threw others into chaos
The 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night firmed up some races heading into next month’s Academy Awards, threw a bunch of others into chaos, and made the possibility of a superhero movie winning best picture seem a lot more realistic. ❚ The thespians honored their own at the SAG Awards, and although they are the largest voting bloc for the Oscars, lots of others will have a say in choosing which movies and stars are honored at the ceremony airing live Feb. 24 (ABC, 8 p.m. EST/ 5 PST). ❚ Let’s look at who’s up and who’s down going into Hollywood’s biggest night.
‘Black Panther’ is roaring louder than ever.
Usually we at least have one or two best picture front-runners. This year’s contenders are more unpredictable. With a SAG win for “Black Panther,: it has momentum (it could go the route of SAG-approved also-rans “Hidden Figures” and “American Hustle”). The Producers Guild named “Green Book” as its top movie. Then there’s “Roma,” with major Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice wins. Not to mention an overperforming “Bohemian Rhapsody” and underperforming “A Star Is Born.” The Academy’s preferential ballot may prove consequential in a race where there’s nothing close to a clear favorite.
Glenn Close looks like a lock for her first Oscar.
Remember when Lady Gaga had best actress sewn up as soon as she started singing “Shallow” in “A Star Is Born”? Neither does anyone else. Close’s Golden Globes win for “The Wife” seemed a surprise at the time, but after a Critics’ Choice tie (with Gaga) and a SAG award – and she’s never won an Academy Award in six tries – now it seems more like kismet than upset.
Will one, just one, best actor please stand up?
The actors have given a collective thumb’s up to Rami Malek’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” What is unclear is if he can woo voters away from “Vice” star Christian Bale’s performance as Vice President Dick Cheney. Best actor could be between those two, though Bradley Cooper could get attention.
Who’s going to give Regina King a run for supporting actress?
This is the wildest Oscars category. Emily Blunt came out of nowhere to win the SAG equivalent but isn’t nominated for the Academy Award.
“If Beale Street Could Talk” star King won the Golden Globe but wasn’t up for the SAG honor.
She still seems like the safest bet. “The Favourite” actresses Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz perhaps canceling each other out.
And “Vice” star Amy Adams should never be counted out.
Like Close, she’s another film favorite who doesn’t have Oscar on her shelf.
Mahershala Ali is pretty much the only sure thing.
At least one actor every awards season runs the table.
After wins at Globes and SAGs, Ali is likely unstoppable on the way to a supporting actor Oscar for “Green Book,” just two years after winning the same honor for “Moonlight.”
In an increasingly insane road to the Academy Awards, wins for Ali and Close seem to be the only things that make sense.