And the Award Goes to ...

Well it's that time again.  I've watched 14 films and part or all of 17 TV series over the past three weeks to select my top picks in the annual Screen Actor Guild Awards.  I share them below with my reasons for the selection in each category.  That being said, I rarely hit 50% with the actual winners but know that nearly everyone who was nominated was deserving.

Before I begin, a summary of my experiences for this round:

• In films based on past events just because they say that "this really happened" doesn't actually mean it really happened anything like what you are seeing on the screen.
• This year had a good number of instances of good acting in so-so films.
• Whispering and mumbling of lines is prevalent and makes it really hard to follow the dialogue.
• Kids are ignored.  Elisha Henig, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe and Pixie Davies were all outstanding in their various roles ("The Sinner," "A Quiet Place," and "Mary Poppins Returns") but typically snubbed in nominations.
• Serial killers are very big this year.
• Long, wordless focus on an actor "emoting" is also very big.  It doesn't always work.
• Internet only series are still invisible in the awards field.  Elizabeth Olsen's luminous performance in "Sorry for Your Loss" was wholly ignored.  The supporting cast is pretty awesome, too.
• Hollywood must be a small place.  Not only are some actors nominated for multiple roles (Emily Blunt, John Krasinski and Amy Adams) but a number of other actors popped up in at least two, and sometimes three, of the nominated titles (Steve Carrell, Timothy Hutton, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and D'Arcy Carden).
• The major difference between a network TV show and a cable TV show is the F-word and full-frontal shots (finally including men as well as women).  Unfortunately, after enough of the R rated content it simply stops being interesting.
• Diversity in genres is increasing in the award categories.  This is a good thing.  But I'm not sure all dark comedy is really funny.
• While I appreciate the well-made drama my personal favorites will always be the well-made lighter fare.  "Crazy Rich Asians," "Mary Poppins Returns," "Black Panther," "Kominsky Method" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" were the ones I liked the most.  In the drama category television had a good year.  "Escape at Dannemora," "Handmaid's Tale," and "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" were all outstanding.  For films I feel "A Star is Born" was the best of the bunch.

For the Screen Actor Guild Awards, however, I don't vote for best film or TV show, just for actors, so here are my picks:

Male Actor in a Leading Role -- Bradley Cooper.  Perfect example of an actor transforming himself completely into what the role required.  And he directed himself.  Check out his final scene in the film if you don't agree.
Female Actor in a Leading Role -- This one was really, really hard.  Wanted so badly to vote for Glenn Close, who I love and who should just get the award for body of work.  I was also leaning towards Olivia Colman who was terrific as the troubled, lost Queen Anne.  But in the end I voted for Melissa McCarthy.  Not only for "most improved" but absolutely no equivocation while playing a completely unlikeable character.
Male Actor in a Supporting Role -- Not a lot of meat here.  Good actors but few made a major impression.  I love Mahershala Ali and have watched his work from the beginning, so that was my pick.
Female Actor in a Supporting Role -- Again, some competition but I was struck by Rachel Weisz, and the power she brought to her complex character in "The Favourite".  She wasn't over-the-top but somehow was the focus of every scene she was in.
Cast in a Motion Picture -- "Crazy Rich Asians".  Absolutely every actor brought something valuable to this tale.
Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries -- Anthony Hopkins and Bill Pullman were very strong contenders but I had to go with Darren Criss.  He got into the mind of a murderer so fully that it totally creeped me out.
Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries -- Patricia Arquette.  Again, she went all in playing a complex and fairly rotten person, holding nothing back.  She didn't just transform physically (gaining 40 pounds and wearing prosthetics) she transformed her being.  You couldn't look away.
Male Actor in a Drama Series -- John Krasinsky did a great job making me feel the myriad of emotions being experienced by a CIA agent torn apart on the inside.  He also pulled off young and wide-eyed after doing the opposite in "A Quiet Place."  Here's to stretching those acting muscles.
Female Actor in a Drama Series -- Elisabeth Moss.  The camera lingers over her face, in close-up, time and time again, including during rape segments.  The play of feelings across her face is beyond compelling.
Male Actor in a Comedy Series -- Alan Arkin.  He and Michael Douglas are both great in this show but Alan Arkin has a subtle brilliance in how he can turn a phrase.  He always has.
Female Actor in a Comedy Series -- Because of how SAG does their awards Rachel Brosnahan is in the same category as Alex Borstein.  Rachel will get it but Alex deserves some credit.  Her character is indelible, unique and a critical foil for Mrs. Maisel's super-sweet adrenaline.  I voted for Alex.
Ensemble in a Drama Series -- "Handmaid's Tale."  There simply isn't a better series out there today to reflect this bizarre political time through a necessary mirror.  And the women here go all out in a hugely difficult narrative.
Ensemble in a Comedy Series -- "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."  The lightning fast pace of this screwball comedy only works if everyone is on their game.  It's a 100% participation trophy here for a cast of delightful, rich characters who return every serve.
Stunt Ensemble for a Comedy or Drama Series -- "Glow."  a) They gave me a preview, some of the other nominated shows didn't.  b) As far as I know, nothing is digital.  c)  Gotta give it up for the ladies.
Stunt Ensemble for a Motion Picture -- "Black Panther."  It was the only one of the nominated films which bothered to send me a preview and the ladies kicked some ***.

Set aside some time -- you have some films/TV to watch!