And the Award Goes To … Part Two

First, the films

Given that most of these films never saw the inside of a movie theatre, and likely never will, this is a watershed year in terms of “what is considered a motion picture”.  More and more we are seeing small-screen films nominated for the big awards.  These are only watched by those who have streaming services, which, contrary to popular opinion, is not the majority of Americans.  There are deep questions here about the relevance of film in the modern era … but I digress. 

Here I present my votes for the SAG-Aftra Film Acting Awards for this year.  Inevitably, less than half of these will actually win, but hey, it’s a free and open vote, so there!  (Will some disgruntled actor start yelling “Stop the Steal”???  We’ll see …)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

This one was easy.  Chadwick Boseman.  He was totally swallowed up by the role and virtually unrecognizable.  It’s called acting.  The huge names (Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, etc) couldn’t compare to an actor “becoming” someone else.  Pure brilliance.  Rest in Power.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

This one was tricky.  All five women are outstanding actors and gave great performances.  It was more of elimination than selection.  This wasn’t the best Amy Adams performance, Vanessa Kirby’s pain was visceral but hard to watch, Frances McDormand was, well, Frances McDormand.  Which left Viola Davis and Carey Mulligan.  Viola Davis was stunning, compelling, but … a) she’s a powerhouse but was not the star of this film and b) she’s won a few of these and I’m a firm believer in opening the door to newcomers.  And so my vote goes to Carey Mulligan in “Promising Young Woman”.  I won’t be at all unhappy if Viola Davis wins here though.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

This one was pretty easy.  Daniel Kaluuya in “Judas and the Black Messiah”.  Again, unrecognizable from his previous roles.  My only complaint here is that LaKeith Stanfield should have been nominated (the aforementioned Judas).  I would have voted for him.  Arliss Howard should have been nominated, too, for his Louis B. Mayer in “Mank”.  But they weren’t nominated.  Kaluuya is a bigger name.  More on that later.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

And this is where I hit the wall.  It was a five-way tie.  Maria Bakalova MADE the Borat film.  Olivia Coleman turned in yet another outstanding performance which was completely different from every other role I’ve seen her play (and they were all different from each other).  Yuh-Jung Youn portrayed possibly the most complex, conflicted dutiful wife I have ever seen.  And Helena Zengel, who had very little dialog, spoke volumes in her critical role.  Leaving Glenn Close.  She has won SAG Awards but never an Oscar.  And she deserves an Oscar.  She really really does.  She’s like the Meryl Streep quality actor who everyone seems to forget about.  Yet here she is, in her 70s, still turning out brilliant performance after brilliant performance – and all of them unique and different.  Momentum at SAG might help her chances at Oscar time.  And so it goes to Glenn Close.  Although the others deserved to win, too.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 

This wasn’t too hard.  “Minari”.  I liked “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom a lot.  And “One Night in Miami” and “Da 5 Bloods” were homages to black lives with terrific ensemble performances.  But.  There is something about the family unit.  Something about people trying to build a better life.  In a time period of repeated losses this one spoke to me about the complexities of people who love one another but hate each other a little now and then.

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

“Wonder Woman 1984”.  Duh.