Do you need to be an actor? Listening to Display Actors Guild Awards host Kristen Bell singing that query to the tune of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” it appeared like the one cheap response was a hearty “hell yes,” even with all of the speak of failure and embarrassment and the chance that Colin Farrell may provide you with COVID if you happen to win an award.
You realize what could be extra alarming than catching a contagious illness from a captivating Irishman? “Conclave” profitable finest image on the Academy Awards. And but it’s a really actual risk after the crowd-pleasing papal potboiler received the SAG Awards’ ensemble prize Sunday evening.
Oscar voting is closed, with the ceremony being simply seven days away. So nothing that tonight’s film winners stated from the stage could have any influence on the 97th Oscars, nor will the enjoying of Diane Warren’s nominated energy ballad “The Journey” throughout the in memoriam phase.
However the SAG Awards are, for essentially the most half, a dependable precursor to the Academy Awards. How reliable will they be this 12 months? Let’s have a look.
CAST IN A MOTION PICTUREWinner: “Conclave”
The previous: The winner of this award went on to take the very best image Oscar 15 of 29 years, making it simply the SAG Awards’ least reliable Oscar precursor. (The ensemble prize wasn’t awarded in 1994, the SAG Awards’ first 12 months.) Maybe value noting: The previous three winners — “CODA,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Oppenheimer” — have additionally received the Oscar.
Will historical past repeat itself? After taking this ensemble honor and the very best image prize final weekend on the British Academy Movie Awards, “Conclave” could be very a lot within the working for the very best image Oscar. It has lengthy been held up because the film that would prevail with the Oscars’ preferential poll, a ranked alternative vote that rewards films which can be well-liked — or no less than, not extensively disliked.
Nonetheless, it’s value declaring that “Anora” received the highest prizes this 12 months from the producers, administrators and writers guilds. Just one movie has received these three honors and misplaced finest image — “Brokeback Mountain.”
“Anora” stays the favourite.
FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLEWinner: Demi Moore, “The Substance”
The previous: SAG and the academy have matched 21 of 30 years. Notable latest exceptions: Frances McDormand profitable her third Oscar for “Nomadland” after Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) received SAG, Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”) denying 2019 SAG winner Glenn Shut (“The Wife”) her first Oscar and, simply final 12 months, Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) profitable her second Oscar over SAG winner Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).
Will historical past repeat itself? Did you see that standing ovation? Moore started her comeback narrative on the Golden Globes when she gave a speech — one which she had memorized — that was each gracious and galvanizing. She wrapped it up, beaming, “I do belong.” However then Madison took the honors on the British Movie Academy Awards and, yesterday, the Spirit Awards. And with “Anora” profitable prime prizes on the administrators and producers guild awards, it was straightforward to consider that the momentum on this race had shifted to the movie’s terrific lead. It’s nonetheless a toss-up. However Moore is genuinely cherished within the trade. Individuals are rooting for her. All season lengthy, it’s been straightforward to see why.
MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLEWinner: Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
The previous: This class has been essentially the most dependable indicator of Oscar victory, with SAG and the academy matching 24 of 30 occasions. There are exceptions, although, corresponding to when Anthony Hopkins received the Oscar for “The Father,” prevailing over SAG winner Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”).
Will historical past repeat itself: Chalamet received’t flip 30 till the top of the 12 months. If he received the Oscar for “A Complete Unknown,” he’d be the youngest to take the lead actor trophy. Who at present holds that distinction? None apart from Adrien Brody, nominated for “The Brutalist,” who received for “The Pianist” in 2003, 22 days earlier than his thirtieth birthday.
One factor is for certain: Chalamet now holds the document as being the youngest to win SAG’s lead actor prize, taking that badge from Nicolas Cage, who was 32 when he prevailed for “Leaving Las Vegas” in 1996.
The SAG Awards, voted on by a broad membership of 125,000 members, skew extra populist than the Oscars, so I feel Brody stays the favourite. However now it’s aggressive. The reply, my associates, is blowin’ within the wind. Brody’s movie, “The Brutalist,” earned 10 nominations, whereas “A Complete Unknown” scored eight. Each have their camps. However as a lot because the Oscars love rewarding biopic flip, Brody delivers a critical, deeply emotional efficiency in a film that feels weighty. And he’s previous(er).
FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLEWinner: Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”
The previous: The SAG award winner has gone on to take the Oscar 22 of 29 occasions, together with final 12 months, when Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph received for “The Holdovers,” one in every of numerous prizes she received that season. (Kate Winslet took this class in 2009 for “The Reader” however was nominated for — and received — the Oscar for lead actress for that efficiency.)
Will historical past repeat itself? Let me reply by asking one other query: Is there an award that Saldaña has not received this season? She’s so good in “Emilia Pérez” that not one of the film’s controversies, together with the offensive social media posts of her nominated co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, can hold her from profitable. “Why should she be penalized for something she had nothing to do with?” one Oscar voter informed me final week. Clearly, it was a rhetorical query as Saldaña’s triumphs have continued unabated. She’ll add an Oscar to her haul subsequent week.
MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLEWinner: Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
The previous: The SAG winner has gone on to win the Oscar 21 occasions in 30 years, together with the final 11, the longest streak of any class.
Will historical past repeat itself? This class has turn into a nap since 2016, the 12 months Idris Elba received for “Beasts of No Nation” after not being nominated on the Oscars. Mark Rylance ended up profitable the Oscar for “Bridge of Spies,” beating sentimental alternative Sylvester Stallone, nominated for the “Rocky” reboot “Creed.” We haven’t had a aggressive race since then, with the likes of Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”), Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) sweeping the season — similar to Culkin this 12 months.
