So here we are, nearing the end of the year. We don't know if there's going to be an Oscars or a Golden Globes because of a writers' strike. But we do know who the likely Oscar contenders are going to be. Right? Well, not so fast. The Screen Actors Guild announced their nominees today, making this year's awards race the strangest in recent memory. (The Guild is the largest voting branch of the Academy, and a good predictor of the Oscars.)
Here we go:
The best actor nominees are George Clooney ("Michael Clayton") and Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood"). The other three names on the list are complete surprises: Ryan Gosling ("Lars and the Real Girl"), Emile Hirsch ("Into the Wild") and Viggo Mortensen ("Eastern Promises"). All three performances are stellar, but where's Johnny Depp for "Sweeney Todd," James McAvoy for "Atonement" and Denzel Washington for "American Gangster"? It was supposed to be the year of Depp versus Day-Lewis. Maybe "Sweeney Todd" isn't as loved as its fans like to think it is.
In the best actress category, the nominees are Cate Blanchett for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," Julie Christie for "Away From Her," Marion Cotillard for "La Vie En Rose," Angelina Jolie for "A Mighty Heart" and Ellen Page for "Juno." Usually, the Guilds get at least four of the five nominees right. I think Blanchett is going to drop out on Oscar day. Competing for her spot will be Helena Bonham Carter for "Sweeney Todd," Amy Adams for "Enchanted" and Keira Knightley for "Atonement." Laura Linney has now missed out on both the Globes and SAGS for her wonderful work in "The Savages," which doesn't make her Oscar odds look good.
The supporting categories are less surprising. For best supporting actor, there's Casey Affleck for "The Assassination of Jesse James," Javier Bardem for "No Country for Old Men," Tommy Lee Jones for "No Country for Old Men," Hal Halbrook for "Into the Wild" and Tom Wilkinson for "Michael Clayton."
Best supporting actress: Cate Blanchett for "I'm Not There," Ruby Dee for "American Gangster," Catherine Keener for "Into the Wild," Amy Ryan for "Gone Baby Gone" and Tilda Swinton for "Michael Clayton."
The SAGs don't have a best picture category. But the do have a best ensemble cast, and in years past, many of the same nominees pop up in both. This year, we've got "3:10 to Yuma," "Hairspray," "American Gangster," "Into the Wild" and "No Country for Old Men."
Where's "Atonement"? It had the most Globe nominations, and here it's completely shut out of the SAGs (Not even Saoirse Ronan scored). Is it destined to be this year's "Cold Mountain"? "Sweeney Todd" is also completely shut out--over "Hairspray"?!?! "Into the Wild" was shut out of the Globes and it leads the SAGs, with the most nominees.
Stay tuned. Like I said, this is a very strange year.
