Oscar contenders emerge in SAG nominations

source: incontention.com

The nominees for the Screen Actors Guild awards have been announced, shedding further light on which films are likeliest to get Oscar nods.

Best Ensemble

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

The devastating exclusion of The Dark Knight and Revolutionary Road is sad, but not unexpected. I would say the money is on either Doubt or Frost/Nixon. They are both adapted from stage plays, and are real acting showcases.

In the entire history of the SAG awards, only one winner of Best Ensemble has missed out on a Best Picture nomination. In the last 10 years, 6 of the Best Ensemble winners have gone on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. I believe the film that will take home the big prize at the Academy Awards is within this category. Unless, the uneligible WALL-E turns out to be a real contender (after all, it just won another Best Film award!)

Best Actor

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Nice to see Richard Jenkins get a nod, although I don’t think he has much of a chance. This will be between Penn, Rourke and Langella. I’m rooting for Nixon.

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

A solid five, but expect one of them to miss out on an Oscar nom. After all, Sally Hawkins needs a spot for Happy Go Lucky! Oh, and Cate Blanchett was snubbed again for her work in Benjamin Button.

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr – Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire

Glad to see momentum is picking up for Robert Downey Jr, and Dev Patel is a welcome inclusion (although he’s really more of a lead). But let’s face it – this award was always going to be Heath’s.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Winslet gets her second SAG nomination for 2008, although I think she’ll only get one Oscar nom. Penelope Cruz has had this category in the bag since day one, although my schoolboy crush on Amy Adams makes me wish she would make it to the podium.

The winners will be announced January 25th, 2009.