Argo wins top SAG and PGA prizes on the way to Oscar glory

Ben Affleck’s Argo proves to be the big Oscar favourite after taking home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Deadline reports.

The film’s SAG awards success comes hot on the heels of winning the Producers Guild of America award the previous day, as well as Best Picture and Best Director earlier in January at the Golden Globes.

The multiple wins speak fortuitously of the film’s chances at the upcoming Academy Awards in February, and is proving irresistible headline fodder as Argo is said to be holding the other Oscar Best Picture nominees “hostage”.

When Affleck was overlooked for a Best Director Oscar nomination it appeared the Argo publicity machine kicked into overdrive and now Oscar buzz is as thick as fog with punters listing the film’s biggest competitors for the Best Picture honour as Lincoln and crowd-pleaser Silver Linings Playbook.

The 85th Academy Awards ceremony will take place February 24 in Los Angeles.