'The Help' & 'The Artist' Lead The Field At Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations

Awards

by Oliver Lyttelton
December 14, 2011 9:36 AM
8 Comments

In the seventeen years that they've been running for, the annual Screen Actors' Guild Awards have proven to be a pretty reliable precursor for the acting categories at the Academy Awards. And why shouldn't they? With the actors who nominate their peers for the Oscars overwhelmingly being SAG members, there's always going to be a natural link, and certainly by the time the guild award their prizes, it's a good time to make a bet. In the last few years, they've only missed Penelope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose" and Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine" as winners, while the nominees tend to match up heavily -- last year, seventeen out of twenty in the acting categories were the same, while all five nominees in the Outstanding Cast category won Oscar nominations.

Whether this pans out this year remains to be seen, but there weren't too many shocks when the nominations were announced early this morning in Los Angeles. The biggest beneficiary seems to be two movies that have been favored Oscar players for the last little while, "The Artist" and "The Help." While the former has been more warmly received by the critics circle groups, the latter seems to be playing well within the industry hence the bump here. "J. Edgar" may not be out for the count either as expected nods for Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer seem to indicate that acting categories could propel the movie to the Kodak Theater. Meanwhile, the love-in for Glenn Close this year seems to be shaping up as she earns a nod for "Albert Nobbs" (as does her co-star Janet McTeer).

Surprises? "Bridesmaids" not only got a nomination for Melissa McCarthy, the picture vaulted into Oustanding Cast which is truly a surprise. We're thrilled to see Demian Bichir honored for his moving turn in "A Better Life" a film we figured everyone forgot about, and it looks like Nick Nolte may not be down for the count as he turns up with a supporting actor nod. We're a bit shocked to see Michael Fassbender snubbed for "Shame" -- perhaps the NC-17 rating and subject matter are proving too difficult for some of the more conversative folks in SAG. But the biggest shock of all: "Tinker Tailor Solider Spy" was shut out completely, including an expected nomination for Gary Oldman.

The awards will be given out on Sunday January 29th, nominees below.

Outstanding Cast
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"The Descendants"
"The Help"
"Midnight In Paris"

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role
George Clooney - "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin - "The Artist"
Demian Bichir - "A Better Life"
Brad Pitt - "Moneyball"
Leonardo DiCaprio - "J. Edgar"

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role
Glenn Close - "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis - "The Help"
Meryl Streep - "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams - "My Week With Marilyn"
Tilda Swinton - "We Need To Talk About Kevin"

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role
Christopher Plummer - "Beginners"
Kenneth Branagh - "My Week With Marilyn"
Armie Hammer - "J. Edgar"
Jonah Hill - "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte - "Warrior"

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role
Jessica Chastain - "The Help"
Octavia Spencer - "The Help"
Berenice Bejo - "The Artist"
Melissa McCarthy - "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer - "Albert Nobbs"

Awards

More: Screen Actors Guild, The Help, The Descendants, The Artist, Bridesmaids, Midnight In Paris, Demian Bichir, A Better Life, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar, Jean Dujardin, Brad Pitt, Moneyball, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Albert Nobbs, Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady, Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn, Kenneth Branagh, Armie Hammer, Jonah Hill, Nick Nolte, Warrior, Christopher Plummer, Beginners, Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer

8 Comments

| Reply
StephenM | December 14, 2011 7:15 PMReply

Armie Hammer? Really? I loved him in The Social Network, but he's not even good in J. Edgar. As in, he's bad. Like, really bad. The make-up job made it even worse.
few | December 14, 2011 12:16 PMReply

@Nik Grape - Nope, Shame had quite a few detractors, especially among the major critics.
Chase Hilton | December 14, 2011 11:31 AMReply

HUGE snubs alert! Albert Brooks. Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. Shailene Woodley. Elizabeth Olsen. Charlize Theron.

Why are they nominating ANYONE from J.Edgar? It was a total mess. And early word on Albert Nobbs is far from stellar. Don't give Glenn Close a nod just for being Glenn Close. There were some incredible lead actresses this year (Olsen, Theron, Mara, Jones, Wiig, Dunst...), so it's disappointing they keep acknowledging Close in what is said to be a far from convincing performance.
jenny | December 14, 2011 11:31 AMReply

Anyone who sat through the incredibly dreary Shame is not surprised that Hollywood isn't going to reward it. Indiewire critical acclaim and opinion does not equal prevailing industry truth like... ever.
Nik Grape | December 14, 2011 11:40 AM

Shame has been critically acclaimed across the entire globe. Wherever it went, praise followed. The fact that it was snubbed in Hollywood is not an indication that the film is bad or not award-worthy.
Alessandra R. | December 14, 2011 11:29 AMReply

No The Tree of Life?? Well, but at least Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt got nominations, but it would have been great to get them for this movie.
Nik Grape | December 14, 2011 10:46 AMReply

No Gary Oldman? Jonah Hill?! That's mental.
redcup | December 14, 2011 10:20 AMReply

And no Albert Brooks? He had been besting Plummer previously in terms of awards.