Film
Ensemble Cast: Slumdog Millionaire
Lead Actress: Meryl Streep, Doubt
Lead Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Lifetime Achievement Award: James Earl Jones
Television
Lead Actress, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Lead Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ensemble Cast, Comedy Series: 30 Rock
Lead Acress, Drama Series: Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Lead Actor, Drama Series: Hugh Laurie, House
Ensemble Cast, Drama Series: Mad Men
Lead Actress, Miniseries: Laura Linney, John Adams
Lead Actor, Miniseries: Paul Giamatti, John Adams
409 Responses for "SAG Awards"
What’s that website with the instant newswire photos?
WireImage.com has a lot of instant pictures of the red carpet. Check it out here:
http://wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=350596&nbc1=1
Getty Images is great too – and you can see close ups of the pics for free:
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=83246299
Thanks Laura!
Anyone else having trouble with the TBS/TNT live feed? It’s terrible for me.
Yay Dark Knight! So glad the stunt performers got their deserved award – especially the dude who rode the Bat Pod, because he was seriously amazing.
Any way to watch this online? Don’t got the cable.
Yes, TNT/TBS live feed it’s terrible.
You can watch it here I think: http://es.justin.tv/nautillus
The natural
you can watch it here
http://www.justin.tv/nautillus
brilliant, Deniz, thanks.
but you guys has to live with the spanish chat, it annoys the hell out of me…
Hey, Kate (Winslet) just says in the red carpet that she thinks Meryl and Penelope will win tonight.
Not in full screen view…
also here
http://www.justin.tv/mordane2
Shocker!
This must be a fun month for Sarah Palin.
Tina sez: Strike!
Go Tina.
Speaking of the stunt ensemble, I heard that Quantum of Solace was not even on the eligible contenders ballot. One would think they would have been a pretty obvious nominee. We discuss the problems with the AMPAS voting system enough, but this “you pay $ to submit yourself” process of SAG has its kinks, too.
HOT – Jon Hamm
How do I turn the spanish off of Justin.tv?
“And here we go….”
http://www.justin.tv/mordane2
Use that link for the non-Spanish version.
Does Dev Patel need glasses? Freida Pinto is way too beautiful.
And also WHY WHY WHY show that clip from Slumdog MIllionaire? UGH.
John Hamm is so handsome!! lol
30 Rock is like the Slumdog Millionaire of Television this awards season.
Dev and Freida.
How can anyone not be thrilled for those kids?
HOT – Taye Diggs (glimpsed)
Jake, that would be John Adams.
30 Rock hasn’t been too funny this season. I think Tina needs to get help writing.
“sprawling, enthralling” Ben Button ad. Nice.
Yeah, they really have got to stop showing that SLUMDOG scene. So spoilerific.
PS: thanks for the link.
Yeah, seriously, why do they keep showing that clip from Slumdog? The climactic point of the movie, that won’t mean anything if you haven’t seen it and will ruin it for you if you haven’t seen it, and it’s not even the full clip! Boo to that – here’s hoping they show a different clip at the Oscars.
They better – one that really represents the energy and visual beauty of the film. That clip does nothing.
So cool watching it on the computer vs. my tv. I don’t have cable. Thank you Computer TV.
Uh oh, boring awards montage…. time to go to the bathroom.
Evan Rachel Wood is wearing a bat broach!
“TRAILBLAZERS”…I really like this montage…
Those actors had IN-GENUITY, Evan Rachel!
You have on-genuity…
i went to the link and i can hear only the sound but not the live vdo. must u be in the states only to be able to watch the vdo ?
This montage serves no purpose at all.
@Ryan Adams about his comment on Patel and Pinto:
If you think they’re cute, you’ll all die of super adorableness when you see this picture:
http://tinyurl.com/dbp8jc
Evan Rachel Wood is The Little Ingenue That Could
How d I get to the live feed?
that pic is really cute, Ryan.
Justin, you of all people should know how
Why do you say that Ryan?
3 for 3, now it gets tricky…
(Michael Sheen is adorable.)
Wow, the actors really like Langella and Sheen….
kidding Justin.
Because it’s http://www.justin.tv/mordane2
About Frost/Nixon — how many more Presidents will Hollywood cover? Hasn’t Nixon been done to death?
wasnt nixon the 37th President of the USA? Sheen said the 39th
I clicked on this site but all is get is an audio and no video:http://www.justin.tv/mordane2
http://www.justin.tv/mordane2
this won’t load.. any of u having problem?
haha, wow. that’s funny. thanks Ryan.
YES! I smell two awards for Winslet.
Though she needs to be less “breathless” in her speeches. But when she got over that, she was quite gracious and succint.
KATE!!
Oh, well…
See you at the Oscars, Penelope.
One down, one to go
Go kate
“wins for her role as a Nazi guard with a secret past”?
There’s a bigger secret?
it’s ok d. my bad
wow. winlset..
crossing finger for double whammy
haha ryan i love your caustic wit
It would be great to see Kate win twice again…
And she thanked Harvey!!!
Why are the British so “serious” when they accept an award? Laugh a little, let it all hang out.
Oh, Lord. Kate Winslet cleavage. Those Twin Peaks who make Fire Walk With Me… Such a classical and most important, natural, beauty.
And how about Angelina Jolie with a new haircut, and SMILING in the audience. Maybe it’s not her. Could be a clone.
Well, Kate won Supporting.
No Penelope. No Viola.
The category is still open. At least until BAFTAs, don’t?
why did kate mean by “everyone deserves a medal”, she’s not good at speeches, is she?
it seems that Kate Winslet is gonna win twice
Anyone having trouble with Justin TV can try upgrading their browser with the latest version of Adobe Flash Player:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
That link is working ok on my laptop.
Update Flash Player, see if that helps, ok?
Sags are moving quickly. Academy should learn something.
Murtada, perhaps Kate is not good at giving speeches because she never wins. Give her a break – I thought she spoke from the heart.
Sally, you haven’t heard Hugh Laurie. I is very funny.
@murtada: She’s just so used to losing, that’s why. Maybe when she wins the Oscar she’ll knock her speech out of the park.
Yay Kate! I hope that, if she does get Lead, there won’t be any kind of backlash and/or tiring of her winning everything this year.
Taye Diggs
Did I say hot?
I meant hottt.
“Why are the British so “serious” when they accept an award? Laugh a little, let it all hang out.”
Why “the British”? There was nothing overly serious about Julie Christie or Helen Mirren, or even Daniel Day-Lewis, really. Tilda Swinton gave one of the most comedic acceptance speeches in quite a while at the Oscars last year.
Hugh Laurie again????? Come on. Jon Hamm and Shatner much better.
Hugh Laurie, yay!
So far: 2 Brits, 2 Americans.
Stopped watching House because his character was too weird and the medical cases were incomprehensible.
LOVE Hugh Laurie!
Kate Winslet had me convinced she’s German, Paul.
Amy Poehler, future Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner.
Amy Poehler + John Krasinski = Love.
Ryan, you mean during her acceptance speech?
Ugh. Sally Field.
You like me! You REALLY REALLY like me!!!
Sally’s having a little trouble being controversial now that Bush is gone.
Woof, woof.
(Emily Blunt and the Milk boys, that is.)
lol Ryan
*HOT* and *hotter* Full Frontal Franco!
hotness X 3.
Sasha why don’t you like Sally?
No Sally didnt say “cable girls”
)) She is always funny in those acceptance speeches! i am glad she won by the way…well deserved.
They just made fun of Grey’s Anatomy. Fantastic.
Who watches these series?
The Closer? Really?
Dexter, yes.
Sorry my comments are so lame but I just have to say not jon hamm again, my ovaries can’t take much more of this.
That’s vaguely snarky:
“This is the first win for the cast of Mad Men. They were nominated last year.”
i’m really looking forward to Heath win…
I like her. She has enough awards, let someone else win. I do like her, though, I really really like her.
Wouldn’t you like to brush away that stray lock of hair, Sasha?
(Almost said “Wouldn’t we like to…” But I don’t need an elbow in my eye.)
I wouldnt be surprised if they announced the best supporting actor at the very end!! They probably know that people are waiting to hear Heath Ledger win again!
I watch what I can on Hulu.com, I was watching Damages last night and got bored because couldn’t make heads nor tails what was going on. Close is good, Hurt was good, but what did I walk into? Couldn’t tell you. Guess you have to catch these series from the very beginning.
I tried watching Mad Men and was bored. Actually, there isn’t too much on TV that holds my attention. I used to be a TV fanatic, but what makes these shows nowadays is the actor(s), not so much the script. Because the scripts are fairly predictable.
Stopped watching Brothers and Sisters, Greys Anatomy (really weird turn of events), Desp Housewives was my fave until they went back to the future. Totally lost me.
Anybody thinking that Kate’s inability to give a good speech might be hurting her chances. After all Meryl would be pretty awesome.
The reason Kate is getting awarded now is her body of work over the many years.
This goes up thread a bit – but I am FURIOUS with the SAG-cast. When they did clips for Best Actor in a TV drama they completely gave a spoiler for this season of Dexter.
Allen Roseberg! This is THEE reason I turned into the SAG awards!!!! SO excited!!!
What’s with the Lifetime going to James Earl Jones? I don’t recall him doing anything on TV or movies lately; mostly theatre. I don’t get it.
uh-oh, he’s going to announce the strike.
@Sally: I’m sure her performance in The Reader also had something to do with it.
Lifetime Achievement means a total body of work not just the recent work.
This show is flying by so fast, I need a dramamine.
oh, lifetime achievement award. I’ll be fine now.
I still think of Jones as theatre actor vs. a movie actor.
@Sally: Kate Winslet was absolute genius in The Reader. She deserves these awards.
“The reason Kate is getting awarded now is her body of work over the many years.”
No it’s because the only other person in the category that came close to matching her performance was Amy Adams.
(Penelope is stupidly overrated. Viola Davis did like 2 minutes worth of acting. Taraji was average.)
I would give him the award just for that voice.
Forrest Whitaker is really bad at public speaking, it was very evident when he was winning a few years back, so why’d they keep making him do these things.
And why are they presenting it as if he is just a voice actor?
He was good looking as a younger man.
hmm, James Earl Jones, circa 1951 – Hot.
ha, Sally, I owe you a coke.
Remember when George Lucas actually had a chin?
Remember when George Lucas actually had a new idea?
HA! Look at that award statue! WTF!
Jones epitomizes the actor: stage screen theatre commercials voice overs. Keep working actor.
HIs award is looking at me. And I’m not liking it.
ha, Euan.
I watched Cast Away again earlier tonight. That Lifetime Achievement statue is the face of Wilson.
Great speech. Mentioning Paul Newman. How come nobody has said a damn word about him?
So Is Kate on her way to her Oscar?
Ryan, now we know why George Lucas hasn’t had a new idea in ages.
KATE is so winning the OSCAR…..
What an amazing man Jones is. Remembering a fellow friend like Harris (TV should shopw Jared Harris at this moment, not that previous one), and end mentioning Paul Newman. A man who took a lifetime award, and continous to keep working, and celebrates those whoe are not here anymore. Grace and beatiful. Should be a role model for accepting awards.
Nice salute to Paul Newman. Still, JEJ completely deserves this recognition. I actually saw him onstage in the Great White Hope in 1969 (I was very young).
Another upthread note – that montage earlier in the show was oddly edited. Another one’s coming up (in memorium). Hopefully it’ll be better.
Yikes, Ernest Brognine. yuck!!
Borgnine is still standing. Yay!
ernest borganine is 92……that’s it just thought you guys should know
ha, dela, poor George.
I can’t get the face of that Lifetime Achievement statue out of my head. It was like a Zulu witch doctor mask.
Borgnine so wanted to say “Crash”
Yay Laura Linney….
lol, Ryan
Ernest milking the moment. horrific!
Oh no Viola. Not yellow! against the dark skin.
Was that Anthony Hopkins?
He’s really thin. What’s up? Is he OK?
Did Tony Hopkins get some work done?
Euan, I hope he is ok.
Please give Ralph Fiennes something..He is sooooooo overdue!
So great seeing the love for Kate Winslet. She is such a fine actress and has lost out so many times. Her best performance, in Holy Smoke, was overlooked completely. Good to see her getting her dues, and hopefully the Oscar as the icing on the cake
Those mammaries!!!
Time to cry.
That Out of Africa theme always wrecks me to shreds.
The Dark Knight is better than Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog has a fairly unoriginal rags to riches storyline but it’s told in a different way and excels only because it’s so well made. Slumdog gives you a gritty and realistic life story except when you get to the end it’s suddenly a fairy tale ending. The Dark Knight on the surface may deal with a masked superhero and villian, but what makes it so brilliant is that under that is a story that is not traditional. The choices the character face are far more complicated than that. Which to me, is more a reflection of real life. It’s ending is not a fairy tale ending, but a necessary ending, and a far more under the circumstances a realistic one.
I really really love Kate Winslet but I really really hate that she is winning. She does not deserve awards for The Reader (or Revolutionary Road for that matter). She didn’t give the best performance this year (unlike in past years) and she should win in a year when she deserves it.
*sniff* speechless
(But I like how dela managed to squeeze in a quick cleavage crack just before the obituary montage. Tricky timing, but you nailed it, dela.)
WTF, zach?
Enough with the TDK whining already. It won a SAG so can we all move on now??
I agree Sertan. Ralph Fiennes is VERY due.
Die Dark Knight Die!! Enough about the DK. Please! Geez!
Thank you, Ryan. It was kinda hard to miss or more importantly it was not to be missed. Thank you Susan for giving people their money’s worth.
Kristen Scott Thomas says, Fuck it, I’m not even dressing up.
KST looks plain and very pretty!
paul newman was so beautiful……………
HEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gary OLDMAN — wow.
Well that does it. Heath is going to win the Oscar. The others need to go home.
Who says Brad has lost his looks?
Hello?
That was a really moving little speech by Gary Oldman. Class Act.
Has the audience applauded the mention of any director other than David Fincher in these Best Ensemble intros? That was nice and spontaneous.
GO “Benjamin Button!” I love that movie… *sigh*
Benjamin Button actually prepared a montage to show as a clip for Best Ensemble. Thus it was the best clip of all the films I thought.
Anyone else confused by “From Mark Twain to F Scott Fitzgerald?”
Given the lack of TDK love from the academy, nobody thinking that Heath wouldn’t have been so strong were he still alive?
Or is that Heresy.
love taraji, hope the oscar nom helps make her more visible and we get to see her in many more movies
Mickey’s not there, so I guess he’s not getting the best actor award.
qwiggles,
Mark Twain said, “the best things in life happen at the beginning and the worst at the end,” and that was apparently Fitzgerald’s inspiration. (Thanks Dr. Google.)
Meryl!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Meryl is SUPER excited to win.
Meryl’s screen test for the Oscar speech?
MERYL!!!!!!!!
Meryl does her job. Three way horse race for Best Actress.
How exciting.
It’s between Kate and Meryl now.
Streep is a class act.
MERYL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope the beginning of that speech will not hurt her chance…
She is go good at giving these speeches!
See.
Meryl giving a great speech; showing Kate up; Gonna win that Oscar.
re: #100
I’m glad to see some love for Meryl… even though I hope Winslet pulls the BA for Oscar.
Meryl RUUUUUUULES.
Streep X Winslet Showdown! FIIIIIIIGHT!
Streep auditioning for Kodak Theatre?
Since when does Katie Holmes has enough clout to present the big award?
Meryl = GOAT
Sean Penn deserved it, his performance was super as Harvey Milk!
Boo! Sean Penn……please give Mickey the Oscar.
Standing O for Sean Penn…..??
Wow, maybe the Outstanding Cast will make me happy too. Bravo Sean!
Boo! Sean Penn……please give Mickey the Oscar. Mickey won’t win because he hasn’t been part of the Hollywood community and that makes a BIG diff.
They don’t award in Hollywood unless you are “Hollywood”.
UGH! Why is Winslet not nominated in Supporting at the Oscars?! These are the acting winners I wanted: Streep, Penn, Ledger, and Winslet. Sigh.
Sean’s standing O.
ok, best speech of the night, for me.
Boo! Sean Penn……please give Mickey the Oscar. Mickey won’t win because he hasn’t been part of the Hollywood community and that makes a BIG diff.
They don’t award in Hollywood unless you are “Hollywood”.
Penn’s acceptance speech is poor.
did sean penn just call TV actors idiots?? or did I completely misunderstand?
Nooooooooooooooooooooo-
ooooooooooooooooooooooo-
oooooooooooooooooooooooo-
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo-
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo….Guild, you suck.
YES! SLUMDOG!
WOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What did I tell you about honoring the film full of unknowns? Hear hear to the everyday working actors!
AND! It’s a done deal!
But The Slumdog peeps are SO genuinley suprised and grateful how can you not be happy for them???
Is slumdog that good of movie and should I see it?
UGH! SO RIDICULOUS! Really? People honestly think that the cast of Slumdog Millionaire put in the best performances of the year? It’s so absurd.
What happened to Sean Penn’s speech?
“Slumdog” winning Ensemble is ludicrous. This is for the CAST, people, not the movie. Should have been “Milk” without a doubt.
That being said, go MERYL and SEAN!!! Best wins of the night.
Alfredo, I took Sean’s TV remark to be directed at TV pundits like Billy Bush and Ben Lyons who want to turn everything into a dog-eat-dog catfight horse race.
WOW! Slumdog just cemented its sweep this year. Go Slumdog!
And I’m sorry, but I actually thought Meryl’s speech was kind of rambling and weird. Who knew she was so desperate for more awards? And Sean Penn’s speech….WTF??? Dude, learn how to be grateful.
Milk and TCCOBB had faaar better “ensemble” acting then Slumdog. I mean seriously wtfffffff, getting a bit tired of winning everything
Go Slumdog- Incredible!! Proved me wrong, think its unstoppable for Oscar BP now
That was so good to reco the children, because they were so great and adorable. Thanks Frieda for reminding us of the children.
Thanks, Ryan.
I wonder when it’ll be OK to stop saying the Slumdog team is genuinely surprised and more grateful than anyone in human history for the awards coming their way. Yes, they’re sweet: and the Milk cast would’ve been too, had they won. Enough unnecessary mythologizing of the gee gosh underdog that is SWEEPING the season, please.
Penn’s speech was all kinds of awkward, and though I want so badly for Rourke to win this thing, I found him most endearing. His shout out to Che was ballsy but classy, and the comment about the supposed dog-eat-dog fight with Rourke (I forget his wording already) was a misfire in the delivery, but a nice gesture all the same.
Wow, Paul Outlaw. That noooo! went off the page.
Is that about the ensemble win or what?
Wow, Paul Outlaw. That noooo! went off the page.
Is that about the ensemble win or what?
Also, is it me or does Anthony Hopkins look like he might be ill?
> ” Who knew she was so desperate for more awards?”
When she won the GG for Adaptation, she pointed out that she hadn’t won anything since the Paleolithic Era.
I imagine if, after so many losses, you wonder why they keep nominating you….
I feel like slashing someones throat. I cannot stand Slumdog, the movie was just okay. I am ready to vagisquirt. UGHHHH!!!!!!!
Meryl vs. Kate…That was the showdown that i didnt want to see. I was hoping them to win in separate categories. It will be interesting to see who will win. To be honest I have no idea right now.
May be Sasha will provide us some detailed analysis with all different aspects so it will help us have some clear picture.
Right now, I am in between. Either one is fine with me
Nice that Frieda remember the children in Slumdog, because they did make the movie. So adorable.
I think Sean’s speech went over some people’s heads. (Ryan A, you hit the nail on the head.) Streep, Penn, Laurie, Fey and Oldman: best of the evening.
[...] Para ler a lista de vencedores completa do SAG Awards 2009, é só clicar aqui. [...]
To the Slumdog haters, consider this;
1. The film was almost dumped straight to DVD by the nimrods at Warners. Yes, the same nimrods at Warners who forgot to check if they actually owned the legal rights to make Watchmen.
2. Judging by the box office tracking, it’s going to cross the $100 million rubric on or shortly after the Oscars, amazing considering the movie is partially in Hindi, and let’s be frank here, doesn’t feature a single caucasian actor in a prominent role. When’s the last time that happened, maybe Last Emperor?
3. This awards run is probably a lifetime achievement award to Danny Boyle, who has been anything but conventional.
4. I’ll repeat this, but Slumdog is literally the ONLY nominee of the Final Five that wasn’t greenlit with an eye towards Oscar. I suppose if someone doesn’t try so hard to win an Oscar, they might make a better film
That being said, how do you think the makers of City of God feel about right now? Similar film in style and actually better than Slumdog in execution.
I loved Meryl Streep earning Best Actress.
And I’d have loved to see Benjamin Button take Best Ensemble Cast
I think Penn was talking about “the next one” meaning the Oscars and that the TV people (producers of the Oscars/ABC) have the dog fight that they wanted – at least that’s how I took it. He continued on to acknowledge how much they all appreciate each others’ work (the nominees, perhaps everyone).
Slumdog Ensemble? Really? Whatever.
Those Slumdog Millionaire kids wholeheartedly deserve this award. Just fantastic.
I love this film!
I think the British members will provide enought votes for Winslet to win her Oscar. But, I would love to be wrong.
I had to adjust you comment, Paul.
It was creating a wormhole in the fabric of the time/space continuum.
thanks Ryan! I’m high on Nyquil right now, I knew I missed something!
The only two categories, at this point, that don’t seem to be open-and-shut cases are Actor and Supporting Actress, the latter of which is really interesting because Winslet keeps winning the precursors. I think it’s probably Cruz’s, but Davis has a lot of (much-deserved) support.
OSCAR RACE after【2009 SAG Awards】：Slumdog Millionaire, Heath Ledger（LOCK WIN）；Meryl Streep VS. Kate Winslet（BEST ACTRESS）；Sean Penn fight!!
I agree with The Natural. Of the nominees for Best Ensemble Cast, it was “Milk” by a mile. But “Slumdog” is too big to fail at this point. I haven’t seen Mickey in “The Wrestler” yet, but Sean Penn sure as hell deserved that award (and the Oscar, IMO).
But with Best Supporting Actor coming in the the last half hour of the show, is this what to expect at the Oscars? That will piss me the hell off! They will FORCE angry TDK fans to watch the entire damn show to see Heath win while getting away with not nominating the movie or Nolan. That’s some BULLSHIT!
Sean was talking about the TV commentators (Billy Bush, Ben Dumbfuck Lyon and shit for brains Giuliana Ransic., because they have made comments like its Mickey vs. Sean. I am glad he didnt go ala Tina Fey and grilled our asses, because we are posting the same comments as the TV commentators.
I know whos throat i will slash, Ben Lyon. I cannot stand him.
I would love it if Sean Penn and Meryl Streep won the Oscars too. Loved both performances, and will be watching them for years.
Sean rules !!! Meryl rules !!!! Yay for Kate and Heath
Slumdog best ensemble, really? This love is getting out of control.
At least the movie kids should have shown up to the podium, best actors in the movie by a mile.
I don’t begrudge Slumdog any win except this one. And the main reason is that most of the cast are not members of the Guild. And as serviceable as some of the performances are, this film is not about acting. It’s about Danny Boyle’s vision as a filmmaker and that is something that should be honored. Just not this evening. Stupid, stupid Guild members. Never met a bandwagon that they didn’t like.
@ Ryan
“I had to adjust your comment, Paul.
It was creating a wormhole in the fabric of the time/space continuum.”
Like that Best Cast award did to my mind.
@ Zwingli
“…let’s be frank here, doesn’t feature a single caucasian actor in a prominent role. When’s the last time that happened, maybe Last Emperor?”
Agree with every point you make. It’s all too astonishing to watch this unfold.
(Peter O’Toole played a fairly pivotal role in The Last Emperor as Pu Yi’s tutor, but that doesn’t detract from your comment.)
I so want Mickey to win, but he won’t because he’s not part of the Hollywood community…Sean Penn is….Mickey is kinda “ghetto”, even though he’s campaigning for it….
To #209 Sheniqua: Slumdog is a nice turn after No Country last year….bang bang shoot them up….the public got tired of all the violence last year….Slumdog is the feel good movie.
Man. If Slumdog Millionaire loses Best Picture, it will be the biggest upset since Brokeback Mountain.
Can I survive another one? Yikes.
I mean since Brokeback Mountain lost, I’ve held a distance during the award season and then this movie came along and captured my heart. And oh man, everythign it’s been getting is so well deserved. So happy for everyone involved in the film.
I liked Slumdog Millionaire, but acting was its weakness, not its strength.
Ryan,
Good point about Peter O’Toole in Last Emperor. Perhaps if Slumdog wins Best Picture, it will be literally the first BP winner without a single caucasian actor.
By the way, I don’t say that to stir up race issues, but Oscar winners are traditionally not very diverse in their casting.
Not counting Ben Kingsley, Indians don’t get a chance to be up on a podium at these awards ceremonies.
I was in Kate’s camp all season long, but after tonight I’m switching sides…Meryl all the way and here’s why:
– she gives the best speeches
- despite what she says she is the greatest living actress, and only has 2 Oscars and the last time she won was 26 years ago!!!!
- Kate’s better performance was in Rev Road
26 Th january is the republic day of INDIA.
Thanks you to the guild for giving the award to a beautiful film .
All of us in India are celebrating.
Now , we must win 7 oscars , at least .
All the hypocrites who did not want Slumdog to win : Nobody gives a damn about your cheap opinions.
When most big critics like Roger Ebert have loved the film , why do you dumb fools pick on it ?
Keep your mouth shut or get lost .
Congrats to Dev & Irfan & Freida Pinto , and the rest of the cast .
Sometimes these things just seem written.
Ugh this has gone too far. If the award was for Best Film then yes, I agree with the outcome. However, this award was for Best Cast. I don’t think there is anyone on this planet that can look me straight in the face and tell me the cast of Slumdog Millionaire outacted the casts of Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, or Doubt.
SLUMDOG was a great film, and the win here more than proves it’s going to coast to the Oscars, but MILK had the absolute best ensemble. Hands down. Then probably Frost/Nixon or Doubt.
And of course, how about that ensemble for TDK?
Go, Sean! Easily the best lead male performance of the year, with Frank Langella a close second. No way the others will or should win.
that Meryl speech was very “theatre”, i could just picture nathan lane at home clutching pearls and wiping a tear, calling her a ‘hoot’
ew.
“All the hypocrites who did not want Slumdog to win : Nobody gives a damn about your cheap opinions.
When most big critics like Roger Ebert have loved the film , why do you dumb fools pick on it ?
Keep your mouth shut or get lost”
I really loved Slumdog, but opinions like yours give just a bad image to India.
Slumdog is a wonderful film, but it is completely director-driven, as far as I’m concerned. It is not actor-driven, like Frost/Nixon, Doubt, and Milk are. Slumdog deserves the DGA and maybe even best picture. But SAG? NO.
“All the hypocrites who did not want Slumdog to win : Nobody gives a damn about your cheap opinions.
When most big critics like Roger Ebert have loved the film , why do you dumb fools pick on it ?
Keep your mouth shut or get lost .”
Why is it that well-liked underdog types always acquire the meanest defenders once they become the zeitgeist, and dissenting voices say anything that isn’t stars and flowers? Here’s a tip: if you think a film is beautiful, show it some respect by praising it like an adult — without insulting people who spend hours (too many hours) of their day talking about films.
Why does everyone like Slumdog so much?
I really need someone to explain this to me.
I just don’t know why it’s winning all these awards.
To me, it was certainly not the best film of the year. There were many more films that were far more deserving of the award.
I also don’t get the whole -”feel-good” thing going on with it as many people claim. The scenes of torture and child abuse horrified me and honestly made me sick.
The acting was serviceable at best.
I like a lot of Danny Boyles films but the directing and editing seemed very off for this movie, as though he was watching too many Michael Bay/MTV films before he made this film.
I just can’t fathom this film winning the best picture, but it seems almost unstoppable at this point. I didn’t hate the film; I just don’t understand why so many people think it’s so perfect.
Ugh, I really think this will be the first time in 8 years that I won’t be watching the academy awards. It’s simply gotten too predictable and generic.
but do you really think it deserve acting essemble?
“Not counting Ben Kingsley, Indians don’t get a chance to be up on a podium”
ahaha, dela!
I was going to say don’t forget Alec Guinness, but there’s no award for best ensemble half-caste.
I tuned in when Kate Winslet won. What was Tina Fey’s acceptance speech?
I was very pleased with tonight’s winners, and called all of the ones I saw (from Supporting Actress on), except Jon Hamm for TV Actor over Hugh Laurie. Fun night and fast too!
STREEP vs. WINSLET…..oh god please let it be WINSLET…
> “By the way, I don’t say that to stir up race issues, but Oscar winners are traditionally not very diverse in their casting.”
Look at how white the nominees are — and the only black nominees are in supporting roles in films about whites.
I thought Penn’s speech was excellent. Streep gave a speech like one she’s given before. She’s very good at that, in part because she’s used to performing live on stage and isn’t afraid to make mistakes in front of a crowd. Didn’t Streep get a Lifetime Achievement Award from AFI where everyone keep saying over and over again how great she was? Of course, it would be fun if she gets another Oscar but honestly does she really need any more recognition? I didn’t get when she brought up “the greatest living actress” thing? Was she talking about herself?
One thing to consider in support of Slumdog’s win is that it uses three generations of actors to play the three leading roles. And honestly, the kids were more interesting to watch than the adult actors (except for Anil Kapoor as the Millionaire host).
Maybe they were awarding the younger kids more than the older ones?
(I was hoping Milk would win — a wonderful cast in a movie that is all about the need for community.)
Meryl Streep is brilliant at having a semi-prepared speech and performing it as if it all just popped into her head. Sean Penn, I think, actually just says whatever pops into his head. Incredibly fun to watch both methods and marvel at how their minds work.
I think that Indian guy a few posts up has an axe to grind or a chip on his shoulder or something. Whatever!
Between Slumdog and Milk, Milk is the one that will still be talked about 20 years from now. And the best acting in Slumdog was by the children in the film — not the adults. Not by a longshot. The acting in Milk was all-around brilliant.
Let’s not underestimate ANNE HATHAWAY…
Regarding the race for Best Actress, I’m a big fan of both Meryl & Kate W. and I applaud their wins tonight. I nevertheless think that we shouldn’t overlook nor underestimate the exceptional performance given by Anne Hathaway this year. Yes, she is beautiful, very attractive and she definitely has the “babe factor” in her favor, but in addition, she is very talented. She has shown and proven her amazing “range” in an impressive variety of roles from the “Princess Diaries” movies, to her breathtaking last scene in Brokeback Mountain (in which she has very few words to utter but still nevertheless conveys exactly what we need to understand… brilliant!), as well as in “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Get Smart”, “Becoming Jane”, and of course the recent “Rachel Getting Married”. It is indeed a close race this year and I think that each one of these 3 actresses, Meryl, Kate and Anne, would be equally deserving.
Ryan, I agree with you, If Slumdog doesn’t win, it will be a huge upset just like 3 years ago when Brokeback had won everything but was shockingly snubbed at the Oscars. I wonder if it’ll happen this time? Not that it really matters.
TDK wins the most awards of any film, so…yay?
On another note, I finally saw The Reader over the past week and have to say I’m in the lonely camp of liking it better than expected while 1) feeling Winslet’s performance really IS supporting, and 2) thinking she is not at all the chief redeeming element of it, as most of its detractors say.
She’s good, of course, but I found Kross, Olin and Ganz all to have given more fully realized, powerful performances. And the reason, I’d wager, is not Winslet’s fault so much as a quirk in the script that makes her supporting indeed: her character is a vaguely defined ghost, whose motives are unknown and, so far as the film concludes, indecipherable.
Do we ever get a sense of what literature does for her? And is there not a little cheating in sliding from establishing a character’s illiteracy to implying that if only everyone were literate, everyone’d be into Chekhov? It strikes me that an aptitude for high art is not simply something you have independently from ANY artistic indulgence but something that develops in tandem with it — i.e. as you are actually immersing yourself in that art. Such that, if Hannah were not literate but DID have an underdeveloped penchant for the arts, it would come out in other mundane ways: wordplay, a skill at crafts, etc.
I don’t know — I found its sense of what draws people to art so undercooked compared to the depiction in, say, The Lives of Others, and the performance suffers for it.
“The acting in Milk was all-around brilliant.”
I agree, but then again was Diego Luna supposed to be that annoying in Milk? Man he bugged me. I practicallly cheered during his last scene.
I think Diego Luna was supposed to be a weird cat. Though I haven’t seen the documentary on Milk that won an Oscar in the early 80s. I really, really would love to see that included with the eventual DVD/Blu-ray release of this film.
Why is it every time I see Kristen Scott Thomas I immediately think of Under the Cherry Moon.
Do you think she even admits she was in a Prince movie now?
@qwiggle: Your comment is probably the best defense I have seen of Kate Winslet’s role in The Reader being categorized as Supporting. Bravo.
Lead or not though I’d still give her the Oscar as much as I love Streep.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, qwiggles.
David Kross, one of the two most outrageously overlooked actors of the year, alongside Benicio Del Toro.
@DaneM: I saw the documentary. Very good. Pretty much the documentary version of the film. Made me cry. In any case it didn’t really delve into Harvey’s various relationships, so it didn’t provide me with any info about Luna’s character. The documentary though affirmed for me that Sean Penn did an AMAZING job and deserves the Oscar.
I wonder if the Oscars nominated Kate because she took over at the last minute after Kidman dropped out and thus spared us the agony of having to watch naked Nic and her frozen forehead in the tub with an 18 year old boy…..
Re: Anne Hathaway. Normally, the Oscar voters go for the hot young actress over the established winner (recall that Christie, Keaton, Burstyn and Spacek have all lost to younger women recently). But I don’t see Hathaway has having built up the cred to do this yet. Cotillard was mostly an unknown, I imagine, but Theron and Berry and of course Roberts had been getting good roles prior to their winning performances.
The European vote went to “The Reader”, nomination-wise, and it will go to Kate Winslet, win-wise. The all international vote will go to “Slumdog Millionaire” in many categories.
I do not think they are going to give it to Penelope Cruz. Last year let us see a group of all European Oscar winners in the acting categories. Why would they go for two European ladies all over again?
Politics are involved indeed. They played a remarkably important role in 1967/8, and they will do so again in 2008/9 (but quite obviously in a far “happier-go-luckier” way). Sean Penn’s turn in “Milk” has this factor added to the actor’s masterful artistry. Taraji P. Henson is playing a beautiful character, full of hope and good values, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” = “The Aviator”, she is wonderful as Quennie, she is a US subject (even more, she has African ascendancy), and she is embodying “the mother of the USA”.
“In any case it didn’t really delve into Harvey’s various relationships, so it didn’t provide me with any info about Luna’s character.”
From the interviews I have read with Lance Black, Cleve Jones (who was on set for nearly the entire production), Anne Kronenberg, and Danny Nicoletta, Jack Lira was a big pain in the ass to everyone in Harvey’s circle. I feel confident that Lance Black wrote and Gus Van Sant directed Diego to play Jack Lira very much like the person was. He was very needy and very disturbed.
I feel the cast of “Milk” was the best ensemble of the films that I have seen (I have not seen all of “Doubt”, so excuse me on that one). “Slumdog”’s cast was, as one person put it, serviceable, but not superior acting.
I’m watching the broadcast a second time now, and sorry, but how the hell is Abigail Breslin in the “Trailblazers” montage?
I agree on David Kross and Benicio Del Toro. They were magnificent!
They were going over child performances in film. Makes sense.
The Meryl-heads on The Envelope are kicking this around, so I’ll throw the topic to this room: Did Meryl Streep basically destroy Amy Adams’ Oscar chances by openly campaigning for Viola Davis during her SAG speech?
Why is Sally Field not in bold? Your predictions or just a mistake? Surely she is as deserving as the other winners.
That “trailblazers” montage was ridiculous. It was so tacky to separate by race, handicaps, etc.
David Kross was really weak. He was really out of his depth, and seemed very uncomfortable as the lead in that big-important-film.
I have to agree with Anthony Lane’s comment that he was “borderline bovine”.
@ Zwingli: Did Meryl basically just reinforce a two-horse race between Cruz and Davis when it seems like it’s Cruz’s to lose?
BTW that Frost/Nixon costar banter could have been funnier.
The thought that only Slumdog (the unstoppable) or The Reader (spawn of Harvey) can win Best Picture is kinda freaking me out, since the other three nominees would be more to my taste for assorted reasons. (Yes, even Frost/Nixon.)
@Zwingli: I guess, but Amy Adams hasn’t had that much buzz to begin with at least compared to Viola so when you factor in Meryl’s speech Adam’s chances went from 2% of winning to 1%, basically irrelevant.
ok, I see the string of child actors, The Natural, but how are they all “Trailblazers”? That’s how the clip-fest was announced, and that’s what it was entitled.
Jackie Coogan, Trailblazer. All the rest, I don’t get it. Unless they were honoring Breslin as a trailblazer poll-dancer child actor. (Just trying to find something to snarl about in a mostly great evening.)
Why IS Cruz the frontrunner anyway? My point about Amy Adams was that many people considered her a possible upset winner for Junebug and her snub for Enchanted was somewhat of a surprise, one would think that Adams would have been in the number two slot and not Davis. Either way, was it somewhat disrespectful for Streep to openly campaign for one co-star at the expense of another?
Woohoo!
TOTALLY called Slumdog to win in the “No Guts No Glory” thread!
Streep praised both Adams and Davis. It’s just that she’s aware which one of the two actresses has the stronger career (and why) and was trying to give a sister some endorsement.
I have to agree with Anthony Lane’s comment that he was “borderline bovine”.
Anthony Lane is a borderline bunghole. He’s the worst critic working for any major publication.
I know we all thought it, but what Meryl said doesn’t have to be construed as pushing Davis for the Oscar. It was just strong praise for her. Yes, though, a shame, since she’s now worked with Adams twice, and Adams actually has a more complicated role in Doubt.
She said nice things about Adams too, though. But the people who are blown away by Davis — I’m not sure why they are.
Slumdog winning for acting is beyond depressing. Seriously, it’s like SAG doesn’t even know it’s own category.
I want P.Cruz to win as well but I also don’t get why everyone thinks it’s so in the bag. It could go anyway but Amy Adams I think. Also, regarding Meryl’s comments, I think it was also because Amy Adams DOES have movies of her own. It was more like, “hey! look at that great underrepresented actress I worked with! Throw her a bone in the movies why don’t you!?”
Streep was highlighting Davis’ struggle, ie, not being given opportunities to play great roles. Adams is already a big star who commands a multi-million salary.
Someone brought up the babe factor- This years Kate Winslet has all the facotrs covered- a young beautiful actress, well respected, a big star, and long overdue. How can she loose come Oscar time?
@277: I hope you meant that Amy Adams has the stronger career, and deservingly, and that Meryl is doing the diplomatic thing by trying to push a genuinely talented but previously unrecognized breakthrough performer.
As per the Meryl debate: I think she was just trying to shine light on an unknown but insanely talented actress. She didn’t say give her an award, she said give her a role….like a ful-fledged meaty role….not a 5 minute peice, which she incidently killed….
HOWEVER! That said, an endorsement from Meryl prolly won’t hurt…if anything it might casue the Academy members to pay more attention to Davis’ performance in Doubt, which may get her the needed votes to upset….all in all….it prolly did help her campaign though…even if it were incidentaly….
“Slumdog winning for acting is beyond depressing. Seriously, it’s like SAG doesn’t even know it’s own category.”
I couldn’t agree with you more.
If Amy Adams isn’t winning, neither is Marisa Tomei. No way is Tomei getting another one any time soon.
“Seriously, it’s like SAG doesn’t even know it’s own category.”
So true, Fatima. lol.
@Swingli: Penelope Cruz is the favorite.
Penelope Cruz: won 7 critic awards which includes wins in NY, LA, and NBR; nominated for SAG, Globes, BFCA, BAFTA
Viola Davis: won 5 critic awards; nominated for SAG, Globes, BFCA
Marisa Tomei: won 8 critic awards; nominated for Globes, BFCA, BAFTA
Taraji P. Henson: won 1 critic award; nominated for SAG, BFCA
Amy Adams: nominated for SAG, Globes, BAFTA
This is why I love Meryl Streep. This is why I just love her.
She knows the industry. Davis is black, is not in her twenties, and she is not what Americans would prefer on their television screens. Post-Doubt, the chance of Davis finding any script with such substance is almost an impossibility. Streep, a talented actress herself, knows how Davis’ great talent will go to waste and she’s doing all she can to prevent such a loss.
Please, enough with this Penelope madness. What was so special about her performance in VCB? I have seen more emotion and range in telenovelas.
An addendum to my Supporting Actress tally…
It’s also difficult to figure out the frontrunner, because the ACTUAL frontrunner, Kate Winslet, is not in the running at the Oscars.
She won 2 critic awards, SAG, Globes and BFCA, as well as nominated in the BAFTA (and Oscar) for lead actress.
Hey, how come SAG has twice as many categories for TV actors as they do for film actors? That’s more than a little screwed up.
bullshit
@282
I don’t think my comment required (mis)translation, actually. It was already in English.
Meryl – “I didn’t even buy a dress!” Priceless!
She is witty.
But Kate Winslet will win this smackdown at “the next one” as Sean Penn called the Oscars! Lololol…
Sean got a standing O. As did poor Heath. And as did Meryl.
Still think Kate W. will win for “The Reader” because Harvey W. will make sure of it.
Can Harvey’s legendary Oscar muscle upset in the other four categories “The Reader” is up for? If anyone can, he could. The “Slumdog” train seems unstoppable…now…except for Harvey’s stated will to win an Oscar, belatedly, for Anthony Mingella and Sidney Pollock…
And Sean’s speech was wonderful.
Mickey just lost the Big O tonight. As Sasha has said, everybody in the Actor’s Branch wants to be Sean Penn and nobody wants to be Mickey Rourke.
A SAG voter said to me today about Mickey “So, he made one movie? So what?” Whereas Sean is clearly the greatest actor of his generation. And he got a standing O, before he made a speech that would’ve made Harvey Milk VERY proud…
So many ghosts haunting the awards this year…Harvey Milk, Heath, Anthony Minghella, Sidney Pollock….But they are all GOOD ghosts.
Bestowing inspiration as opposed to fear…God rest their beautiful souls….
I’m glad to see some people agree on Slumdog. The whole love for it is just something I’m going to have to accept but never understand. I guess I can deal with it. But to win for acting when Milk and Doubt are out there is not just a difference of opinion, it is simply incorrect.
@ Ryan A:
There are five film categories and eight TV categories. And no supporting categories for TV.
Couldn’t say why though…
Fatima, all of the above comments ^ are the feeling that Harvey Weinstein is hoping will make his play for Best Picture for “The Reader” viable.
I’m betting he(or his people) are reading all these negatories on “Slumdog” and will use them in their arguments with Oscar voters who are “undecided.”
The only thing that could stop “Slumdog” is “The Reader.” Could there have been any MORE commercials for it? I watched it on TBS and everytime they went to a commerical, “The Reader” WAS the commeri cial!
I hope Harvey doesn’t mess up and overdo The Reader campaign and hurt Winslet’s chance of winning. I’m still not so sure she’ll win in February but if Harvey mounts a tasteful campaign she could. I really think Best Actress is the only award The Reader has a chance of winning.
I’m glad Penn won tonight. He may not win the Oscar but he sounded sincere and nervous and grateful tonight.
Penelope Cruz MUST win for Supporting Actress. Viola Davis make what every black actress do in Oscar nominated roles, cry, cry cry, and angry,,,and cry and sooo sad. For example: Jennifer Hudson, so sad, so angry and crying. Ruby Dee, soo angry, so sad, crying and criging.
Penelope to Win The Oscar, for the most funniest role of the year!
Stephen- Oh man, I haven’t seen The Reader yet but that kind of scares me. I know what Harvey is like and I don’t like buying Oscars. It was bad enough when he got Chocolat nominated. You really think it’s in slot 2 for picture? I was cheering for Milk as my sentimental fav and Benjamin Button for my realistic favorite. I still think Slumdog is unstoppable. I’d probably like The Reader more though. If a word comes to my mind with Slumdog, it’s “ordinary.” Like the friggin Kite Runner with bright colors and less emotional heft.
this clearly shows that people are voting for the movie, and not the category. HOW ON EARTH DID SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE WIN???
-excuse me while I go throw up.
Bollocks. It didn’t even deserve a nomination for Ensemble. It deserves Best Picture a hundred times before ensemble. Doubt should have won, if not Milk. Slumdog would be my absolute last choice, and was not on my SAG ballot.
Ryan Adams, will you go on a date with me?
“But to win for acting when Milk and Doubt are out there is not just a difference of opinion, it is simply incorrect.”
Fatima, you are dead on with this. Slumdog was a good movie, not a great one. I liked it the way I liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Good movie, could possibly get an award or two, but to win everything either means no other good films were nominated (not the case) or everyone is jumping a bandwagon and no one knows why.
Meryl showed us tonight that she really-really wants that third Oscar. If she doesn’t win this year she’ll most certainly win on her next “supporting” nomination as throwing-a-bone gesture.
Supporting category is most often the least predictable and with Kate out of the way anything can happen. Going by Micahel Clayton theory (giving a prominent film something in a major category) Davis or Henson could very well win.
Penelope Cruz MUST win for Supporting Actress. Viola Davis make what every black actress do in Oscar nominated roles, cry, cry cry, and angry,,,and cry and sooo sad. For example: Jennifer Hudson, so sad, so angry and crying. Ruby Dee, soo angry, so sad, crying and criging.
Penelope to Win The Oscar, for the most funniest and the strongest role of her career!
I saw Slumdog when it was first in limited release in November and loved it. Still think it’s great, but have to admit I’m getting a little tired of the love for it…is that strange? I love it…but that doesn’t mean I think it deserves Best Picture.
I think it could go down as ‘Crash’ has in that it was hugely popular during it’s run…but looking back a few years later is just a good movie and by no means a Best Pic. Just my two cents.
The fact that it’s winning EVERYTHING so far could hurt it for the Oscars.
I still think Slumdog and Button are going to split Best Picture and Best Director…just not sure which will get the pic vs. the director. If I had to guess right now, I’d say Fincher gets Director and Slumdog wins pic.
haha, dan.
You’ll have to let me know what I’ve said that seems so dateable, so I can try to say those sorts of things more often. Thanks.
Then again…Little Miss Sunshine won the PGA and SAG, but it lost the Oscar…deservedly!
(crosses fingers)
Ryan you are adorable. Not surprised by dan’s offer.
Lucio: Shut the fuck up!!
Penelope did the same exact thing: cry, cry, and angry
Ryan,
I will let you fill out my Oscar ballot if you go on a date with me
booooo Davisss, 10 minutes??? shut up you!!! you will shut up on Feb 22nd!
Lucio,
go get laid or something.
Cruz will win!!! so to sleep and sweet dreams!
yeah, i hope she wins. But quit making stupid comments about black actresses. You piece of trash.
go to sleep, why you still here talking to trash?
So I’m wondering what Sean Penn disagreed with of the winners tonight.
His win was marvelous. I still haven’t seen the Wrestler and I have no doubt that Rourke is great. But until I’m convinced otherwise, Sean is the man in this category. I would love to see him win.
And Ms Meryl. She always deserves to win; and her speeches are to die for. Tonight though she seemed genuinely touched and grateful and surprised by the win. Wonderful shout out for Viola. I agree with the above – I think it was to draw attention to her since Amy Adams already is an established star. (And she was better in the film than AA).
And would someone please remind Angelina that she doesn’t need to dress in a sack to these awards things. At least this one had some color.
because, you are a skank. good night
Oh,c`mon guys, now you are going to cheer The Reader against Slumdog? Please, The Reader is the enemy, 60% at RT! It`s the reason why TDK didn`t make it, not Slumdog.
Oks!!! zzzzzz
“Then again…Little Miss Sunshine won the PGA and SAG, but it lost the Oscar…deservedly!”
Except Slumdog has won Best Picture critic awards up to their wazoo while LMS didn’t. Slumdog also has a Golden Globe win and is the BAFTA and DGA frontrunner unlike LMS.
That was sad watching Gary Oldman up there, you could tell he was trying not to cry. I’m glad Heath is winning these awards, he most certainly deserves it. Oscar is already his, as far as I’m concerned.
I think Slumdog has sparked the ire of the awards obsessed because usually when something sweeps all the awards this way without any question, it is almost obviously better than everything in its category. With Slumdog, the sweep feels so undeserved. Not just that I didn’t like it, just that it doesn’t go far enough to earn titles in a way that marks it astoundingly better than the competitors. I know that’s subjective, but it makes sense to me. Like when the Departed won, I was like “I get why this is winning both artistically and politically” With Slumdog, I, for the first time in a long time with awards, feel like I need a little pocket industry insider that can explain it to me.
I know right!
slumdog is going to win i’m 100% sure. so let stop arguing, and hope for something more deserving, and more exciting next year. Not that i hate slumdog it is a really unique flim, but overreated. also when you look at the oscar nominee, do you guys really want a forest gump 2 with special effect, another (boring, i mean boring that i could not actually finish the movie, but thats my opinion ) holocast movie, a political movie that was really not something special, or even interesting (to me frost/nixon was ron howard once again tryng to win oscar. But if milk wins i think that would be an apology for letting crash win in 2005. so i say slumdog is really the “best” compare to the other nominee, and also is something new i have to admit. I can understand why the academy are all goo goo gaa gaa all over it. It is a special indie movie. And the slumdog cast are the most uplifting people i have seen.
WHY pray tell WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY are people talking about Ben Button as if it stood a chance in HELL at winning director OR picture? It doesn’t. Milk has won more awards. Milk is the potential upset, NOT Ben Button. End of friggen story.
Yup. Agreed with A.M.J. here. Despite a weak set of nominees this year, Slumdog is the best of the bunch.
In a year hampered by the writer’s strike, we’ve really seen a poor set of American films. Yes, there are great ones, as there are every year, but 2009 already has a Star-studded lineup of big name directors coming out with movies, and Cannes hasn’t even happened yet.
However, this year is a phenomenal year for foreign films. Many of which were overlooked by the Academy. Gomorrah, Let the Right One In, 4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days are fantastic.
Just wait until next year when you guys get to see Flame & Citron. Oh man.
I still know right!
“Like when the Departed won, I was like “I get why this is winning both artistically and politically” With Slumdog, I, for the first time in a long time with awards, feel like I need a little pocket industry insider that can explain it to me.”
It happens.
I mean last year when No Country For Old Men swept through everything, I didn’t really get it. There Will Be Blood to me was just so much better.
“With Slumdog, I, for the first time in a long time with awards, feel like I need a little pocket industry insider that can explain it to me.”
Fatima, please stop typing my comments before I am able to! I agree with you 105%.
It seems inevitable that whoever becomes the front runner for best picture automatically gets a huge amount of backlash. (Unless they lose in an upset, then the movie that won instead (a la Crash) gets all the backlash)
This comment: “A SAG voter said to me today about Mickey “So, he made one movie? So what?” makes me completely sick inside. Yes and that perf in that one movie deserves the Oscar.
What are the chances of Forrest GUmp 2 winning the oscars?
278, 265, 219, 169, 154, 134, 133, 123, 119, 116, 109, 93, 57, 15…
just some examples, Ryan. I’ll take you on a really good date. We can see that Hannah Montana movie, though the title escapes me right now. Just find me on facebook.
To the Slumdog Haters:
1. I concede that it did not deserve best cast. As has been stated, the directing, not the acting, was the highlight of the movie.
2. Yes, the movie is not amazing and is, in fact, weak compared to many past BP winners (No Country, Million Dollar Baby, etc).
3. That said, what movie that was nominated was better? Ben Button has a gazillion flaws and a script that is just a hot mess, not to mention a complete lack of chemistry between Pitt and Blanchett (sp?). It sprawls all over the place and tries to be a love story, despite the elephant in the room, namely that HE AGES BACKWARDS, which simply DEMANDS an explanation and a higher level significance. It was not intended as a love story, and anything that is as unrealistic as aging backwards is simply awkward if its sole significance is to be part of a love story, because the audience doesn’t know how to feel about his aging backwards. Are we supposed to feel sorry? Is it a good thing?
No one has really rooted for Frost/Nixon, and for good reason. It was a very safe, very solid documentary. The few attempts at art (the romance between Frost and the girl) were awkward. While very good at its main point, I do not think a movie that is at its core a photograph of one event in history, that does not interpret that event, is worthy of a best picture.
I haven’t seen the Reader yet. I won’t argue against it, except to say that the critics did not like it. Feel free to build a case for it.
And obviously, I loved Milk and would love to see Milk win Best Picture, but Slumdog was riskier, with the game show style. It could have been cheesy. Instead, it was quite well done and somewhat innovative. I might think that Milk’s message is more important to the US right now, in light of Prop 8 and Obama and just where we are as a country, but I cannot argue that, as pure art, Milk was without a doubt better. I think Milk and Slumdog are the clear two best of the four that I have seen, because they both have heart that the other two do not have. They also happen to have scored ten to fifteen points better on Metacritic than Ben Button and Frost/Nixon.
Conclusion: Slumdog definitely has flaws people, but this year kind of sucked for movies. Last year, we had two films that might end up in the greatest-of-all-time list, two others that were at least as good as anything this year, and one very high quality popular entertainment movie that carried a weighty message (Michael Clayton). This year, one of the nominees didn’t even break 60 on Metacritic. And everyone talks about how Slumdog wasn’t anything special, and maybe it wasn’t, and maybe other films deserved to be nominated that were not, but, of the five nominees, which one was better than Slumdog and WHY?
1 billion people living in India. Slumdog wins oscar, then Indians will love even more Hollywood. So, more ticket sales in India, and Hollywood gets more money. Didn’t Spilberg say that because of the economy, “we need to become more global” Selling more movie tickets in India is a perfect example.
Honestly, the dancing at the end of Slumdog is sooo cheesy. Total Hanna Montanna/Britney ending. That was a big turn off. Patel was pretty “ok”. The biggest highlight of the movie was the acting of the children. PERIOD.
Milk should win.
Reader was awesome. Slow in some scenes.
Benjamin was nice.
I don’t see a lock in any of the major categories except for David Boyle as best director, other than that it’s
Actor-Penn vs. Rourke
Actress-Streep vs. Winslet
S. Actor-Ledger vs. Downey Jr.
S. Actress-Cruz vs. Davis
Pic-Slumdog vs. Ben Bottoms
Yes I know that many say the Heath is a lock, but there will be members who say “let’s give to someone alive”, plus Downey Jr. is hot now, what with Iron Man.
wow, dan.
I do like a person who studies up before coming to class
With that kind of diligence I’m sure you’re attractive to any number of high maintenance companions.
I just want to say what an absolute blast it’s been to party with you guys tonight. Brilliant rapport and festive atmosphere. Hardly any bloody noses or eyeballs clawed out.
Overall, who can be too unhappy with these winners, right? Because we know that winning SAG — or any other of these foreplay awards — can just as easily spell doom on Oscar night as it might otherwise signal a sweep.
Last year “You can’t stop what’s coming” and this year “It is written”
The Academy seems pretty determined to try to ruin our moods this year — I’m gad to see nobody is in the mood to let them.
really, thanks for tonight. I’m lovin’ these final few weeks. Cheers!
Slumdog is my favorite movie of the year, but I do think ensemble should have gone to Milk or Doubt which were true acting gems. It would be hard to choose one of those, though, given that Doubt is basically 4 main actors whilst Milk is much more involved, but both are amazing. But Slumdog does have good acting, just not the best.
For those who don’t understand the hype behind Slumdog, there’s no need to understand it. We’ve all been mystified before by certain favorites. I don’t really see why films like There Will Be Blood, A Beautiful Mind, Lost in Translation, and Seabiscuit (to name a few) were so special, but apparently, a lot of people really did. And lots of films that I find really special like Slumdog, The Reader, Shakespeare in Love, Crash, and Moulin Rouge (to name a few) other people hate. Very rarely is there a movie that almost everyone can agree is amazing. This year there just isn’t one except for maybe Milk and The Dark Knight which I haven’t really heard any negative comments about. But even those films, though not receiving much negative sentiment, may not be people’s favorites of the year.
I also think it helps that Slumdog Millionaire is the one movie with a happy ending amongst a slew of seriously depressing movies and weak comedies.
By mentioning Rourke in his ramblings, Sean Penn just reminded everyone that Mickey would have given a more entertaining speech. Rourke wins the Oscar.
Slumdog feels like it’s film’s version of 30 Rock… you just have to vote for it because apparently it’s the only good thing in film/TV. In fact Slumdog Millionaire was the only movie made this year.
SAG needs to wise up. This ensemble award is utterly embarrassing. Guys, do you even remember what the award is for?
Even if you love Slumdog to death, you don’t have to give it every award imaginable. Give credit where it’s due! That said, Milk was completely robbed. That was one of the best ensembles in years! Plus, Slumdog didn’t even deserve the nomination.
I’m still hoping for a Reader/Milk upset. Or maybe WALL-E can win Best Picture as a write-in?
I’m not totally against Slumdog. I didn’t hate it. But it’s vastly overrated and winning very undeserved awards. If it wins the Oscar this year, it will be a “so what” movie later on, just like A Beautiful Mind and Crash. Meanwhile, The Reader will be pondered for years to come, Milk will be celebrated for ages, and WALL-E will make people’s all-time favorites list.
~Steven
To the Button Haters:
Good night.
MERYL IS SO WINNING THE OSCAR!
The standing ovation! The audience loved her!
They rewarded Winslet, because they felt they should give her something. But for Streep there was love, love, love!
She gets the Oscar!
I just re-watched it.
Standing ovation, cheers and lots of love for Meryl!
Just applause for Winslet!
Sorry, but that’s how it is.
Ross, you are right, they do love Meryl, and Meryl certainly gave the best performance out of the five. But replace Kate Winset’s performance in Revolutionary Road with her performance in The Reader, and I say Kate is the best. Either way, I think Meryl and Kate are the best actresses in film today, so I won’t be disappointed if either of them wins.
TDK swept all its nominations. Suck on the Slumdog! haha
So did “The Reader” DAMMIT! (well maybe it can be like baseball stats – you need a minimum of 2 noms for a sweep)
Again. congrats to (yawn) slumdog millionaire. what a surprise!
What’s with Benjamin? For a movie to get so many mentions and win zip is astounding. Do you think that will happen at the Oscars?
And as Anne Thompson stated, Milk had to win “something” or else.
“And everyone talks about how Slumdog wasn’t anything special, and maybe it wasn’t, and maybe other films deserved to be nominated that were not, but, of the five nominees, which one was better than Slumdog and WHY?”
Well, I for one am glad to see an uplifting movie – Slumdog- after being conned by the critics to go see No Country last year. Like most Americans who saw that movie, I just had my fill of violent movies. After that movie, I said “that’s it,” no more killings and murders for me. Bodies everywhere. I liked 3/4 of No Country and had so many questions when I left the movie that I had to get answers from the message boards.
To me Slumdog is not “great” like some sweeping epic (”Australia” anyone?) like GWTW, but it was beautifully filmed. It was literate (or it is literal?), in other words I could follow the story and esp. thought the game show environment to tell the story was clever.
@ Drew
But let’s talk about the reaction of the crowd – the actors. There was the standing ovation for Meryl in lead. And what did Kate get? Applause. Nothing more. And I think she should stop with these: I don’t win anything.
So they simply LOVE Meryl.
Other than that, to me Kate Winslet isn’t anywhere near the title of the best working actor today. Meryl is there. Certainly. I’d add Julianne Moore (despite of some poor choices lately), Joan Allen and a fave of mine – Cate Blanchett.
But I’m talking solely about the reaction.
“By mentioning Rourke in his ramblings, Sean Penn just reminded everyone that Mickey would have given a more entertaining speech. Rourke wins the Oscar.”
As much as I want Rourke to win, it’s going to Penn because he is part of the Hollywood community. Mickey isn’t. Period. The only thing that saves Mickey are the Old time voters….because Penn plays a homosexual and that’s death to an actor.
‘Twas worth staying up until 3 just to see Slumdog get Ensemble.
“…because Penn plays a homosexual and that’s death to an actor.”
I have to point to Philip Seymour Hoffmann as Capote, Sally. But we both understand that Hollywood likes to see their gays be all mincing and prancing around, often very conflicted and preferably guilt-ridden.
Ennis in Brokeback and Capote both had the requisite inner demons eating them up inside — just like mainstream Hollywood likes to portray gay men. But Capote had Ennis beat in fur-coat flamboyance and non-threatening lack of hot sexuality.
It’ll be interesting to see how a gay hero who’s exuberantly flamboyant yet sexually aggressive, strong-willed and resilient will go over with the entire Academy membership (and not just the actors branch who are more likely to be familiar and comfortable with that attitude).
I’m optimistic. But then, that’s because I’m strong-willed and resilient.
as a slumdog fan I predicted it would lose at SAG and was worried at a backlash, which I have read about here but is hopefully limited to us award junkies. Go Slumdog for Oscar BP!!
A question for those who know their trivia, which films in the past won all of GG (drama) critics choice, SAG ensemble and DGA and did they win the Oscar for BP???
sorry meant PGA not DGA
I believe there have only been 13 SAG Ensemble awards given out before this one, so there’s not as much history as one might like. But SAG/DGA winners are Apollo 13, American Beauty, Chicago, Return of the King, and No Country. Apollo lost GG, as did No Country. Out of Beauty/Chicago/King, all three won. Three for three…perfect, but not that large of a sample.
Oh, I now see you meant PGA. But the same applies. 3 for 3.
I would not mind if Streep wins this year she derseves it. She has been nominated 15 times and has only two oscars. She has done so many different type of roles and even in crap like She Devil she still is good. She has been the best actress for decades people like Winslet and Blanchet are just copy cats. If Walter Breanen can win three fucking oscars for playing the old fogie all the time then Streep derseves a third oscar. It is not fair that she has the same amount of oscars as Luise Rainer and Hillary Swank who only gave two good performances in there carrer.
It would be no big deal if Winslet does not win this year she is young and has plenty of time to win one.
Thanks J. Out of Beauty, King and Chicago which won Critics choice??
I wonder whether Meryl would have won the SAG if Kate was only in the Best Actress category, as she will be at the Oscars. Go Kate!!
this is ridicolous and the oscar this year will be the worst ever…slumdog…
@ Andrew
Probably you forget a thing.
Most actors voted BEFORE the Oscar nominations announcement. So actors just wanted Meryl to win. So I doubt that wheter Kate was just nominated in lead it would have mattered.
To those who dont get the Slumdog thing, its quite simple. The rags to riches story in the film which is capturing people’s imagination is reflected in the rages to riches awards journey for this film, which was not being mentioned much as late as November last year. Hence the band wagon..Get it??
Also I think whilst the other top nominees all have their fans, none of these movies have aroused the same joy and passion as Slumdog
Slumdog Millionaire is ABSOLUTELY NOT the worst BP winner ever. Crash is worse, surely, but here’s some more unfortunate winners (that Slumdog is better than):
Around The World In 80 Days
Dances With Wolves
Shakespeare In Love
Chicago
A Beautiful Mind
I believe wholeheartedly that Slumdog Millionaire is much better than those films. That said, its no Dark Knight.
Slumdog is better than Crash easily but the others you list, I would add:
Driving Miss Daisy
Chariots of Fire
Ordinary People
The Greatest Show on Earth
How Green Was My Valley
Cimmeron
Calvacade
So should it win, it is already in the botton 10%
“Penn plays a homosexual and that’s death to an actor.”
I don’t know, William Hurt did very well after he got his Oscar for Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Besides the role of Harvey Milk is not about romance or sexuality, it’s about activism, much more palatable to the Ernest Borgnines of the Academy.
Edit: I’m basically reiterating Ryan’s post from above.
SO
OVER
SLUMDOG
Acting ensemble?!?!?!?!
Maybe in some crappy year, but not this year.
New rule: To qualify for Best Ensemble, the film must have at least one individual acting nominee. Is that too much to ask? Seriously….
CONGRATULATIONS to the best actor on TV, Mr. Hugh Laurie!
You are silly Ross! Kate won in the best supporting actress category that’s why meryl won in best actress! No way Winslet loses again and Meryl wins another oscar! people re stipid on this board!
I just saw this msnbc headline for Rourke, which makes me shake my head and say “way to go wrong” Mickey — no Oscar for you:
Wrestler’ star Rourke to get in WWE ring
Actor says he’ll participate in ‘Wrestlemania 25’ on April 5 in Houston
I just hope there’s a million dollars in it. But he could have at LEAST waited until after the Oscars to announce it.
I hope Clint Eastwood will play a role again after Gran Torino and I hope Clint Eastwood will win in the future the oscar for best actor, the golden globe for best actor and the sag award for best actor.¿how is possible that Clint Eastwood have not an oscar yet and only two nominations?
Clint Eastwood ’s performance in Unforgiven ,Million dollar baby,The Beguiled,Dirty Harry,In the line of fire,Honkytonk man,Escape from Alcatraz,The bridges of madison county,White hunter or black heart,Tightrope or Gran Torino are among the best performances of all times.I hope Clint Eastwood will continue making performances and I hope Clint Eastwood will be awarded in the future.
sunshine seems to be a bitter loser after his sooo beloved actress lost and just bcoz some ppl still believe that meryl will take it. idiotic !
So many have embraced Slumdog partly because it satisfies the need for
the masses, who are living in high anxiety in an ever worsening economy, to escape into a relatively well made and exuberant fantasy whereby even the poor underdog will survive and emerge triumphant. The timing of the release of this updated classic fable could not be better.
And yeah, the little kids in the movie were the true stars in the film.
now face it, slumdog fans…with all the love you can humanly have for this movie, do you really think this award is well deserved in front of casts like milk doubt or benjamin button?
come on..
@ Michele: You have to understand that the SAG-Award might be named “Best Ensemble”, but we have to translate it “Best Movie”.
It´s really about which movie they liked best. Otherwise it would have maked little sense to award “Slumdog” instead of “Milk” or “Doubt”.
That said, “Slumdog” is locked for Best Picture. (to me, it was locked since it swept BFCA and Golden Globes)
it’s locked, and it’s so sad…
This is probably late, but I love Meryl Streep and I loved her speech last night. I hope she wins the Oscar, her third.
I do feel bad for Kate, though. And also for Melissa Leo, since her nomination is award enough. Life isn’t fair sometimes.
The only award that Rourke won of any note was the Golden Globes, and that’s only because the HFPA doesn’t like Sean Penn. His performance is the worst of the 5 nominees. Whether he announced his participation in “Wrestlemania 25″ or not, I never saw him winning the Oscar.
@ Sunshine,
I may be idiotic, but I DO think that Meryl deserves it. I’m sorry you simply don’t like Streep, but that’s your problem. Not mine. I don’t have a problem with Winslet – she’s not a big fave of mine. That’s true. But at least I rooted for her to win for Eternal Sunshine. Anyway, I simply don’t invent anything. There was a standing ovation for Meryl with cheers and emotion, while Kate just got mere applause.
But I think it’s not fair to call people idiots, just because they’re rooting for Streep. And I think Streep deserves her number 3 – not only for a solid performance in Doubt, but for a great career of many, many undeservedly snubbed performances – she should have won at least 3 times since Sophie’s Choice. And I don’t think it’s fair to say: Oh, she’s Streep! People expect greatness! To me Kate simply pales in comparison to Meryl! And many, many actors feel the same.
@ Luis (#370): I was really surprised the Academy snubbed Eastwood this year, although you were campaigning like hell for his nomination…
Wrestler’ star Rourke to get in WWE ring
Actor says he’ll participate in ‘Wrestlemania 25’ on April 5 in Houston
You know, there are more important things in life than winning an Oscar. When I was younger I thought winning an Oscar would be the best thing ever. Now, after ten years of watching them, I don’t think it’s respectable at all to win one. In fact, living life is so much more preferable. If this is what he wants to do, good for him. It shouldn’t be about anything but who gave the best performance and for me it’s a toss up between all of the five – I give the edge to Mickey Rourke for creating a character I could not get out of my mind and heart but they are all great. Hell, Frank Langella is probably the truly best, pure skill-wise, of the bunch. His was a seamless performance – course he had the benefit of having done it on stage but seriously. I think them all to be great. I don’t really care what any of them do in their private life – and honestly, I’ve lost so much respect for the Oscars and the process over the years it wouldn’t really be that much of a compliment to me to win one, as we know that winning one only means, in the end, and in the final analysis, that they like you. Sally Field was right.
I’m a big “Slumdog” fan and have been happy with the film’s success thus far, but I do agree that I don’t really think the ensemble award was deserved; the “Milk” ensemble was outstanding, as were the 4 actors in “Doubt”…I think “Slumdog” is more about the whole package (direction, cinematography, writing, etc), and thus is my pick for Best Picture…but best ensemble? I’m not so sure…
and #366 – “Slumdog” did have an individual acting nominee, Dev Patel
Sorry, but this year there were better choices for lead actress in drama. Not Streep. She overacted through all scenes in her 2008 movies.
And I have just seen The Reader, Winslet’s performance is great, its true, but definitely not the best supporting of the year. And her April Wheeler was better. The true force of The Reader is the boy playing Michael, David Kross.
Best ensemble for SM? TDK and Ben Button and hell even Rev Road and Doubt were better. Milk was by far THE ensemble of the year. Sad day for SAG’s
T.
Streep was KITCHY. DOUBT is a big CRAP HOCUS POCUS. Mabye she’ll be fun playing Julia Child.
@ Sasha: Oh dear, I sense a post-TDK-snub depression…?
I only heard about post-natal depression so far!
What about a tie for Streep and Winslet at the Oscars? I mean, hasn’t it happened before? with Streistand and that other chick. There’s no harm in giving two deserving actresses the best actress award. I blame the academy for not nominating Kate for best supporting actress. If they wanted to place her for lead actress in the Reader, then they should have nominated her for supporting actress in RR. Afterall, Leo gets top-billing in the movie right? In such a case, Meryl could win best actress and Kate supporting.
and I hope Streep’s campaign for Davis urges the Academy to crown her winner…not Penelope Cruz. In fact, I will be more than happy if anyone from the best supporting actress category wins the Oscar. Anyone except Cruz!
“…with Streistand [sic] and that other chick.”
…because Penn plays a homosexual and that’s death to an actor.
In 1969 perhaps, not 2009.
Please check recent box office, Oscar and Emmy stats.
It may still be problematic for actors to come out, but playing gay is a career goldmine.
I agree with Sasha that the award should be solely for that performance. It’s pathetic and small-minded that personal life decisions affect people’s ability to respond to a performance as good as Mickey’s in The Wrestler.
I also noticed in last night’s thread that a couple people even said Penn should win even though they hadn’t seen The Wrestler yet.
Remember Mickey’s interviews: he got paid nothing for the wrestler. He may need some income. Anyone thought of that.
These comments go for rewarding a body of work rather than choosing the best performance in that category that year. Is that really what it’s supposed to be about?
outlaw
haha! you are a genius! haha
YES!
“Y2J” CHIRS JERICHO VS. RANDY “THE RAM” ROBINSON
WRESTLEMANIA 25 – HOUSTON, TX
[...] The biggest surprise, and she was really startled when it was announced, was Meryl Streep: http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=6416 0 Replies GA_googleFillSlot(”a2kTopicLeaderboardEnd”); [...]
I can see how Rourke is doing Wrestlemania. The man needs money. Fine.
He was great in The Wrestler. But, I feel that Aronofsky and the screenplay were even better at evoking sympathy for the Randy character. Rourke did his job and he did it splendidly. But, at the end of the day, of course we were going to love this character.
And I am likely the only one who thinks this, but I thought Marisa Tomei’s “Cassidy” was much more endearing. Everytime she was not in the movie, I couldn’t wait for her to be on the screen again. I hope she wins the Oscar.
Meryl Streep is a national treasure. Everything she owns should have its own room in the Smithsonian.
She’s smart, you know? Not every great actor is smart. Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino have rocks in their heads – but they’re still great in roles. Meryl is as complete a package as any American can be.
As for non-Americans…is Tony Hopkins auditioning to play Malcolm McDowell’s evil (or uh good) twin on Heroes?
“I can see how Rourke is doing Wrestlemania. The man needs money… I thought Marisa Tomei’s “Cassidy” was much more endearing. Every time she was not in the movie, I couldn’t wait for her to be on the screen again.”
We have the ingredients here for a naughty comment about how it’s too bad Marisa Tomei doesn’t need money as bad as Mickey Rourke does, but it would be really wrong of me to write it.
Might be a great script premise for Charlie Kaufman though. Because of the slumping economy, in between movies actors have to make ends meet by working the same real life jobs as the people they played in their last Oscar-nominated role.
Terrence Howard starts pimping, Joaquin Phoenix begins a singing career (oh wait, that’s really happening), and if Javier Bardem shows up at your door do not, repeat DO NOT, ask him what’s that contraption with the tank and air-hose he’s carrying around.
Between acting jobs, Helen Mirren becomes the actual Queen of England (not a bad gig, and not a bad idea at all), Hillary Swank follows Rourke’s example and goes into professional boxing, and Felicity Huffman… uh-oh.
Now I think we have the ingredients for a genuine serious comment about Mickey Rourke’s unusual Wrestlemania news, but I’m not going to write it.
Great concept Ryan!
But…I don’t get it…what’s the genuine serious comment?
I thought that Meryl Streep’s speech last night was funny. A bit improptu but still priceless, remarking about not buying a dress and all. I do like the fact that she acknowledged “the girls” and how their performances left her stunned, something like that.
I love Meryl Streep to death. But I am seriously rooting for Kate Winslet to win. I firmly believe that Kate will finally get her long overdue Oscar. If she does not win, I would seriously be devastated. Something tells me that Kate is getting tired of all this awards hoopla. A tie between Streep and Winslet would be fantastic. Like Streisand and Hepburn.
I never thought I would root for Marisa Tomei to win her second Best Supporting Actress Oscar but I can’t help but notice how great and talented Ms. Tomei really is. She really has the range and I think it is quite unfair that she is very underrated. Plus, she has been around for a really long time now. Someone should give her an award for managing to prevail and cut through all the crappy stuff Hollywood dishes out. I love it that Ms. Tomei just perseveres and because of that perseverance, has also proved her detractors wrong. This woman from Brooklyn is a born fighter! Let’s give her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for The Wrestler.
I love, adore Meryl Streep! And I like Winslet, but come on – she NEVER actually has been the most deserving nominee for me.
In 1995 Joan Allen deserved the Oscar for Nixon.
In 1997 Winslet was the least deserving.
In 2001 Helen Mirren should have won. Kate came in second for me.
In 2004 Imelda Staunton, with Kate second for me.
In 2005 she was the least deserving.
Meryl SHOULD have won a lot of times since Sophie’s Choice:
In 1985 for Out of Africa.
In 1988 for A Cry in the Dark.
In 1995 for The Bridges of Madison County.
In 2004 for Adaptation.
And she came in close a lot of times for me.
And this time I simply like her performance more than Winslet’s. So we could argue who’s the more overue.
@ Ryan: Yeah, that thing about Joaquin Phoenix becoming a rapper… they’re making a mockumentary on the down low, right?
I mean, it’s all been a joke, literally, from the beginning. (”BYE! GOOD”)
In any case, I cracked up when Michael K at Dlisted refers to him as “MC Bedbugs.”
I haven’t kept up with the Joaquin Phoenix story, Gentle Benj. What’s the joke again?
ah, Alex, I haven’t worked through my feelings about it, and it would be boring to read.
If I wrote something it would be all about the boundaries between character, acting and personality. Questions about where to draw the line with method acting, and the ability keep options open for versatility. Issues with the emotional and physical torment actors choose to put themselves through and why they’re driven to do it.
Observations like, for example, I recently saw a Newsweek roundtable interview where Frank Langella said he stayed in character as Nixon on the set, and everybody had to call him Mr President so he could maintain his sense of authority. And I thought, hmm, that’s strange enough, but what if Langella enjoyed it so much that he continued to demand people call him Mr. President even after the movie wrapped? Then it goes from strange to something else altogether.
In general though, I’d write something about directors who know how cast the perfect actors for their roles, but where does harnessing talent end and exploitation begin? What’s the limit between collaboration and manipulation? For instance I’m sure John Waters had great affection for Divine, and I’m sure Divine was thrilled to be a “star” and happy to get work as an “actress” but it’s a little creepy that John Waters filmed Divine eating actual dog shit off the sidewalk in Pink Flamingos.
Before 50 people jump down my throat about having the audacity to mention Mickey Rourke and Divine in the same comment, I want to make clear the parallel is only meant to question what directors are willing to put actors through and how they find actors who are willing and eager to do it. I’m not even saying that Pink Flamingos has no value, or that the questions it raised about fame and celebrity were maybe even worth enduring that scene (actor endurance and audience endurance both).
But see, I really haven’t thought it all through yet, and I’m only going with my gut feelings that some of these questions are troubling.
I want to finish up, though, by saying The Wrestler is among my favorite movies of the year, and even if I can’t personally say that Mickey Rourke’s performance is “a favorite” in terms of enjoying watching a person be brutalized, I can absolutely say I have deep respect for what Rourke did and even greater admiration for what Aronofsky managed to achieve with The Wrestler.
I’d be less troubled and better able to see the movie as a self-contained work of art if we didn’t find out that Mickey Rourke still wants to be called Mr. President.
See? I told you it would be boring.
(But here’s something fun: 400th comment!)
To announce his departure from the world of acting, Phoenix wrote GOOD BYE! on his knuckles, one character on each finger, and bumped fists with the camera.
But, um…
See, I can’t believe he’s dumb enough to do that as an honest mistake. I’m convinced there is some kind of mockumentary/Punk’d type thing going on here. Just look at him.
“What’s with the Lifetime going to James Earl Jones? I don’t recall him doing anything on TV or movies lately; mostly theatre. I don’t get it.”
Maybe because, um, it’s a LIFETIME achievement award, not a “What have you done lately?” achievement award, and Jones has had a stellar career.
Based on last night’s show, I would be shocked if Meryl will loose it at the OSCARS! She is coming strong and she deserved it, all the actors last night gave her a standing ovation and the credit she well deserved! More Meryl pls!
Hmmm… my link didn’t work. Sorry. Trying again. This.
To all of those who say that Slumdog is a nice change of pace after No Country I just don’t get it. They say that No Country was violent but SM is a feel good film. Did you all see this film? It is very violent.
Or did you just watch the end of the film when the two “soulmates” finally got together.
Slumdog Millionaire is a lot more violent than No Country for Old Men. It’s a good movie.
Meryl Streep, Heath Ledger, Sean Penn and Kate Winslet are all deserved wins.
***In 1985 for Out of Africa.
In 1988 for A Cry in the Dark.
In 1995 for The Bridges of Madison County.
In 2004 for Adaptation.***
First of all, “Adaptation” is 2002. Secondly, look anyone straight in the face and say you would honestly give Streep the Oscar over Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple) in 1985, over Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons) in 1988, or over Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) in 1995. Streep was just up against better people.
Natural, I, for one, preferred her work in Africa to Goldberg and there shouldn’t be any discussion about A Cry in the Dark- she had the most complicated and restrained (no room for histrionics) character. I do love Close in Dangerous Liaisons and would have loved to see her win, but subject matter usually trumps everything else (including actual performance) in lot of these cases.
Back to Africa: Streep carried it on her shoulders from start to finish and there is no denying her star power in it. It is unfortunate women to get to play central roles in epics too often.
What about Robert Benton’s Still Of The Night? I thought Meryl was photographed so lovingly in that film. And her long monologue in the latter part where she’s explaining her father’s death to Roy Scheider is just magnificent.
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