Film veterans favored to win at Screen Actors Guild Awards

By Alvin I. Dacanay

Is Batman going to triumph over a 40-year-old “virgin” and Sherlock Holmes? Do everybody’s “friend” Rachel and June Carter Cash have a chance against Sarah Palin? Would a Birdman soar or a Boy further grow in stature? Is everyone going to check in at The Grand Budapest Hotel? Film fans will learn the answers to these questions when the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards honors the best performers in film and television today, January 26 (Manila time).

Since its launch in 1995, the SAG Awards has become one of the most anticipated events in the Hollywood awards-show calendar, rivaling the decades-old Golden Globe Awards in terms of importance and star power.

This year’s awards is no different, boasting of the expected presence of such popular nominees as Michael Keaton, best known for playing the Caped Crusader in Batman and Batman Returns; Steve Carell, who became famous for playing the title role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin; Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous literary creation on the TV series Sherlock Holmes; Jennifer Aniston, who shot to stardom with her role as Rachel in the sitcom Friends; Reese Witherspoon, who earned an Oscar for playing the late Mrs. Johnny Cash in Walk the Line; and Julianne Moore, who garnered an Emmy for playing the charismatic 2008 United States Republican candidate for vice president in the Home Box Office film Game Change.

Whoever among them triumphs, there is one who’s already a sure winner: Debbie Reynolds, the leading lady of the classic musical Singin’ in the Rain, who will receive the guild’s 51st Life Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to the US entertainment industry.

Here is the list of nominees for film and the predicted winners, according to various movie reviewers and awards-show watchers:

Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood; Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game; Emma Stone, Birdman; Meryl Streep, Into the Woods; and Naomi Watts, St. Vincent.

Predicted winner: Arquette. She has been collecting a ton of prizes since last month, including a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice trophy, for her role as a single mother in Richard Linklater’s acclaimed film. She should have no problem picking this one up on the way to the Academy Awards next month. Who could beat her: Knightley. This, perhaps, is the only category where The Imitation Game has a reasonable shot of snagging a trophy.

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Duvall, The Judge; Ethan Hawke, Boyhood; Edward Norton, Birdman; Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher; and J.K. Simmons, Whiplash.

Predicted winner: Simmons. There’s really no competition here. The admired character actor’s turn as a sadistic music teacher in Damien Chazelle’s feature-film directorial debut has been winning praises and numerous awards from various critics’ groups. Who could beat him: Hawke. If he wins, it’s probably because his peers really adore Boyhood. His terrific performance as the ex-husband of Arquette’s character also helps.

Best Actress: Jennifer Aniston, Cake; Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything; Julianne Moore, Still Alice; Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl; and Reese Witherspoon, Wild.

Predicted winner: Moore. Here’s one talented actress who’s overdue for a win, and her performance as a linguistics professor suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is seen by many as the one that could earn her the Actor trophy. Who could beat her: Pike. A victory here would serve as a reward for the great impact her much-talked-about performance as the title character in David Fincher’s film has made on viewers.

Best Actor: Steve Carell, Foxtcatcher; Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game; Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler; Michael Keaton, Birdman; and Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything.

Predicted winner: Keaton. He, like Moore, is seen by industry insiders to have more than paid his dues, and his role as a Hollywood has-been who tries to stage a comeback via writing, producing and acting in an adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story seems to have resonated strongly with many in Tinseltown. Who could beat him: Redmayne. His widely praised portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking recently earned him a Golden Globe. Plus, this is the only category his film has any real shot of winning in.

Best Cast: Birdman; Boyhood; The Grand Budapest Hotel; The Imitation Game; and The Theory of Everything.

Predicted winner: Boyhood. Of the five categories listed here, this one—the SAG’s equivalent of Best Picture—may be the hardest to predict. For the moment, The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything are out. The Grand Budapest Hotel may have the largest and most star-studded ensemble, but none of its actors are up for individual trophies. In contrast, Birdman has three and Boyhood has two. The latter currently has the edge, though, for it has been claiming a lot of best-film prizes from critics and industry groups. What could beat it: Birdman. The fact that more than half of its cast play actors could play a role in the guild members’ decision-making.

The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will air on the RTL CBS Entertainment HD channel (SkyCable channel 53) today, January 26, at 9 a.m., with a primetime encore telecast at 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.sagawards.org.