They do it to me every time: the actors who vote on the Screen Actors Guild Awards get it wrong every year!
In the 2014 edition, they ignored the two most-vital performances of the year: by Jessica Chastain and by Jessica Chastain! (in, respectively, Interstellar and A Most Violent Year). I can't help but think Jennifer Aniston stole a nomination from someone in the little-seen "Cake." But, realistically, it was Meryl Streep ("Into the Woods") who swiped the Supporting Actress slot -- only her 16th nomination! -- that was Jessica's. I can't fault Naomi Watts for earning a well-deserved nod for her superb impersonation of a Russian prostitute in "St. Vincent"; or Patricia Arquette for what should have been a lead-performance nomination in "Boyhood."
That said, the Best Actor and Ensemble categories do track the favorites for Oscar nominations (I would add FOXCATCHER, INTERSTELLAR, and GONE GIRL to the Best Picture mix). I must give the SAGs due credit for honoring the one category of performers that the Oscars do not have the guts to recognize: OUTSTANDING STUNT ENSEMBLES. I cannot comment on the movie nominees (I haven't seen any of them), but the TV Series category is a two-team race: Game of Thrones and Walking Dead. Both worthy winners.
While on the subject of TV, the SAGs have sadly become as lame and predictable as the EMMY's: "Big Bang Theory" and "Modern Family"?? Give it a rest!! I don't know why they ignored "Mad Men" and "The Walking Dead." At least they have corrected two egregious wrongs committed by the Emmy's by recognizing the cast of "Game of Thrones" and the stellar work of Tatiana Maslany in BBC America's "Orphan Black."
Hope springs eternal, as the GOLDEN GLOBES have the power to correct these slights with their nominations -- released Thursday!!
