Tis the Season: The Screen Actors Guild

Earlier this week, AN EDUCATION, THE HURT LOCKER and PRECIOUS saw their chances for Oscar gold increase with Best Film nominations at the BAFTA's. At the Screen Actors Guild awards, given out last night, it was another film that declared itself a contender. Without AVATAR or UP IN THE AIR to contend with, as they weren't even noninated, Quentin Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS emerged triumphant in the Best Ensemble category, the SAG equivalent of Best Picture. As for the remaining acting categories, the winners remain unchanged from last week's Golden Globes. I still haven't caught Sandra Bullock's supposed best performance of her career in THE BLIND SIDE so I have no business saying anything at all about this but I will this week at some point, and let me tell you, if I'm right about this being just some big pay on the back for a long career and contribution to Hollywood, you will hear about it people! This is a guild made up of actors designed to reward the most incredible performances in their field. Again, I cite Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe as exceptional examples of this craft and I hope that the SAG aren't debasing themselves by proving that all of this is nothing more than a fancy popularity contest.

The Screen Actors Guild film award winners are:

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
AN EDUCATION
THE HURT LOCKER
NINE
PRECIOUS

And the winner is: INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
George Clooney, UP IN THE AIR
Colin Firth, A SINGLE MAN
Morgan Freeman, INVICTUS
Jeremy Renner, THE HURT LOCKER

And the winner is: JEFF BRIDGES - CRAZY HEART

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Helen Mirren, THE LAST STATION
Carey Mulligan, AN EDUCATION
Gabourey Sidibe, PRECIOUS
Meryl Streep, JULIE & JULIA

And the winner is: SANDRA BULLOCK - THE BLIND SIDE

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Matt Damon, INVICTUS
Woody Harrelson, THE MESSENGER
Christopher Plummer - THE LAST STATION
Stanley Tucci, THE LOVELY BONES

And the winner is: CHRISTOPH WALTZ - INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Penelope Cruz, NINE
Vera Farmiga, UP IN THE AIR
Anna Kendrick, UP IN THE AIR
Diane Kruger, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

And the winner is: MO'NIQUE - PRECIOUS

For a full list of winners, visit the SAG website.