The last couple of weeks have had plenty of critics groups weighing in on their top picks of the year. Boyhood has been an early favorite, with the New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Online, and Washington DC Area Film Critics Association all naming it their best of the year. But this week, things start to get all official, with the Golden Globes being announced tomorrow and today’s Screen Actors Guild Nominees.
Birdman leads the way with four nominations, but Boyhood, The Imitation Game, and The Theory of Everything are close behind with three nominations a piece. Surprises include Rosamund Pike for Lead Actress in Gone Girl, Robert Duvall for Supporting Actor in The Judge, and Naomi Watts for Supporting Actress in St. Vincent. The best ensemble (SAG’s version of Best Picture) is about what you would expect with The Grand Budapest Hotel finally getting some love and The Imitation Game showing the power of the Weinstein muscle. Notable shutouts include Selma, Unbroken, American Sniper, A Most Violent Year, and Marion Cotillard. Oh, and Meryl Streep got a nomination for Into the Woods, because everyone loves Meryl regardless of the film she shows up in.
In the TV field, we see a lot of the same. In the comedy field there is continued adulation for Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory, despite not being really comedically relevant anymore. Likewise, in the drama field Homeland and Downton Abbey got love, even though they are merely shadows of what they once were. Fargo only managed one nomination, True Detective was ignored in the Best Ensemble race, Girls was ignored, and SAG continues to show that it is no home for Mad Men, leaving the series out entirely.
Here is a full list of the nominees:
Theatrical Motion Pictures
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of EverythingOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, WildOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, WhiplashOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods
Naomi Watts, St. VincentOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
The Theory of EverythingTelevision Programs
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Adrien Brody, Houdini
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow
Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
Billy Bob Thornton, FargoOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Ellen Burstyn, Flowers in the Attic
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Julia Roberts, The Normal Heart
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to BountifulOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of CardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Robin Wright, House of CardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis C.K., Louie
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jim Parson, The Big Bang Theory
Eric Stonestreet, Modern FamilyOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and RecreationOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of CardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Modern Family
Orange is the New Black
Veep
What do you think of SAG’s choices? Who do you think was left out? What are your favorite performances of the year? Let us know in the comments.
