Thursday morning's nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards have confirmed what has become increasingly clear since the Golden Globe noms two days earlier: Films like "Up in the Air" and "Precious" are the indisputable favorites heading into the peak of awards season.
Both of those films, as well as Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," racked up three nods each, followed by the likes of "The Hurt Locker" and "Nine," each with two. With just five motion picture categories — including an Outstanding Performance by a Cast in place of the more traditional recognition for best film — no one movie dominated the results.
The films recognized for their casts are "An Education," "Hurt Locker," "Basterds," "Nine" and "Precious." Save for "Education," all of these films were recognized in a Best Motion Picture category at the Globes. James Cameron's "Avatar," meanwhile, which nabbed four Globe noms, was shut out entirely from the SAGs.
The category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role largely mirrored the Globes, except with the entrance of Jeremy Renner ("Hurt Locker"), who had been enjoying a highly successful awards season until his Globes snub. Other nominees include Jeff Bridges ("Crazy Heart"), George Clooney ("Up in the Air"), Colin Firth ("A Single Man") and Morgan Freeman ("Invictus").
Similarly, the top lead female category followed the Globes example: Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side"), Helen Mirren ("The Last Station"), Carey Mulligan ("An Education"), Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious") and Meryl Streep ("Julie & Julia").
Whereas HBO dominated the Globe television nominations, the pay channel received seven nods at the SAGs, one less than NBC. "30 Rock," "The Closer" and "Dexter" tied for the most nominations with three. "Glee," the big winner at the Globes, garnered only one honor.
Nominees for top ensemble in a comedy are "30 Rock," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Glee," "Modern Family" and "The Office." Ensemble nominees in the drama category are "The Closer," "Dexter," "The Good Wife," "Mad Men" and "True Blood."
For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") snuck in a nomination, joining others that had been recognized at the Globes: Simon Baker ("The Mentalist"), Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") and Hugh Laurie ("House").
On the top lead female in a drama side, the nominations diverged more widely from the Globes. In addition to Glenn Close ("Damages") and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer"), the category welcomed Patricia Arquette ("Medium"), Mariska Hartgitay (Law & Order: SVU") and Holly Hunter ("Saving Grace").
Nominees for lead actor in a comedy were Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"), Steve Carell ("The Office"), Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Tony Shalhoub ("Monk") and Charlie Sheen ("Two and a Half Men").
The Screen Actors Guild Awards air live on TBS on Saturday, January 23, almost a week after the Globes and more than a month before the Oscars on March 7.
Madness to headline Camp BestivalGeorge Clooney? ‘Precious’? We Preview The 2010 Golden Globe Nods
