SAG nominee list has lots of surprise inclusions, omissions

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

The Screen Actors Guild Awards might not be the most relevant of movie awards ceremonies, but that doesn’t mean they count for nothing. And today, they’ve created quite a stir with their nominee list, which includes some surprises but is more interesting when you see what they’ve left out, as often times, these selections do mirror the Oscars.

Here are the nominees:

ACTOR:

Demián Bichir – A Better Life

George Clooney – The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio – J. Edgar

Jean Dujardin – The Artist

Brad Pitt – Moneyball

ACTRESS:

Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis – The Help

Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn

SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn

Armie Hammer – J. Edgar

Jonah Hill – Moneyball

Nick Nolte – Warrior

Christopher Plummer – Beginners

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Bérénice Bejo – The Artist

Jessica Chastain – The Help

Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer – The Help

ENSEMBLE CAST:

The Artist – Bérénice Bejo, James Cromwell, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller

Bridesmaids – Rose Byrne, Jill Clayburgh, Ellie Kemper, Matt Lucas, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Chris O’Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig

The Descendants – Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Shailene Woodley

The Help – Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O’Reilly, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer, Mary Steenburgen, Emma Stone, Cicely Tyson, Mike Vogel

Midnight in Paris – Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Owen Wilson

So, what’s unusual? That THE HELP appears so often for one, and also to see J Edgar in there twice despite lukewarm review. I’d also say it’s a surprise to see comedic sidekicks Jonah Hill and Melissa McCarthy get noms, but that’s sort of cool if you ask me.

But what’s very noticeable is the absence of a lot of “Oscar” type films like TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, HUGO, EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREIDBLY CLOSE and of course THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Will they not show up at the Oscars as well?