Oh, Hollywood, when you’re not screaming at the top of your lungs about Angelina Jolie daring to do that land-farce of a spectacle Cleopatra, again, because how dare she want to make a big, behemoth epic movie that will probably bankrupt Sony, haha! Yes, you’re giving out awards and pats on the backs for all the wonderful movies and television you’ve zapped into the eyeballs of the viewing public. It’s SAG award nomination time. Let’s see what graying, old filthy codger of a television show is still hobbling down the carpet to pick up an award. (Modern Family)
It’s as if they never listen to us. Modern Family is like an undead badger that keeps returning to your trash bin hoping for cabbage, but instead finding steak gift-wrapped in salmon paper. So of course it’ll keep coming back year after year. Sigh. At least joining it this year is the very funny Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the sort of funny, we guess, Orange is the New Black. With Orange and House of Cards both getting nods for a second year in a row, Neflix is a certified player in the big leagues. The fine actors on both series are also getting nods for their contributions. However, we’re not even going to talk about the Male Actor in a Comedy Series category. You’ve got two Modern Family alums still taking up real estate in that category where at least one of those could have gone to Anthony Anderson who’s been working hard over there on Black-ish. The whole show could have found its way on the list for that matter.
While we’re insanely happy for Tatiana Maslany who’s finally getting recognized for her great work in Orphan Black, we’re disappointed about the lack of recognition for The Walking Dead. Under, writer/producer, Scott Gimple, The Walking Dead has simply soared and made the character development that which we’ve clamored for, easily part of the balancing act that keeps the action with the inaction fresh. To that end, how Melissa McBride (Carol) keeps getting overlooked here is beyond us. Did any of you voters even watch “The Grove” episode?! We would trade the wonderful Maggie Smith for her, right now. Sorry, Maggie, but you know what a weekend is now, so get a new phrase or let someone else join the dance.
The movie race this year should prove to be rather interesting. We were surprised to see Selma not get a nom here, especially with civil rights rocketing up the airwaves right now, the similarities at times too close for comfort. There’s the Selma snub and then The Grand Budapest Hotel, snagging one, since it seems so long since that movie came out. Along with it in the snubbed category is Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, nada for it, or its leading actor. (Not sure how Angie is feeling about all that these days. Doesn’t she like knives? Gulp!)
We’re not as surprised as some are by Birdman‘s sweep, but we’re a little shocked by Foxcatcher grabbing a male leading actor nod for Steve Carell, and a supporting role nod for Mark Ruffalo, but nothing for Channing Tatum. He’s really coming along in this acting thing, so much so, we can’t keep calling him Channing Steakum because of the booty-abs thing! Possibly, probably it’ll only be a matter of time before we’re saying, “Academy Award Winning Channing Steak Thighs,” we kid. We also weren’t expecting, despite some really good reviews, Jake Gyllenhaal’s lead actor nomination for Nightcrawler, or Jennifer Aniston’s performance in Cake, which hasn’t been released yet, gaining her a nod. She’s in a hugely tough category. Good thing Meryl is just relegated to a supporting nod this year, even with her singing. Not sure how we feel about Meryl singing. (Do not go back and review Mamma Mia.) It’s like when we hear Gwyneth Paltrow sing. It won’t peel paint, but that doesn’t mean we need to hear it during Karaoke night.
The awards will be held on Sunday, January 25. Below is the full list of nominees.
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything
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 Everything
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosmund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild
Outstanding 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, Whiplash
Outstanding 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. Vincent
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Big Bang Theory
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Modern Family
Orange is the New Black
Veep
Outstanding 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 Cards
Outstanding 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 Cards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis C.K., Louie
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Outstanding 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 & Recreation
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Adrien Brody, Houdini
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow
Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Ellen Burstyn, Flowers in the Attic
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honourable Woman
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Julia Roberts, The Normal Heart
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble
Television:
24: Live Another Day
Boardwalk Empire
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Sons of Anarchy
The Walking Dead
Film:
Fury
Get On Up
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Unbroken
X-Men: Days of Future Past
(Guardians of the Galaxy was also snubbed. Wait! You didn’t read that.)