SAG Surprises: “Exotic Marigold,” Bardem


Les Miserables, Lincoln, and Silver Linings Playbook all tied among nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards this morning, collecting four each — including best ensemble. Les Mis was pushed over the top by a stunt nomination, however, which otherwise would have left it with only three total nominations. The other best ensemble nominees were Argo and — surprisingly to some observers — The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which left Zero Dark Thirty and The Master out of the guild’s equivalent for best picture. But of course that’s only surprising if you think that critics’ awards determine Oscars, or if you doubt the power of Maggie Smith/Judi Dench to rule the world. Other SAG surprises: Javier Bardem scored a supporting actor nomination for Silva, his villain from the James Bond thriller Skyfall. He had been buzzed about as a possible Oscar contender for a while, but 007 movies rarely score anything about technical mentions at the Academy Awards. With the acting guild choosing to nominate him, it’s a good indicator that the voters in the Academy’s performer branch are poised to do the same.

Leave a Comment