How SAG nominations may have changed the Oscars race (especially for 'La La Land')
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The recently announced Screen Actors Guild nominations surprised some, with supposed frontrunner 鈥淟a La Land鈥� missing out on a key nod and 鈥淗idden Figures鈥� getting unexpected attention.聽
The films nominated for best ensemble 鈥� the SAG equivalent of best picture 鈥� are the movies 鈥淢anchester by the Sea鈥� and 鈥淢oonlight,鈥� both of which were previously seen as frontrunners for the Best Picture Oscars race, as well as the films 鈥淐aptain Fantastic,鈥� 鈥淗idden Figures,鈥� and 鈥淔ences.鈥澛�
Missing from the list of contenders for this prize is the movie 鈥淟a La Land,鈥� a musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone that was thought to be a major contender for the Best Picture Oscar.聽
Meanwhile, Casey Affleck of 鈥淢anchester by the Sea,鈥� Andrew Garfield of 鈥淗acksaw Ridge,鈥� Mr. Gosling of 鈥淟a La Land,鈥� Denzel Washington of 鈥淔ences,鈥� and Viggo Mortensen of 鈥淐aptain Fantastic鈥� are nominated for the best actor SAG Award, while 鈥淛ackie鈥� actress Natalie Portman, 鈥淟a La Land鈥� actress Ms. Stone, 鈥淭he Girl on the Train鈥� actress Emily Blunt, 鈥淔lorence Foster Jenkins鈥� actress Meryl Streep, and 鈥淎rrival鈥� actress Amy Adams are nominated for the best actress prize.聽
鈥淢oonlight鈥� actor Mahershala Ali, 鈥淢anchester by the Sea鈥� actor Lucas Hedges, 鈥淗ell or High Water鈥� actor Jeff Bridges, 鈥淟ion鈥� actor Dev Patel, and 鈥淔lorence Foster Jenkins鈥� actor Hugh Grant are competing for the best supporting actor SAG Award and 鈥淔ences鈥� actress Viola Davis, 鈥淢oonlight鈥� actress Naomie Harris, 鈥淟ion鈥� actress Nicole Kidman, 鈥淗idden Figures鈥� actress Octavia Spencer, and 鈥淢anchester by the Sea鈥� actress Michelle Williams are competing for the best supporting actress SAG Award.聽
As noted by , 鈥淟a La Land鈥� now has to beat history in order to get the Best Picture Oscar, as only one movie in the 21 years of the best ensemble award has won the Best Picture Oscar without being nominated for the SAG ensemble prize as well.聽
" 'La La Land' now will face a daunting statistic as it continues on its otherwise pristine march toward the best picture Oscar,鈥� Mr. Feinberg writes. 鈥淏ut 鈥� but 鈥� I wouldn't write off 鈥楲a La Land鈥� just yet," he adds.
Other award nominations, like those from the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America, also factor into Oscar calculations, he explained. " 'La La Land' still fits the model of what the Academy has gone for in the past more than 'Moonlight' does. If 'Moonlight' wins the DGA and/or PGA Awards, as well, well, then it's time for 'La La Land' to start sweating.鈥澛�
One film's exclusion could be another film's opportunity. 鈥淟a La Land鈥� missing out on the best ensemble prize means other movies have taken center stage, including 鈥淗idden Figures,鈥� a movie about the African-American women who were employed at NASA during the space race.
The SAG nominations may have reversed the "relatively weak showing to date" of "Hidden Figures," argues聽.
