Screen Actors Guild...announces nominees! Doubt & Curious Button lead pack...

In spite of a potential strike on the horizon and contract negotiations feverishly underway, the Screen Actors Guild took a breather to underscore that it's business as usual at the guild.

Yesterday, with little fuss or ado, reps announced nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards which are given out annually to recognize excellence in the Film and Television medium.

"Doubt", a film which recently premiered at the AFI Film Fest in Hollywood amid much praise, garnered the most nods.

In addition to being nominated for best ensemble cast, the drama - adapted for the screen from an award-winning play of the same name - captured kudos for Meryl Streep (Best Actress/lead role), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Best Actor/supporting role), Viola Davis (Best Actress/supporting role), and Amy Adams (Best Actress/supporting role).

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Milk" were tied for runner-up, so-to-speak.

Each received three nominations - which included best actor (lead role) bows for Brad Pitt in "Button" and Sean Penn in "Milk".

Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), rounded out the roster.


Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) and Leonardo DiCaprio were passed over for some inexplicable reason.

Maybe the films were released a little too late in the season to receive due consideration by the voting membership?


In the best supporting actor category, Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) compete (with previously-mentioned Phillip Seymour Hoffman) for the coveted prize.





The category for best performance by an actress in a lead role looks to be one of the toughest races in the run for a prestigous SAG award.



In addition to Streep, Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road) will be standing in the wings ready to dash on stage in the event actors' ballots tally their way.

The stars have obviously been shining on Ms. Winslet this year.

The Titanic star has also been singled out as Best Actress in a supporting role (The Reader) alongside Adams and Davis. The other two challengers are Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina) and Taraji P. Henson for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".

In the Television arena - "The Closer", "Mad Men", "The Rock", and "John Adams" - rustled up three nods apiece.

The Award's Ceremony is slated to broadcast on TBS and TNT on January 25th from the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.


Now, if only a talented individual or two could manage to craft a beautiful award worthy of the occasion to hand out to the winners.


The current actors' award - an ugly eyesore without any aesthetic appeal - sucks in my estimation!

Give me an Emmy any old day!
(pictured below)

AFI FEST...Gala premiere in "DOUBT". Hoffman and Streep no shows? Red Carpet event fizzles...

Well, I reported earlier in the week that last-minute there was a lot of excitement over the announcement that "DOUBT" - adapted for the screen from the award-winning play by John Patrick Shanley - would kick-off the AFI Fest's gala opening night.

Festival-goers were thrilled at the prospect of mixing and mingling on the red carpet with two of the celebrated stars - Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman - who grace the screen in "DOUBT".

But, looks like the premiere has lost its luster and is fizzlin' out.

At press time, it was confirmed that Streep and Hoffman would be no-shows at the premiere.

According to PR Director John Wildman.

Who wants to kibitz with a bunch of suits from the studio - or the stuff-shirts from AFI - on what was supposed to be a glittering star-studded gala event?

Without any tinsel on hand, what's the point?

Notwithstanding, DOUBT will be screened as an uncut unpolished version that isn't ready for public consumption, yet.

Were the AFI Fest organizers stuck, in a bind, or what?

I guess when "The Soloist" bowed out this past week, AFI was left holding an empty bag and the big-wigs had to scramble for a replacement.

DOUBT looked like a good prospect for the gala initially, but at this late juncture,it appears to be a losing choice for the Fest Event.

Maybe DEFIANCE will have a little more pizazz on Friday Night.

Or, at least a bit of titillating red carpet fodder to write about.

I'll keep you posted on the curious goings-on at the AFI FEST events which are slated to start-up at the end of this week and run for eleven days at a handful of venues around Tinsel Town.

At the moment, AFI is off to a shaky start, though.

AFI Publicity Director John Wildman screwed up.
Streep did walk the red carpet last night.
Talk about egg on the face!
(Edit 10.31.08)