Fred Said

January 27, 2013

These are the nominees  for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture as cited by the Screen Actors Guild of America for the year 2012, to be awarded January 27, 2013.  This will be shown live January 28, 2013, 9 am Manila time.

Here are my reviews for these five nominees.  This Cast award is its equivalent of the Best Picture prize.  Frankly anyone of these films can win it.  

Argo : http://said-fred.blogspot.com/2012/11/argo.html

In this cast, only Alan Arkin was nominated for an individual award, Best Supporting Actor.  Ben Affleck did not receive a Best Actor nomination and rightly so, in my opinion, as he was as bland as ever.  Really, only Alan Arkin and his partner, John Goodman, made any kind of an impression acting-wise.  The unknown actors playing the hostages were not impressive as well.  

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel :  http://said-fred.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.html

This film boasts of an impressive cast of senior British actors led by Judy Dench, Bill NIghy and Tom Wilkinson. Only Maggie Smith though earned an individual nomination, and rightly so, as she is really memorable here. But to be honest, we have all seen Dame Maggie act this way, but it was really hilarious. This was really an ensemble effort more than individual. I would not argue if this won.

Les Misérables :  http://said-fred.blogspot.com/2013/01/les-miserables-2012.html

This musical film has a big ensemble cast who had to sing live as well as act perfectly with each scene being shot.  That alone should merit it this big prize.  Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway also earn individual nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively, which for me they should both also win.  I am rooting for this ensemble to win this prize.  That is if only Russell Crowe's performance was not so widely panned (unjustly though, in my opinion).

Lincoln :  http://said-fred.blogspot.com/2013/01/lincoln.html

Its main acting conceit lies only in one central performance, that of Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln. Despite this, veterans Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field also receive individual nominations for their supporting performances.   Joseph Gordon-Levitt also shone in a smaller role as Lincoln's eldest son. However, the rest of the cast was largely unknown, undistinguishable and generic.

Silver Linings Playbook :  http://said-fred.blogspot.com/2013/01/silver-linings-playbook-book-vs-film.html

This contemporary film has a relatively smaller cast of four main actors.  All four of them got Oscar nominations, a rare feat.  However, for the SAGs, only Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro get nods, not Jacki Weaver. I certainly won't be disappointed if this ensemble cast won as they all did their respective roles very well, especially the two lead stars whose chemistry really made this movie work.