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2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominees Announced

by Alex Billington
December 18, 2008

The nominees for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced today. Yet another awards show in the very top tier (which also includes the Golden Globes and Academy Awards) is the Screen Actors Guilds Awards, where the actors themselves choose the best performances from amongst their peers. These nominees are usually very similar to those at the Oscars, so this may be a good indication. This year I think this is exactly what we'll see, or at least, it's my own exact line-up for nominations having seen nearly all of the big contenders. Doubt leads this year, with 5 nominations in total, but I think it'll only really win one category (Supporting Actress). Check out the full list of nominees below.

The SAG Awards will air live on TNT and TBS at 8PM ET/PT on Sunday, January 25th, 2009.

ACTOR
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Kate Winslet - The Reader

ENSEMBLE CAST
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

ENSEMBLE STUNTS
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Wanted

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Earl Jones

My picks for this year from this list of nominees: Sean Penn from Milk, Anne Hathaway from Rachel Getting Married, Heath Ledger from The Dark Knight, Taraji P. Henson from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Slumdog Millionaire for Ensemble Cast. I also haven't seen Doubt just yet. A lot of great choices this year, despite other claims that this wasn't the most exciting year. Thoughts?

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Related categories: Awards News, Movie News

daniel

1st to comment. yay for TDK
zach s

very good nominees. little surprised that, though he definetly deserves to be nominated, that robert downey jr. is actually getting alot of nominations for tropic thunder. im surprised but excited that a great comedic performance is getting rightfully acknowledged. with that said, i think best male actor should and will go to sean penn, best female actor will go to anne hathaway (though havnt seen it yet), best supporting actor will go to heath ledger (def will and should!!), best supporting actress should go to Penelope Cruz (while I havnt gotten a chance to see the others and am not sure of her chances, she did an amazing job and deserves to win), and milk should/deverves best ensemble!!!!!
Scott McHenry

That actually looks pretty good
Lolly

FINALLY! Someone has actually paid attention to The Vistor! THANK YOU!
dallegre

How is Dev Patel considered a supporting actor? I haven't seen Slumdog, but doesn't he play the protagonist? All the marketing and trailers I've seen all center around him.
Jess

Great picks! I like these nominations way more than the Globes. I'm psyched to see Dev Patel nominated, even though Supporting Actor is always the toughest category. I have a feeling Milk will take away Ensemble Cast, but Slumdog Millionaire deserves it.
Jess

@5: Patel's supporting. He's the main character (Jamal), but three different people play him, all equally amazing.
Will S.

If it were up to me: Mickey Rourke-Actor Kate Winslet-Actress Phillip Seymour Hoffman-Doubt Viola Davis-Doubt Ensemble Cast-Slumdog I feel that while Doubt had a few standout performances, but Slumdog was near perfect as a movie goes. Acting was flawless from beginning to end, with every character at every age.
darrin

i really heard people were saying that they found slumdog the best film of the year. it was truly inspiring.
http://www.arunek.com arune kital

I agree with most of the nominations and everyone has their opinion but I'm sad to see that DiCaprio was ignored by his peers. He always gives outstanding performances and has always been overlooked by everyone. It is sad to see such an amazing performance in Revolutionary Road be unrecognized and unrewarded.
janeorim

HEATH LEADGER?!?!?!?
janeorim

HAH!! I just saw. He's nominated for supporting. Nice
lo

Suprised the dark knight isn't up for ensemble cast
Jordan

I completely agree with #13. If Heath Ledger didn't overshadow Eckhart and Oldman either of them could also be considered for nomination. Christian Bale was respectable as always, Maggie Gyllenhall was a very good rachel and then stellar performances from acting legends Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. That cast deserved some kind of credit.
viral

rourke/penn - best actor streep - actress ledger - supporting winslet - supporting ensemble cast (best movie) is a tocuh call - due to the wrod ensemble in it i believe it would have to be MILK - its got great roles for everyone . Doubt or slumdog millionaire could be close ensemble stunts (??) HAS to be TDK - its simply changed how "dark" in the context of movies will be forever defined.
viral

The awards consortium has something against DiCaprio? he was snubbed for Titanic ( i know i know but if winslet got one he deserved a nom at least) he was snubbed for departed and blood diamond. he is one of the most versatile actors of his time and his not being nominated just takes the authenticity out of the whole process.
http://redrory.com Rory

Good Nod's Glad to see Heath and Sean in there, but I have to ask why is Robert Downey Jr. nominated. Don't get me wrong, I like him good actor. But nominated for that role ? I just don't see it. I gotta watch it again..
Darunia

Mickey Rourke and Heath Ledger HAVE to win.
hey hey

I think that the best actor should be brad pitt, he deserves an award for the curious case, actress is deff meryl streep, supporting actor is no doubt gonna be heath ledger, supporting actress taraji p henson for the curious case ensemble cast i have no idea cuz they all look good so it wouldnt really matter ensemble stunts dark night, or iron man those are all my opinions they are all very good movies that came out this year i want to see all of them they all look amazing its been a while since movies this good wer nominated
Ashley

God I'm so fed up with the Dark Knight. Yeah sure Heath's performance was good, but it wasn't as freaking amazing as everyone is making it. And you know if he wasn't dead right now, the performance wouldn't be as hyped up as it is. By the way, what's with the Robert Downy Jr. nomination?! That's a little outrageous too. I'm happy with Sean Penn's nomination though, he deserves it.
Matt

Hell yes Lolly! So excited to see Jenkins get a nod. It's a good sign.
Matt

And Ashley, Ledger was getting some buzz before he even died and he WAS as amazing as everyone is saying (THAT'S WHY EVERYONE IS SAYING IT).
Dos X

Slumdog Millionaire is the best movie released this year. It is as near perfect as it comes, at all levels and it should be recognized as such. There is NO doubt that the ensemble of this film deserves the win, no other movie even compares, and Dev Patel should not be considered a supporting actor, at all. He should be nominated and win as the best actor of the year. The children who played him in the first part of the movie should have gotten some recognition from the Academy as well. They were spectacular and extremely natural and talented, not easy tasks for youngsters their age. To me, this movie is like a breath of fresh air. It is different, it is well put together, well acted, well directed and event he music track rocks! Congratulations to this so-called sleeper that continues to garner recognition and respect in the industry. Awards or no awards, this movie is a WINNER!
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Just saw Rachel Getting Married tonight and wanted to comment on Anne Hathaway. While I LOVED the film (which I was not expecting to), for some reason I don't think she was as amazing as everyone is saying... It's one of those "just because she's different" moments. Don't get me wrong, I love Anne, but I think there are some better female lead performances out there this year...
Rob

This is more a list of compaints then anything. What about Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino? And as for Heath Ledger... If Heath Ledger actually deserves to win...he should win. But handing him a nomination and then either a SAG, Globe or Oscar...just because he died is wrong. Its an insult to his memory. After watching Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder...he deserves the award. In the movie he pulls off six or seven different voices or accents without skipping a beat. No transition. Never once breaks character. Never once falling into the cooki cutter role like that filled by Jack black or Ben Stiller. Back to Heath Ledger...yes the performance was amazing. But was he any better then Sean Penn in I am Sam or Leonadrio DiCaprio in The Departed. What about Micheal Keaton in Betelgeuse. No nod for him...all of which deserved the nod, some got it but none got it. Does that make sense? Not in the slightest. Hollywood chooses to break from their tradition of picking movies from the "Oscar Season" which runs from late september/October to january. Why choose a mosie that is decidedly out of season. Just beacuse a guy died because of the role he played. Now as I said, if Heath Ledger is indeed the best supporting actor of the year...then he should win without a question. But I disagree that he wins just for the simple fact he died....its an insult to the great art of movie making.
Zzz

Ok, are you really bringing Robert Downey Jr. into this? Yea he did 7 voices, but if that's what won awards then Darrel Hammond from SNL would be geting nominated. He has so many impressions in the bag. But Oscars and awards are not given our for quick, comical impressions. Even Downey Jr. himself would probably hand that award back to you if you said his accents were the reason. Plenty of actors and comedians can do accents, it's a total character that they look for to give awards. I don't think they will give Heath an award only because he died, but as one critic said "Heath doesn't so much act like The Joker, he disappears completely." You no longer see Heath Ledger, and his voice and character are completely different than his normal self, you just see a villain. From how he eats, drinks, walks, everything is different. That's why the buzz is so big. I'm disappointed he's being seen as a supporting actor, rather than a lead, but I guess Bale does have more screen time. I loved Heath's performance, but not because he died after he did it, rather that he transforms into a completely different person, and on TOP of that has to react and act in each scene. Some people have their own voice and look and then act sad, happy, concerned, etc. Try doing those things while making the audience think you are still someone else. Im[ressive to say the least. I want the winner to be the best, if he's not it that's fine, but it better be someone doing an amazing job. Not just accents.
East

For the simple fact that Mickey Rourke was passed over for Barfly, he sould win on karma alone. Anyone who has not seen that great film and his timeless portrial of street poet Charles Bukowski, please do yourself a favor and rent it. Maybe Rourke's rebirth to critics will be the impitus to reissue that great film (I should mention Faye Dunaway, who was never better than she was in this) . The ironic fact of these nominations is that Sean Penn helped get Mickey back into the game by offering him a very brief but intense part in Penn's wonderful 2nd film as a director "The Pledge". I'll be very interested in seeing their reaction if either of them win. I was mesmerised when I watched "The Pope Of Greenwich Village" in 1984 and have loved his passion since. Ihad the same thought that Steve Buscemi had after seeing that film: "WHO IS THIS GUY?"
Lyns

I would just like to reply to the thought that a comedic actor should not be nominated?? What is that? Comedy is so much more difficult. Now I will say that I have not seen the performance, but I would not disregard the nomination based on the fact that it is a comedic role and he does accents (that being said, I would have to see it, but I know RDJr is a phenomenal actor). SAG is the Screen Actors Guild... which means that peers vote, which means that they have respect and know the difficulty of pulling off comedy. It actually ticks me off that comedy gets overlooked all the time for the "drama". Heath Ledger was a phenomenal actor as well. I'm not saying who should win here, I'm just saying that RDJr's performance should not be overlooked simply because it's comedy.
Fernando

Heath Ledger's performance in TDK was amazing, like #26 said he disappears completely, but so does Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder. RDJr's performance as Sargeant Lincoln Osiris is awesome and hilarious, he alone steals the whole movie and not just because he can do voices, come on guys, give the guy some credit. I think both should win.
Ejaih

Taraji P. Henson "should not" be overlooked! She gave an excellent performance in Benjamin Button. It would be simply amazing if her peers chose to present her with the Globe.
Patricia

Has anybody thought about Gran Torino and it's star, director, producer and songwriter, Clint Eastwood? I was lucky enough to see it in NYC before it was in general release and I thought he was amazing. His supporting cast deserves recognition, also. It may be about a bigoted man, but that same man takes a marvelous journey in this film. I hope you all will see it and that it gets better treatment at the Oscars.
Lauren

Okay. There's been a lot of debate about who the awards will actually go to. And if it were up to me... ACTOR: Sean Penn (Milk) ACTRESS: Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road) SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Kate Winslet (The Reader) ENSEMBLE CAST: Milk ENSEMBLE STUNTS: The Dark Knight Thank you!
Gerhard van Niekerk

I cannot understand why Charlize Theron has not been nominated for Sleepwalking! I would like Meryl Streep and Brad Pitt to win, as well as Penelope Cruz (she was brilliant) and Kate Winslet!
Dos X

Please forgive me but... Benjamin Button is not all that good, not even with Brad Pitt playing leading man. Perhaps the special effects are worthy of mention, but in my humble opinion, this movie is a big let down. I have already posted my feelings on SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and it has won several serious awards since I wrote the post... Forgive me but... if SLUMDOG doesn't win Ensemble Cast and Supporting Actor, there is no justice. By the way, there are 10 Oscar nominations for this flick and 11 for the British version of the Oscars. It lets me know I wasn't the only one that found this movie to be a rare gem, an almost perfect film with a very close to perfect group of people in front of and behind the cameras.
BaleGroupie#1

I hate award season simply because they always seem to ignore one of the best actors of his generation,and that is none other than Christian freakin Bale.It does'nt matter what he does,or how powerful his performances are,he always seem to get overlooked,snubbed,ignored,take your pick.He had several powerful performances over the past ten years that included such movies as:American Psycho,Rescue Dawn,3:10 to Yuma,The Machinist ,not to mention Batman Begins,where he not only put on phenomenal performances,but the physical transformations and unbelievable sacrafices he put his body through to play these demanding roles!!!! If Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise had gone through similar sacrafices,they'd be commended and awarded immensely for their efforts!!!! Brad Pitt did'nt go through much physical sacrafice at all for Benjamin Button,he had the help of makeup and CGI or some crap,in IMAO,he's not half the actor Christian Bale is. I'm glad that Heath is being recognized at least,and sadly it came too late,but I'm just so disappointed that the Academy continues to snub Christian Bale year after year no matter what he does.This man is a genious in my book,he has not only been in the biz for over 20 years,but he has mastered the American accent better than well,American actors.He's gorgeous,talented,and a master of his craft. He will always be my favorite actor,bar none!!!!!! Maybe some day the Academy will stand up and recognize true talent,and award him accordingly,he deserves it!!!!!
Susan

LEONARDO DICAPRIO NOT NOMINATED?????????!!!!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE! HOW COULD THEY NOMINATE WINSLET AND NOT LEO. BRAD PITT??? PLEASE.