Ray Richmond: SAG Awards bring passion and even a few surprises (along with an ‘Oppenheimer’ coronation)

Ray Richmond
·6 min read
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OK, so maybe it was a good idea for Lily Gladstone to go lead after all.

The elegant “Killers of the Flower Moon” star went from possibly-forgotten-awards-season-afterthought to Oscar frontrunner in the space of a few moments at tonight’s 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, and what was widely predicted to be another jewel in Emma Stone’s march to the Academy Awards crown for “Poor Things” hit not just a roadblock but a brick wall – demonstrating just how quickly narratives can be rewritten and fortunes can change.

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The upset win brought a burst of excitement to an awards show that perhaps featured more pizzazz than expected going in. And some of that came, somewhat shockingly, on the television side, even as “The Bear” and “Beef” marched to ho-hum predicted (and, to be fair, well deserved) victories. Jeremy Allen White continued his unblemished awards record (it was his second SAG trophy in as many years for his lead role on “The Bear”) and his castmate Ayo Edebiri took home the gold in Best Comedy Actress. And in the limited series/TV-movie acting races, “Beef’s” Ali Wong and Steven Yeun likewise followed their Golden Globe and Emmy wins with SAG triumphs.

SEE‘Succession’ ends its run having never won an individual acting trophy at SAG Awards

But things went far less according to form in drama series, where “Succession” snatched the drama series ensemble prize but found Matthew Macfadyen, Kieran Culkin and Brian Cox splitting the vote and opening the door for Pedro Pascal to waltz through for “The Last of Us” in drama actor. And Elizabeth Debicki (Princess Diana in “The Crown”) pulled off a mild shocker in drama actress by knocking off “Succession’s” Sarah Snook.

However, this was a night when the presenters perhaps made as big a splash as the victors and brought at least as many surprises to the mix.

It was a stroke of SAG Awards genius to invite the casts of “Modern Family” and “Breaking Bad” to present the TV comedy and drama ensemble awards, respectively. The castmates were all relaxed and full of mischief, getting in some zingers and more than a few of what used to be known as f-bombs but at this awards show felt positively routine. Other magical presenter moments happened near the beginning of the show when Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt gathered for a “The Devil Wears Prada” reunion, and ex-spouses Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis traded quips 33 years after they were divorced before presenting the Best Film Ensemble prize to “Oppenheimer.”

SEESAG Awards winners: Full list in 6 movie and 9 TV categories [UPDATING LIVE]

Yes, it was a predictably big night for the biopic about the Father of the Atomic Bomb. It won three, also taking Best Film Actor (Cillian Murphy) and Best Film Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.). Neither win was a surprise, though Gold Derby voters had been split on whether it would be Murphy or Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers.” Instead, “Holdovers” had to settle for Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s supporting win. Murphy, Downey and Randolph (along with Gladstone) are now surely iron-clad heavy favorites to cart off Oscars. A SAG win goes a long way toward Academy Awards paydirt, and you could see it in the winners’ grateful eyes onstage that they knew it.

Yes, there was a vibe at this SAG Awards that was different from nearly every kudofest that came before it due to its presence on streamer Netflix. The lack of language restrictions meant the expletives could fly – and fly they did. That gave the evening a tone more like the Golden Globe shows of old, when the alcohol flowed and tongues loosened. More than one winner said they were feeling a mite tipsy (I’m looking at you, Pedro) and there was no hair-trigger orchestra to play the acceptance speakers offstage. White even said, “Wow, they give you a lot of time at this one, but that’s all I have.” It was a show that people with a lot to say felt extra-comfy in. And the fact there were no bleeps of words or phrases was more than welcome.

SEESAG Awards: ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘The Bear’ win 3 [LIVE BLOG]

Too, the lack of commercials initially felt like a blessing but was sometimes a curse. How so? When “Queer Eye” regular Tan France, fresh off the red carpet pre-show, was given the assignment to interview winners mere minutes after leaving the stage with their statuette. They were predictably stiff, embarrassing and self-flagellating, not to mention utterly unnecessary.

Why these people would opt to use the lack of ads to kill time with live interviews after we just saw the winners accepting onstage was bizarre and leaves you wondering why they couldn’t award the top film and TV stunt ensemble trophies onstage rather than blowing them off before the show while never even bothering to mention them on the Netflix stream. If I’m a member of the stunt community, I’m feeling plenty underappreciated if not outright dissed. This piece of the SAG Awards puzzle needs to change, perhaps as soon as next year.

It was also weird that the ceremony would see fit to kill time with a strained segment showing “Abbott Elementary’s” Lisa Ann Walter behaving like a fangirl. And while they gave SAG President Fran Drescher plenty of space to speak about the state of her guild, the audience response to a woman who just fought to give them all a powerful deal following a protracted strike was oddly muted. But at least she didn’t have to speak to Tan France, so that was a win.

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