'Black Panther': Big Winner at SAG Awards 2019
Variety.com: “Black Panther” has won the SAG film ensemble cast award, topping “A Star Is Born,” “BlacKkKlansman,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” dominated the TV comedy categories, while “This Is Us” took the TV drama ensemble award.
Chadwick Boseman accepted the award for the “Black Panther” cast at the conclusion of the two-hour show, held Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and telecast on TBS and TNT.
Winner of the SAG ensemble trophy has matched the Oscar best picture winner only 11 times in 23 years. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri“ and “Hidden Figures” won the last two SAG cast awards, while “The Shape of Water” and “Moonlight” took the Oscars
Glenn Close won the SAG Award for top actress for “The Wife” and Rami Malek won for actor for his searing portrayal of Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Close stressed the importance of acting in her acceptance, saying, “The power that we have is two eyes looking into two other eyes,” she said.
SAG actress winners have gone on to win the Oscar for six years in a row including Frances McDormand (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”).
An emotional Malek thanked Mercury in his acceptance, saying, “I get the power from him stepping up and living your best life.”
The SAG victory enhances Malek’s status as a front-runner. SAG actor winners have matched the Oscar winner 13 times in the last 14 years, including Gary Oldman (“Darkest Hour”) last year.
Mahershala Ali won the SAG Award for best supporting actor for “Green Book” and Emily Blunt took the supporting actress trophy for “A Quiet Place.”
Ali won the same award two years ago for “Moonlight,” went on to win the Oscar for the role and is again up for an Academy Award for his portrayal of pianist Don Shirley in “Green Book.”
Ali said backstage that the opportunity to play Don Shirley in “Green Book” was by far the best opportunity that had presented itself in his career. “I felt I could do something with that character,” he added.
Blunt starred as the mother of a family under attack by aliens in “A Quiet Place.” She’s also up for the lead actress award at the SAG Awards for “Mary Poppins Returns.” She has yet to receive an Oscar nomination.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” won all SAG Awards comedy series trophies for Rachel Brosnahan and Tony Shalhoub in the actor categories and in the ensemble cast at the 25th SAG Awards. Shalhoub said he felt confident in the Amazon series from the beginning, though he no longer tries to predict hits.
“I’ve given up trying to predict what will work and what won’t work,” Shalhoub said backstage. “I had a really good feeling about it because of the high level of writing and this unbelievable cast…I get to say for once in all these years I was right.”
“This Is Us” repeated as the drama series winner at the SAG Awards. Jason Bateman won the actor in a drama series award for “Ozark,” his first win after eight nominations. He cracked up the audience by opening his acceptance by saying, “This is reassuring.”
Sandra Oh won the actress in a drama series award for “Killing Eve” and offered effusive thanks to her fellow actors, singling out Jamie Foxx and Alfre Woodward.
Patricia Arquette won for best actress in a TV movie or miniseries for “Escape at Dannemora.” It was her second SAG Award after winning a supporting actor award four years ago for “Boyhood.” She concluded her acceptance by thanking Special Counsel Robert Mueller for “keeping the United States a sovereign country.”
Darren Criss took the trophy for best actor in a TV movie or miniseries, “Assassination of Gianni Versace” for his portrayal of serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
Prior to the televised portion of the show, “Black Panther” and “GLOW” won the awards for stunt
