Breaking down today's SAG nominations ...

'SLUMDOG' MAY HAVE JUST FOUND THE MISSING PIECE TO THE BEST PICTURE PUZZLE

• This significance of this morning's nominations of "Slumdog Millionaire" for best ensemble and its star Dev Patel for best supporting actor should not be underestimated. Many suspected the film would go unrecognized by SAG, not because it isn't worthy of all the recognition in the world, but because virtually none of its principal cast members (save for Irfan Khan) had ever been heard of before outside of India. The fact that it still managed to snag these two nominations means that the love for 'Slumdog' is very real and far-reaching. The film was already considered safe for a best picture nomination, but Patel's endorsement today probably elevates him from a no-name long shot into the fifth spot in the previously wide-open supporting actor category, as well. That would be particularly important since only 10 films have ever won the Academy Award for best picture without at least one nomination in an acting category.

MORE 'DOUBT' TODAY MEANS LESS DOUBT FOR TOMORROW

• The other incontrovertible big winner was the film "Doubt," which was always primarily regarded as an actors' showcase, and really needed SAG's stamp of approval today after a so-so performance at other precursors. It got it in a big way: the film scored a nod for best ensemble and all four of its principal cast members also made the cut — Meryl Streep for best actress, Philip Seymour Hoffman for best supporting actor, and Viola Davis for best supporting actress were all expected to get in, but there was serious, er, doubt about the less showy performance of Amy Adams for best supporting actress. The fact that she made it too indicates that the full force of the actors branch will probably be behind "Doubt" the rest of the way, and bolsters my position that "Doubt" will snag the fifth slot in the best picture race.

THEY LIKE THEM, THEY REALLY LIKE THEM!

• The biggest celebrity couple in the world woke up to good news this morning. Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case and Benjamin Button") and Angelina Jolie ("Changeling") both received nominations that were not at all sure-bets. Pitt, who had never previously been nominated for any individual performance by SAG, faced fears that fellow actors would struggle to see a worthy performance behind the CGI-provided body that he wears throughout his film. The fact that he made it in, even when his much more celebrated co-star Cate Blanchett did not, means that his peers are genuinely behind him. Blanchett, incidentally, might have Jolie to thank for her absence. "Changeling" was met with rather scathing reviews in the United States, but SAG voters apparently absolved Jolie from any blame and are inviting her back as a nominee for the second year in a row. Last year, she earned a SAG nod for another strong performance that rose above a middling movie, "A Mighty Heart," but was subsequently snubbed by the Academy. A repeat is a very real possibility.

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

• Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor") and Melissa Leo ("Frozen River") are two actors who must be feeling particularly good this morning, as both earned their nominations the hard way: through decades of low-paying, low-profile work. Both have told me that the fact that they were given late-career chances to play starring roles was reward enough. The fact that their peers -- and likely the Academy, too -- have been paying attention must be the greatest possible icing on the cake. Their careers are much more similar to that of the average SAG member than, say, Sean Penn's or Meryl Streep's, so I would not rule out the possibility that either could win their category at SAG, a la Ruby Dee last year.

THE MYTH OF GOLDEN GLOBE-ALIZATION

• In case anyone needed a reminder that last week's Golden Globe nominations have just about zero relevance to the Oscar nominations — which are determined not by fewer than 100 members of foreign press but rather thousands of people who actually make movies, the largest segment of which are actors — they got it this morning. The film that was supposedly hurt by a poor showing at the Globes ("Milk") got back on its feet in a big way with nominations for best ensemble, Sean Penn for best actor and Josh Brolin for best supporting actor, while the films that were supposedly lifted off of shaky ground by strong showings at the Globes ("The Reader" and "Revolutionary Road") were returned to it today by their exclusions from best ensemble and poor showings in the supporting categories.
  
  The highest-profile snub was the exclusion of "Rev Road" star Leonardo DiCaprio (previously a SAG favorite) from the best actor field, but the showing among the supporting actors was no better — SAG failed to nominate actors' actors Michael Shannon and Kathy Bates for "Rev Road" and Ralph Fiennes for "The Reader," as well. (Fiennes did get nominated for his performance in the TV movie "Bernard and Doris," so we know it's not personal.) These results seem to be much more consistent with critics' and audiences' responses to the aforementioned films than the Globes' nominations. Others whose Oscar hopes took a bit of a hit this morning: "The Dark Knight" and "Rachel Getting Married" for best picture; Josh Brolin ("W."), Cint Eastwood ("Gran Torino"), and Will Smith ("Seven Pounds") for best actor; Cate Blanchett ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky") and Kristin Scott Thomas ("I've Loved You So Long") for best actress; James Franco ("Milk") for best supporting actor; and Rosemarie Dewitt ("Rachel Getting Married"), Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler"), and Debra Winger ("Rachel Getting Married") for best supporting actress.

DOWNEY'S 'THUNDER' GROWING LOUDER

• The one unlikely candidate endorsed by both the Globes and SAG was Robert Downey, Jr., who now looks like a safe bet for an Oscar nomination for his performance in the laugh-out-loud comedy "Tropic Thunder." Though Academy members don't usually gravitate toward comedies and comedic performances, many pundits believe that Downey's inclusion would be a testament not only to his work in "Tropic Thunder" but also to "Iron Man," one of the few well-acted -- not to mention most profitable -- comic book blockbusters. It's also a big pat on the back for a complete career reversal, from the doldrums of personal and professional life to the top of the game. Everyone loves a good comeback story!

REPEAT SHOWINGS

• Kate Winslet was nominated for best actress for "Revolutionary Road" and best supporting actress for "The Reader," and several other actors received nods for their performance and participation in an ensemble. But no individual scored more overall nominations today than — get this — Taraji P. Henson, who scored nods for best supporting actress best ensemble nod for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," plus a third on the TV side of things for her part in "Boston Legal," which was also nominated for best ensemble.

---

Photo: Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto in "Slumdog Millionaire." Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

'SLUMDOG' MAY HAVE JUST FOUND THE MISSING PIECE TO THE BEST PICTURE PUZZLE

• This significance of this morning's nominations of "Slumdog Millionaire" for best ensemble and its star Dev Patel for best supporting actor should not be underestimated. Many suspected the film would go unrecognized by SAG, not because it isn't worthy of all the recognition in the world, but because virtually none of its principal cast members (save for Irfan Khan) had ever been heard of before outside of India. The fact that it still managed to snag these two nominations means that the love for 'Slumdog' is very real and far-reaching. The film was already considered safe for a best picture nomination, but Patel's endorsement today probably elevates him from a no-name long shot into the fifth spot in the previously wide-open supporting actor category, as well. That would be particularly important since only 10 films have ever won the Academy Award for best picture without at least one nomination in an acting category.

MORE 'DOUBT' TODAY MEANS LESS DOUBT FOR TOMORROW

• The other incontrovertible big winner was the film "Doubt," which was always primarily regarded as an actors' showcase, and really needed SAG's stamp of approval today after a so-so performance at other precursors. It got it in a big way: the film scored a nod for best ensemble and all four of its principal cast members also made the cut — Meryl Streep for best actress, Philip Seymour Hoffman for best supporting actor, and Viola Davis for best supporting actress were all expected to get in, but there was serious, er, doubt about the less showy performance of Amy Adams for best supporting actress. The fact that she made it too indicates that the full force of the actors branch will probably be behind "Doubt" the rest of the way, and bolsters my position that "Doubt" will snag the fifth slot in the best picture race.

THEY LIKE THEM, THEY REALLY LIKE THEM!

• The biggest celebrity couple in the world woke up to good news this morning. Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case and Benjamin Button") and Angelina Jolie ("Changeling") both received nominations that were not at all sure-bets. Pitt, who had never previously been nominated for any individual performance by SAG, faced fears that fellow actors would struggle to see a worthy performance behind the CGI-provided body that he wears throughout his film. The fact that he made it in, even when his much more celebrated co-star Cate Blanchett did not, means that his peers are genuinely behind him. Blanchett, incidentally, might have Jolie to thank for her absence. "Changeling" was met with rather scathing reviews in the United States, but SAG voters apparently absolved Jolie from any blame and are inviting her back as a nominee for the second year in a row. Last year, she earned a SAG nod for another strong performance that rose above a middling movie, "A Mighty Heart," but was subsequently snubbed by the Academy. A repeat is a very real possibility.

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

• Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor") and Melissa Leo ("Frozen River") are two actors who must be feeling particularly good this morning, as both earned their nominations the hard way: through decades of low-paying, low-profile work. Both have told me that the fact that they were given late-career chances to play starring roles was reward enough. The fact that their peers -- and likely the Academy, too -- have been paying attention must be the greatest possible icing on the cake. Their careers are much more similar to that of the average SAG member than, say, Sean Penn's or Meryl Streep's, so I would not rule out the possibility that either could win their category at SAG, a la Ruby Dee last year.

THE MYTH OF GOLDEN GLOBE-ALIZATION

• In case anyone needed a reminder that last week's Golden Globe nominations have just about zero relevance to the Oscar nominations — which are determined not by fewer than 100 members of foreign press but rather thousands of people who actually make movies, the largest segment of which are actors — they got it this morning. The film that was supposedly hurt by a poor showing at the Globes ("Milk") got back on its feet in a big way with nominations for best ensemble, Sean Penn for best actor and Josh Brolin for best supporting actor, while the films that were supposedly lifted off of shaky ground by strong showings at the Globes ("The Reader" and "Revolutionary Road") were returned to it today by their exclusions from best ensemble and poor showings in the supporting categories.
  
  The highest-profile snub was the exclusion of "Rev Road" star Leonardo DiCaprio (previously a SAG favorite) from the best actor field, but the showing among the supporting actors was no better — SAG failed to nominate actors' actors Michael Shannon and Kathy Bates for "Rev Road" and Ralph Fiennes for "The Reader," as well. (Fiennes did get nominated for his performance in the TV movie "Bernard and Doris," so we know it's not personal.) These results seem to be much more consistent with critics' and audiences' responses to the aforementioned films than the Globes' nominations. Others whose Oscar hopes took a bit of a hit this morning: "The Dark Knight" and "Rachel Getting Married" for best picture; Josh Brolin ("W."), Cint Eastwood ("Gran Torino"), and Will Smith ("Seven Pounds") for best actor; Cate Blanchett ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky") and Kristin Scott Thomas ("I've Loved You So Long") for best actress; James Franco ("Milk") for best supporting actor; and Rosemarie Dewitt ("Rachel Getting Married"), Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler"), and Debra Winger ("Rachel Getting Married") for best supporting actress.

DOWNEY'S 'THUNDER' GROWING LOUDER

• The one unlikely candidate endorsed by both the Globes and SAG was Robert Downey, Jr., who now looks like a safe bet for an Oscar nomination for his performance in the laugh-out-loud comedy "Tropic Thunder." Though Academy members don't usually gravitate toward comedies and comedic performances, many pundits believe that Downey's inclusion would be a testament not only to his work in "Tropic Thunder" but also to "Iron Man," one of the few well-acted -- not to mention most profitable -- comic book blockbusters. It's also a big pat on the back for a complete career reversal, from the doldrums of personal and professional life to the top of the game. Everyone loves a good comeback story!

REPEAT SHOWINGS

• Kate Winslet was nominated for best actress for "Revolutionary Road" and best supporting actress for "The Reader," and several other actors received nods for their performance and participation in an ensemble. But no individual scored more overall nominations today than — get this — Taraji P. Henson, who scored nods for best supporting actress best ensemble nod for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," plus a third on the TV side of things for her part in "Boston Legal," which was also nominated for best ensemble.

---

Photo: Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto in "Slumdog Millionaire." Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Comments

[Name:]

i really hope slumdog goes all the way, and doesn't get some sort of unexpected "Crash" moment. all the other films are excellent(milk and frost/nixon!), but...this year has got to be boyle's year.

[Robert Hamer]

It is unthinkable to me that Doubt, the pinnacle of mediocre stage-to-screen adaptations, is getting so much attention. It MUST be because of the pedigree of the stars. A shame, Hoffman and Streep have done far better work.