“Three Billboards” And ” Big Little Lies” win big at SAG Awards

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, This Is Us, Veep, and Big Little Lies took home the night’s big honors at last night’s (Sunday, January 21st) 24^th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles.

Three Billboards won best actress for Frances McDormand, a supporting actor for Sam Rockwell and the biggest prize, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. (SAG‘s equivalent Best Picture Award).

• On the TV front, Big Little Lies took home three awards, for ensemble, as well as best actor and best actress for Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman.
• But trophies aside, all eyes were on the women of Hollywood as Kristen Bell took to the stage to serve as the show’s first-ever host. Almost all of the presenters were women as well, a direct response to the #MeToo movement and the Time’s Up initiative engulfing Tinseltown.
• Almost across the board, celebrities used their time in the spotlight to speak out about politics. Bell kicked things off with her opening monologue, throwing shade at First Lady Melania Trump by saying: “I never thought I’d grow up to be the first lady, but you know what? I kinda like it,” and going on to say that like Trump’s infamous plan, she too would tackle cyberbullying, “Because I have yet to see any progress made on that problem.”
• The dialogue actually got started before the SAG Awards even kicked off though, as reporters ditched their usual softball queries and asked some pretty direct questions.

#MeToo Highlights included:

• Alison Brie, who is married to accused sexual harasser James Franco’s brother Dave, was asked by E!’s Giuliana Rancic about her support of the Time’s Up movement. Brie responded: “I think that above all what we’ve always said is that it remains vital that anyone who feels victimized should and does have the right to speak out and come forward. I obviously support my family and not everything that’s been reported is fully accurate, so I think we’re waiting to get all of the information. But of course I think now is a time for listening and that’s what we’re all trying to do.”
• Notably, James Franco attended the SAG Awards, but did not walk the red carpet. He was a no-show at the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards, after attending the Golden Globes wearing a Time’s Up movement pin. (Five allegations of sexual misconduct emerged soon after the Globes). Aziz Ansari, who has also been accused of misconduct, sat this one out. The Master of None star was nominated for a SAG.
• During her opener, Bell said: “We are living in a watershed moment in time and as we march forward with active momentum and open ears, let’s make sure we are leading the charge with empathy and diligence, because fear and anger never win the race.”
• The President of SAG, Gabrielle Carteris, making an impassioned speech about the Time’s Up movement, said, “Truth is power, adding: “Make no mistake. This is not a moment in time. This is a movement.”
• Morgan Freeman, as he accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award-with a twinkle in his eye-pointed out that the awards are gender-specific.

Other Highlights From the Show Included:

• A montage celebrating background actors, commercial actors, talk show hosts, stunt performers, performance capture, video games, radio hosts, sportscasters, dancers and more.
• Rita Moreno‘s emotional tribute to Morgan Freeman and his five-decade-plus career, dedication to charitable causes and well-deserved status as a “national treasure.” All the feels.
• Reese Witherspoon cheering on Big Little Lies costar Nicole Kidman for her win (which meant Witherspoon’s loss) for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.
• Nicole Kidman calling out ageism as she wins her first SAG. “Twenty years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives. That’s not the case now. We’ve proven that we are potent and powerful and viable!”
• The moving montage of actors we have recently lost, including Adam West, Glen Campbell, Jerry Lewis, Harry Dean Stanton, Sam Shepard, Don Rickles, Roger Moore and many others, as introduced by Felicity Huffman.
• Mom and daughter duo Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn presenting the award for contenders for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Aaw, you guys!

RED CARPET

The Good

• Molly Shannon proved she’s still a Superstar! in her stunning red off-the-shoulder dress, paired with the chic of the moment accessory, a Time’s Up pin.
• Get Out star Allison Williams donned a sleeveless glittering silver art deco dress with a bold crimson lip and a dark, sleek flapper-esque hair ‘do.
• Yara Shahidi scorched in a custom black Ralph Lauren jumpsuit with a full-on train.

The Bad & Ugly

• Why, ladies, why? OG rebel women Thelma and Louise, aka Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, kicked it old-school on the red carpet, and while it was great to see them together, their look was less so. Sarandon was wearing mom shades and both of their shiny dresses should have stayed in the 80s from whence they came.
• Saoirse Ronan‘s white dress with silver sequin sculptural elements was simultaneously prim and reminiscent of budget Star Trek-inspired fashion lines. Don’t beam us up.
• We are in love-hate with Kate Hudson‘s 100% bonkers froofy, puffy pink dress with black heart polka-dots, a frumpy lace black neckline and a sloppy black belt. I mean, huh?

The Boring

• Nicole Kidman can do no wrong on the red carpet, but she doesn’t always do all right either. The Big Little Lies star may have brought home a trophy for her performance, but her head-to-toe brown sequin number (from Giorgio Armani, no less) was uncharacteristically beige. The giant twist rosette shoulder detail didn’t help matters.

WINNER’S LIST:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: William H. Macy, Shameless

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Veep

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Claire Foy, The Crown

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: This Is Us

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri