The 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards – My Predictions

Last year the Screen Actors Guild Awards were a mix of obvious choices and (for me) complete surprises. This season I’m feeling more prepared to make my predictions. Last year I failed, correct on only two of the five picks I made. Like the Golden Globes, this is a great test to see where the Oscars might end up. Hopefully I’m more successful this time! My picks are the bold titles in each category.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

a. 12 Years a Slave

b. American Hustle

c. August: Osage County

d. Dallas Buyers Club

e. Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Based on the films I’ve seen I don’t know how 12 Years a Slave doesn’t win this award. The cast does an incredible job bringing the story to life with dignity and pure emotion.

– Okay, I think that I’m going to backtrack a bit with this one. American Hustle was something special. The cast really came together with amazing chemistry.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

a. Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

b. Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips

c. Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

d. Forest Whitaker – Lee Daniels’ The Butler

e. Bruce Dern – Nebraska

Once again, 12 Years a Slave is likely to shine throughout the award season. Ejiofor did such an impressive job in the film that he’s likely to have a lot of hardware once the season is over.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

a. Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

b. Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

c. Sandra Bullock – Gravity

d. Judi Dench – Philomena

e. Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks

There isn’t a question in my mind that Bullock is the winner on this list. There are a number of great performances this season, but Bullock did something special with her work on Gravity.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

a. Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

b. Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips

c. Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

d. James Gandolfini – Enough Said

e. Daniel Bruhl – Rush

I’m torn by the options in this category. I’d love to see the honor go to Gandalfini purely from a sentimentality point of view. When it comes to the work, I’d be happy to see Jared Leto take the win for his incredible transformation. All of that being said, I think Fassbender might have locked this one up with his great performance in 12 Years a Slave.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

a. Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

b. Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

c. Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

d. June Squibb – Nebraska

e. Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Don’t get me started on the fact that Oprah made the list this season… Anyways, this award is going to come down to Lupita Nyong’o and Julia Roberts. I think that Nyong’o will win based on her impressive and gritty performance in 12 Years a Slave.

So on January 18th we can all find out if I was right or wrong about these awards. I’ll also be updating my picks as I’m able to cross a few more movies off of my “need to see” list.