20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: An #Actor Votes. #SAGAwards #2014

As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, I am able to vote in the SAG Awards. Below are my choices for  each award.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards air Saturday, January 18th on TNT & TBS at 8p.m.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Nominated: 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, August: Osage County, Dallas Buyers Club, Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

Voted for:  August: Osage County seems to me to be a true ensemble piece in itself, but with these specific actors, they gave performances that helped move the film along as a whole. As an ensemble. Plus, filming dinner scenes are actually extremely complex.  

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)  Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Forest Whitaker (Lee Daniels’ The Butler), Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

Voted For: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave): I was so impressed with his performance. It’s truly amazing because it has made me want to become a better actor. To learn as much as I can. Although, I was impressed with Matthew McConaughey, I thought the depths that Chiwetel Ejiofor had to go to in order to give a complete portrayal of his character were so much deeper. *Side note, he’s BRITISH and does one of the best American accents I’ve ever heard.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Nominated: Meryl Streep (August: Osage County), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine). Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Judi Dench (Philomena), Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)

Voted For: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine): It was a toss up between Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett for me once I narrowed my choices down. Ultimately, I thought the arc of Blanchett’s character was played beautifully, her performance as Jasmine simply impressed me more than the others. Although, it was extremely difficult NOT to vote for Meryl Streep (BECAUSE she’s MERYL STREEP)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominated: Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club), James Gandolfini (Enough Said), Daniel Bruhl (Rush)

Voted For: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club): He truly immersed himself into this character and the power of his performance, for me, is undeniable. Although, before I saw it, I was convinced I would be voting for Michael Fassbender because there is nothing forgivable about his character, and it’s extremely difficult to play the bad guy well. Leto blew the competition out of the water for me.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominated: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave),  Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Julia Roberts (August: Osage County), June Squibb (Nebraska), Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels’ The Butler)

Voted For: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave): She truly gave a supporting performance and was so visceral in the process of playing Patsey, that I felt I had so other choice but to vote for her. I was blown away by her skill and talent. Although, there were pleasant surprises from Julia Roberts and Oprah, but Lupita is one to watch. She was fantastic.

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TELEVISION

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nominated: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland.

Voted For: Breaking Bad

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

Nominated: 30 Rock, Arrested Development,  Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Veep.

Voted For: Modern Family

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nominated: Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Kevin Spacey (House of Cards), Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom)

Voted For: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) *There was no contest. Seriously.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nominated: Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Coven), Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Claire Danes (Homeland), Kerry Washington (Scandal)

Voted For: Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) *Side note, this was the most difficult decision I had to make this year. I love them all.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Nominated: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Don Cheadle (House of Lies), Ty Burrell (Modern Family)  Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Voted For: Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Nominated: Tina Fey (30 Rock), Julie Bowen (Modern Family) Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

Voted For: Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES

Nominated: Matt Damon (Behind the Candelabra), Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra), Rob Lowe (Killing Kennedy), Al Pacino (Phil Spector), Jeremy Irons (The Hollow Crown)

Voted For: Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES

Nominated: Angela Bassett (Betty & Coretta), Helena Bonham Carter (Burton & Taylor), Elisabeth Moss (Top of the Lake), Holly Hunter (Top of the Lake), Helen Mirren (Phil Spector)

Voted For: Helen Mirren (Phil Spector)

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Nominated: All is Lost, The Fast the Furious 6, Lone Survivor, Rush, Wolverine.

Voted for: Wolverine

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES

Nominated:  Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Homeland, The Walking Dead. 

Voted For: Game of Thrones. Due to the sheer amounts of stunts in this series, for me, it was  a clear choice. Plus, it seems like they would have more fun. Voting for stunt ensembles is really difficult.

#AmericanHorrorStory: Television’s Resident Repertory Theater Company (Returns on FX tonight @ 10:00)

AHS1There’s a repertory theater company that’s one of the best in country. It’s available in your living room every Wednesday at 10 p.m. on FX. American Horror Story is the brain-child of Glee and Nip/Tuck creator, Ryan Murphy. Starring Oscar winner Jessica Lange, who has also garnered Emmys, Golden Globes & SAG awards for her performances on the show, she drives the ship. The thing that distinguishes American Horror Story from other shows currently on television at the moment is that each season tells a different story. Therefore, you can start watching the show from any season, and not be left behind. This also proves to be a challenge and a delight for the actors involved. They are able to play multiple characters because each season varies. For example, Sarah Paulson, one of the series regulars, played a minor character in the first season’s story, a major character in the second, and she currently has quite a substantial supporting role in the third season. It is in this way that it is like a theatrical company.  Everyone has the chance to strength their acting muscles by playing different characters, and sometimes they’ll have a tiny part instead of a large one. Aiding the characters are also great writers. The writing on AHS is one of the best I’ve seen on a television series since Breaking Bad. Well, if you haven’t checked it out, you totally should. From a haunted house, to an insane asylum, and now a witch coven, American Horror Story just keeps getting better and better. Plus, this season, Jessica Lange gets some serious backup with Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates. There’s also a cameo from the white witch herself, Stevie Nicks.