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 The actors from "Birdman" won the best ensemble cast in a
motion picture from the Screen Actors Guild the day after the
film from Mexican director Alejandro G. Inarritu prevailed at
the Producers Guild awards.
While the SAG award for the best ensemble cast does not always
translate to a best picture win at the Academy Awards, it does
indicate that actors, the largest voting bloc for the Oscars,
favor it over another strong contender, the coming of age tale
"Boyhood."
Michael Keaton, whose own uneven career trajectory mirrors the
travails of "Birdman" protagonist Riggan Thomson, said he was
sure the 100,000 SAG members found a kindred spirit in the film.
"I think actors loved this movie for showing the courage the
actors had, going out there and laying it out on the line,"
Keaton said backstage. "I think that is why respectfully they
thought as a group we deserved to win the prize."
"Birdman" could cement its front-runner status for the Feb. 22
Academy Awards if it takes the top Directors Guild Award in two
weeks.
The individual acting Oscars appear to be sewn up after the SAG
awards, which went to the four artists who won Golden Globes two
weeks ago - Julianne Moore, Eddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette
and J.K. Simmons.
SAG members prized lead performances by two actors portraying
extreme illness.
Moore won best actress for her role as a woman with early-onset
Alzheimer's in "Still Alice," while British actor Redmayne took
best actor for his portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking,
disabled by motor neuron disease, in "The Theory of Everything."
ACTORS CROWN NETFLIX
"Boyhood," from director Richard Linklater, was believed to be a
favorite for the Oscar best picture just days ago as support at
the Academy swelled for his tenacious project - filming a boy's
life over 12 years with the same actors and with little backing
from Hollywood.
Arquette won the best supporting actress trophy for her role as
the loving single mother, her first SAG in six nominations.
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"This little movie is not about the most exceptional person on earth
... this movie is about human beings and bringing real life on to
the screen," Arquette said backstage.
Simmons, an actor with a long resume in television and film, was
honored for his portrayal as the intense music teacher of a young
jazz drummer in the independent film, "Whiplash."
In the television awards, it was a particularly strong night for
streaming company Netflix Inc. Its women's prison comedy, "Orange is
the New Black," won best comedy ensemble and best actress for Uzo
Aduba.
Kevin Spacey won best actor in a drama series for his conniving
congressman Frank Underwood in the political thriller "House of
Cards."
But it was also a big night for recognizing diversity in Hollywood,
a much debated topic this awards season, with black actresses taking
two of the top acting honors.
In addition to Aduba, Viola Davis won best actress in a drama series
as the lawyer in "How to Get Away with Murder."
"I love you guys so desperately, so much," Aduba told her fellow
cast members as she accepted her first SAG award from her first
nomination. "This is not done without you at all."
"Downton Abbey," the British period series that airs on PBS, won
best drama series cast.
The Screen Actors Guild gave its lifetime achievement award to
Debbie Reynolds, the wholesome star of musicals like "Singin' in the
Rain" and a staple of film and television for 66 years.
For a full list of winners, click:
(Editing by Paul Tait)
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