2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards Announced
Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on January 28, 2008
Unlike the Golden Globes, the actors were on hand at the 2008 Screen Actors Guild awards. The awards which are voted on by the entire membership of the Screen Actors Guild, were given out in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
The SAG awards are kept to two hours with very little fan fare and unlike most awards shows move along at a brisk pace.
Among the big winners, the cast of the Sopranos. In addition to winning for best cast James Gandolfini won for best actor in a drama series and Edie Falco won best actress in a drama series, which gave the now ended show a award winning send off.
The comedy ensemble award was picked up by the cast of “The Office”. Alec Bladwin and Tina Fey took the best actor and actress for their roles in 30 Rock. In the film category Javier Bordem won Best supporting actor for “No Country for Old Men” and the cast won for best film.
Julie Christie picked up the Best actress award for her performance as a woman stricken with Alzheimer’s disease in “Away from Her”. Christie alluding to the Writers Guild strike said:
“It’s lovely to receive an award from your own union,” she said, “especially at a time when we’re being so forcefully reminded how important unions are.”
But this awards show will be remembered for Daniel Day-Lewis and his graceful acceptance of his SAG award for Best Actor for “There Will Be Blood”.
Day-Lewis accepted the award, but not on his own behalf. Instead he went on to talk about the late actor Heath Ledger. In a departure from the self centered nature of awards, an emotional Day-Lewis spoke of how much Ledger’s work inspired him. He spoke quietly about the late actor’s work in “Monsters Ball” and’”Brokeback Mountain” specifically recounting the last scene of that film:”And then of course in Brokeback Mountain, he was unique, he was perfect. That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I have ever seen and I’d like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger. Thank you very much.”
The actor who had never met Ledger has clearly been profoundly moved by his death telling reporters:
“That’s all I have been thinking about the last few days. I am absolutely certain he would have done many wonderful things in his life”The awards became just a bit more meaningful because of the gracious acceptance speech by Day-Lewis who perhaps reminded his fellow actors that it’s the work and life itself that is the greatest prize of all.
The full list of winners is below:
Movies
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”
Actress: Julie Christie, “Away From Her”
Supporting actor: Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”
Supporting actress: Ruby Dee, “American Gangster”
Cast: “No Country for Old Men”
Stunt ensemble: “The Bourne Ultimatum”
Television
Actor in a movie or miniseries: Kevin Kline, “As You Like It”
Actress in a movie or miniseries: Queen Latifah, “Life Support”
Actor in a drama series: James Gandolfini, “The Sopranos”
Actress in a drama series: Edie Falco, “The Sopranos”
Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Drama series cast: “The Sopranos”
Comedy series cast: “The Office”
Stunt ensemble: “24″
Lifetime Achievement: Charles Durning
Read more articles by Robin Ruinsky
