The Help Forum

Mmm. Put it in my mouth.

There's not a huge amount to be said about the Screen Actor's Guild awards that hasn't likely been said in a few dozen other news stories here on Screened: The Artist and The Help are pretty chock-full of good performances. As tepid as I was on the overall message of The Help, I can't help but feel that Viola Davis completely and utterly deserves her award for Lead Female Actor here; she's moving as all hell and anchors the entire film with a few deathly transfixing scenes. And, hey, if the Cast In A Motion Picture award goes to The Help as well, so much the better: I'll go ahead and assume that everyone loves Emma Stone as much as I do.

The male side of the action is less surprising, although Jean Dujardin winning for The Artist might be a mild hiccup in the Oscar machine, as welcome as it is. If one wants to look for amazing comedic performances of the last few years, his turns in the OSS 117 films are as enticing as any American films can lay claim to, and he is, indeed, great in The Artist. Still, this award seems to have been George Clooney's to lose, so who knows what this will portend for the Oscars. As far as the Supporting Male Lead, well, Christopher Plummer turned in a wonderful performance in something like his 56th year of motion picture acting, so it's no surprise that he managed to win some gold tonight. Completely deserved, and likely a foreshadowing of his Oscar night win.

The rest of the winners are below. Anything that really surprises you?

Male Actor, Lead: Jean DuJardin, The Artist

Male Actor, Supporting: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Female Actor, Lead: Viola Davis, The Help

Female Actor, Supporting: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Cast in a Motion Picture: The Help

Stunt Ensemble, Motion Picture: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

TV

Male Actor, Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

Female Actor, Drama Series: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story

Ensemble, Drama: Boardwalk Empire

Male Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Female Actor, Comedy Series: Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Ensemble, Comedy Series: Modern Family

Male Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries: Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail

Female Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Stunt Ensemble, Television Series: Game of Thrones

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Tyler Moore

The Help winning the de-facto "best picture"-esque award here was surprising, but that's kinda it. It still doesn't have all that much a chance of winning the big one come next month.

I bet The help will get nominated in the Oscars, its really a no-brainer that a melodramatic racism movie will get a Oscar

@Toxin066 said:

This might be the wrong pulpit to preach at, but how many pats on the back do actors need? The Golden Globes, the SAGs, the Oscars, a lot of them cross over to the Emmy's...it all seems a bit ridiculous. Also, I heard next to nothing about Beginners. So I'm gonna say, "Yo I'm surprised that dude won best supporting actor in that movie."

We've been talking about it on the podcast a bunch. I didn't review it when I saw it, but Christopher Plummer is really fantastic in it.

@Toxin066 said:

@Rorie: I always, always make a point of listening to BtSD - I just can't seem to remember yall's conversations about it. They must have been low points on the podcasts. Not that I'm saying there's low points on BtSD. Eeeeh, I don't see myself making this sound any better, so I'm stopping. Also, your face is a Plummer?

you're mom's a plummer

The Help winning three major awards was surprising, hopefully this doesn't bold for the same during the Oscars. I feel like this year's field of movies is too good to be swept by one or two movies.

I watched last night and I got to say, I was really surprised by the number of awards The Help won.

The Help was a mediocre film with a bit of above average acting but really nothing that is worth rewarding, but then again white guilt...

I have a feeling Betty White won for Hot in Cleveland as a substitute "Lifetime Achievement Award". That's kind of interesting since White co-starred with Mary Tyler Moore on Moore's 1970's sitcom. White is getting really up there in age and she's still quite popular as a Hollywood personality. I believe the affection the guild has for her was a bigger part of the award than her performance in the role. I'm not saying she isn't talented (she has 5 Emmys), I'm just not convinced the Actors Guild looked at all the nominees and decided her performances were the best of the best this year.

What's the difference between "Cast in a Motion Picture" and "Stunt Ensemble, Motion Picture"?

I'd be eternally grateful if people could check out my SAG Awards related blog (:

Click Here

@Glitch said:

What's the difference between "Cast in a Motion Picture" and "Stunt Ensemble, Motion Picture"?

I think it means the people who perform and choreograph the stunts that are in films and television, so not the actors or the cast we see in the foreground on screen.

Great. Bring on more 'white guilt' Oscar bait films! Award shows love that kind of shit.

Well... at least Alec Baldwin won something. But where the hell is Bryan Cranston? Need I remind you:

Community gets snubbed again.