Avatar left out in the cold at SAGs

WHILE Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock’s chances for Academy Award gold were advanced with their trophies at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the blockbuster Avatar may have felt a touch blue.

The computer-assisted performances in James Cameron’s movie didn’t make the cut for SAG nominations. But the groundbreaking sci-fi film remains a strong best-picture contender for the Oscars in March.

For Bridges of Crazy Heart, Bullock of The Blind Side and for SAG supporting-acting honorees Mo’Nique of Precious and Christoph Waltz of Inglourious Basterds, there’s reason to suspect the Oscar ceremony will be a happy rerun of Saturday night’s SAG Awards and last Sunday’s Golden Globes.

All four were recognised at the Globes, as well, while Avatar was named best drama and Cameron won as best director. He will face competition from director Quentin Tarantino, whose Inglourious Basterds won the SAG Award for best ensemble performance, which can be a precursor to the top Oscar award. Last year, SAG’s movie cast award was presented to Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to win the best picture Oscar.

“It was an honour to be part of it, Quentin,” Inglourious Basterds cast member Eli Roth said in accepting the award for his fellow actors in the off-kilter World War II revenge saga.

Bullock won for her portrayal of a tenacious real-life mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who helped a youth in need, future American football player Michael Oher.

Waltz was honoured for his role as an enthusiastically ruthless Nazi. Mo’Nique’s trophy came for her searing portrayal of an abusive mother in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire.”

The cast of Mad Men won the trophy for best drama series ensemble for the second year in-a-row, while 19 cast members of Glee, about misfits in a high school singing club, accepted the award for best comedy series ensemble. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey of NBC’s 30 Rock won for best acting in a comedy series.