30th Screen Actors Guild Nominations

A small handful of big surprises change the tenor of this year’s competition, though most of the frontrunners are present and accounted for. Before we get to the films or performances that missed in certain categories, let’s talk about the major complete omissions. None of the foreign language contenders secured nominations. Anatomy of a Fall, Past Lives, and The Zone of Interest were entirely shut out. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. and May December also whiffed.

Now, let’s talk about the individual categories. Other Best Picture contenders (than the ones who were shut out) that didn’t get cited include The Holdovers and Poor Things. The former could be explained away by having a small cast, but Poor Things can’t. Perhaps it isn’t as strong as some suspected. Certainly, it’s not going to ride the weird factor to glory like Everything Everywhere All at Once did.

The big surprise in Best Actor is that Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t get a nomination. He’s the kind of actor who should have picked up one, meaning his Oscar candidacy is probably on the rocks. Another scalding omission is Andrew Scott who absolutely needed this citation to make it to the Oscars. Others missing were Barry Keoghan, Joaquine Phoenix, Franz Rogowski, and Teo Yoo, all of whom were longshots.

Best Actress saw the fortunes of Annette Bening rise while Sandra Hüller falls. That could well be due to name recognition, but this also hurts the candidacy of Greta Lee who could have used the boost. Natalie Portman also misses out, which definitely makes her a longshot Oscar nominee now. Fantasia Barrino and Aunjanue Ellis were the other names missing, though that isn’t surprising.

For supporting actor, the big news is Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe swapping places. Ruffalo has been everywhere in the precursors, but Dafoe was getting little recognition. Now, Dafoe is taking the lead. Robert De Niro and Sterling K. Brown are likely very happy with this revelation as their nominations were on the ropes. Unfortunately for Charles Melton and Dominic Sessa, their omissions are potentially damning.

Finally, Best Supporting Actress sees the hopes of America Ferrera collapse and Penélope Cruz rise. Danielle Brooks has to be happy as her potential Oscar nomination was weakening, but has now strengthened. Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, and Rosamund Pike are now also-rans. Julianne Moore could still surprise, but she needed this one too.

Nominations Tallies

(4) Barbie, Oppenheimer
(3) American Fiction
(2) The Color Purple, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Nyad, Poor Things
(1) Ferrari, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, John Wick: Chapter 4, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Rustin

The Nominations

Best Cast

American Fiction
Barbie
The Color Purple
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

Best Actress

Annette Bening – Nyad
Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Margot Robbie – Barbie
Emma Stone – Poor Things

Best Supporting Actor

Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction
Willem Dafoe – Poor Things
Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling – Barbie