'Birdman' wins top prize at SAG

(MENAFN- Arab Times) LOS ANGELES Jan 26 (Agencies): 'Birdman' a satirical film about acting in the unforgiving world of show business won top honors from Hollywood's actors on Sunday in an important show of support for its march toward the best picture Oscar. 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 100000 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.'

Favorite

'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. '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.'

Accepted

'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. 'Birdman' boosted its Oscars hopes Sunday after landing the top prize at the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards a barometer of likely success at the allimportant Academy Awards. The film about a washed up superhero movie star attempting to revive his career on Broadway took the SAG equivalent of the Oscars best picture with victory in the outstanding performance by a cast category. The comedy emerged victorious ahead of coming-of-age drama 'Boyhood' Wes Anderson's screwball caper 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' World War II drama 'The Imitation Game' and the Stephen Hawking biopic 'The Theory of Everything.' The honor for 'Birdman' came just 24 hours after Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's film scooped the top prize at the Producers Guild of America awards another significant Oscars bellwether. The victory leaves the film on pole position heading into next month's Academy Awards which will be handed out in Hollywood on Feb 22.