The SAG awards didn’t really have too many surprises on Saturday night, American Hustle took the top honor with an outstanding performance by a movie cast, beating out 12 Years A Slave, Dallas Buyers Club, August: Osage County , and Lee Daniels’ The Butler .
Bradley Cooper was in charge of delivering the acceptance speech on behalf of his co-stars, who include Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, and Jeremy Renner.
Cooper said director David O. Russell is “the epitome of the actor’s director.”
The SAG awards are considered a reliable measure of what will take place at the Academy Awards — for which American Hustle received 10 nominations — partly because actors represent such a large voting block in the motion picture academy.
The best acting honors at the SAG awards went to Cate Blanchett for Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmin and first time winner Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club , for which he lost 38 pounds.
During his acceptance speech McConaughey said:
“It really shines a great light on this bull ride we call acting. I’ve been able to recently find some characters that I can humble myself to their humanities and get feverishly drunk on their obsessions.”
Dallas Buyers Club also received a SAG award for Best Supporting Actor for Jared Leto for his performance as Rayon, a transsexual with AIDS. He dedicated the award to those who have died of the disease and to “the Rayons of the world.” He also thanked his mom, calling her the “hottest date in town.”
In the television category, Breaking Bad continues its success following the Golden Globes. The series –which ended its run in 2013 — took home the SAG award for outstanding dramatic cast and for lead actor, Bryan Cranston.
“What a way to go out in style!” Cranston said as he accepted the cast award on Saturday.
This is Brian Cranston’s second best actor SAG award, which he adds to his recent Golden Globe win, and numerous Emmys he has received for his performance as a teacher who turns into a Meth chemist to support his family.
The first SAG award of the evening went to Mexican born actress Lupita Nyong’o for her role as Patsey in the Golden Globe winner drama 12 Years A Slave .
Our very own, Lupita Nyong’o, wins best supporting actress in SAG awards http://t.co/c1jCJxsedw pic.twitter.com/6A546VBFOO
— SDE.CO.KE (@SDEKenya) January 19, 2014
In her first major role, Nyong’o has impressed critics and moviegoers alike with her heartbreaking performance in the Steve McQueen movie.
During her emotional acceptance speech, she thanked McQueen for “for taking a flashlight and shining it underneath the floorboards of this nation and reminding us what it is we stand on.”
Nyong’o, who has left a lasting impression not only for her acting abilities, but her fashion style, also recalled her conversation with her dad when she got the role.
“‘Daddy, do you know who Brad Pitt is? I’m going to be in a movie with him!’” recalled Nyong’o. “And he said, ‘I don’t know him personally, but I’m glad you got a job.’”
For a complete wrap up of all the SAG awards, read this article at The Inquisitr .