The Artist leads the Sag Award nominations

Today the Screen Actors Guild nominated the best performances of the year. The committee made up of actors are usually a good signal for who will get nominated and ultimately win the acting awards at the Oscars. As usual many great performances got left out.

Best Actor
Demian Bichir-A Better Life
George Clooney-The Descendants
Leonardo Dicaprio-J. Edgar
Jean DuJardin-The Artist
Brad Pitt-Moneyball

The inclusion hear of Demian Bichir is a surprise considering the amount of other great performances in the male category that were considered front runners. Michael Fassbender being left out is a signal that he is either no longer a front runner at the Oscars or he will be left out completely when it come down to nominations. If Michael Shannon and Gary Oldman were ever considered for nominations at the Oscars it seem that they will be left out completely.

Best Actress
Glenn Close-Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis-The Help
Meryl Streep-The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton-We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams-My week with Marilyn

Their aren't any big surprises in this category. However Elizabeth Olsen who was long considered a favorite for her role in Martha Marcy May Marlene was snubbed and Charlize Theorn who was nominated for the Critics Choice was also snubbed.

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh-My Week with Marilyn
Armie Hammer-J. Edgar
Jonah Hill-Moneyball
Nick Nolte-Warrior
Christopher Plummer-Beginners

The exclusion of Albert Brooks for Drive leaves Christopher Plummer as the front runner for the Oscar. It is surprising that after so many critics awards Albert Brooks would be left out in favor of less stellar performances by Jonah Hill and Armie Hammer.

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo-The Artist
Jessica Chastain-The Help
Melissa McCarthy-Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer-Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer-The Help

Carey Mulligan, Vanessa Redgrave and Shailene Woodley were all snubbed in this category.

Best Ensemble
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

The surprise in this category is definitely the inclusion of Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. If many thought the film was an after thought, today it regained strength. Hugo, The Tree of Life, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Drive, War Horse, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Shame were all ignored today from the Guild.

The fact that there is still no clear front runner in any of these categories only shows how good the films have been and how difficult it will be to choose a winner.

Best Stunt Ensemble
The Adjustment Bureau
Cowboys and Aliens
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2
Transformers Dark of the Moon
X: Men First Class