Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson and Javier Bardem celebrate the win for 'No Country for Old Men' at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The worker bees of 'The Office' revel in their second win in a row.
In a kudos season that has been anything but normal, the red carpet at Sunday's 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards remained a bastion of traditional glamour and celebration.
Neither the relentless rain nor the writers strike could dampen the SAG kudocast as an awards-starved Hollywood gathered at the Shrine auditorium, where Miramax-Paramount Vantage's "No Country for Old Men" picked up the guild's top film trophy.
The WGA strike and SAG's role in it were barely mentioned, although SAG prexy Alan Rosenberg gave a special welcome to WGA prexy Patric Verrone, who sat in the audience, speaking of "treasured solidarity" as SAG celebrated its 75th anniversary.
On the television side, though HBO's "The Sopranos" is off the air it wasn't at all forgotten. The show swept the major TV series categories Sunday, winning the top ensemble prize for a drama series, while James Gandolfini and Edie Falco won in their respective acting categories.
NBC's "The Office" was voted top comedy series in its second consecutive win.
Stunt performers and coordinators were honored for the first time this year by SAG in a new awards category. Receiving the award for outstanding stunt ensemble in a film was Universal's "The Bourne Ultimatum." On the television side, Fox's "24" picked up the prize.
The kudocast took on a higher profile this year since it was allowed to proceed with a waiver from the striking Writer's Guild of America. The Golden Globes show was cancelled after being denied a waiver, with actors saying they wouldn't cross a WGA picket line to attend the show.
Thus, Sunday's ceremony marked a chance for Hollywood to revel in some familiar kudos hoopla, with scores of television entertainment channels feasting on the celebrity - and fashion - buffet. Even Tom Cruise showed up to present the top award.
"This is the most glamorous and exciting ceremony in the history of the world," Steve Carell quipped as the show opened.
Charles Durning was presented with SAG's Lifetime Achievement Award.
"There is nothing more fitting than getting an achievement award from one's peers," he said.
The mood within the Shrine switched from light to somber as Daniel Day-Lewis dedicated his actor prize to Heath Ledger, who died in his Gotham loft last week.
"In `Monster's Ball' that character he (Ledger) created almost seemed to be an unformed being," Day-Lewis said. "He was unique. And in `Brokeback Mountain,' he was perfect."
Day-Lewis and Julie Christie both added to their awards haul this season by picking up SAG's top film acting prizes. Lewis won for Paramount Vantage-Miramax's "There Will Be Blood," while Christie won for Lionsgate's "Away From Her."
Earlier this month, Day-Lewis won the Globe; his perf in "There Will Be Blood" also has earned praise from top critics' groups.
Christie also has been earning plenty of attention for her performance in "Away From Her," directed and written by Sarah Polley. Her wins include the Golden Globe and the National Board of Review.
"No Country" beat "3:10 to Yuma," "American Gangster," "Hairspray" and "Into the Wild" for the ensemble cast prize. The pic also scored in the supporting actor category with a win by Javier Bardem.
Josh Brolin poked fun at co-star Bardem for his strength in the supporting actor race, remarking that the SAG award was his "497th" win.
With the wins, "No Country" gained momentum as the Oscars approach. The Coen brothers' film nabbed eight Oscar noms last week, including best pic and supporting actor for Bardem. The tale of a Texas drug deal gone bad also won the top directing prize Saturday from the Director's Guild of America.
In five of the past 12 years, the winning SAG pic has gone on to grab the Oscar, although that wasn't the case last year, as "Little Miss Sunshine" won the SAG prize, but the Oscar went to "The Departed."
Complete list of winners...FILMPerformance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleGeorge Clooney,
Michael ClaytonWINNER: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be BloodRyan Gosling,
Lars and the Real GirlEmile Hirsch,
Into the WildViggo Mortensen,
Eastern Promises
Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleCate Blanchett,
Elizabeth: The Golden AgeWINNER: Julie Christie, Away From HerMarion Cotillard,
La Vie en roseAngelina Jolie,
A Mighty HeartEllen Page,
Juno
Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting RoleCasey Affleck,
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordWINNER: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old MenHal Holbrook,
Into the WildTommy Lee Jones,
No Country for Old MenTom Wilkinson,
Michael Clayton
Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleCate Blanchett,
I'm Not ThereWINNER: Ruby Dee, American GangsterCatherine Keener,
Into the WildAmy Ryan,
Gone Baby GoneTilda Swinton,
Michael Clayton
Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture3:10 to Yuma
American Gangster
Hairspray
Into the Wild
WINNER: No Country for Old Men
Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture300
WINNER: The Bourne Ultimatum
I Am Legend
The Kingdom
Pirates of the Caribbean:
At World's End
TELEVISIONPerformance by a Male Actor in a Drama SeriesWINNER: James Gandolfini, The SopranosMichael C. Hall,
DexterJon Hamm,
Mad MenHugh Laurie,
HouseJames Spader,
Boston Legal
Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesGlenn Close,
DamagesWINNER: Edie Falco, The SopranosSally Field,
Brothers & SistersHolly Hunter,
Saving GraceKyra Sedgwick,
The Closer
Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesWINNER: Alec Baldwin,30 RockSteve Carell,
The OfficeRicky Gervais,
ExtrasJeremy Piven,
EntourageTony Shaloub,
Monk
Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesChristina Applegate,
Samantha Who?America Ferrera,
Ugly BettyWINNER: Tina Fey, 30 RockMary-Louise Parker,
WeedsVanessa Williams,
Ugly Betty
Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBoston Legal
The Closer
Grey's Anatomy
Mad Men
WINNER: The Sopranos
Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series30 Rock
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
WINNER: The Office
Ugly Betty
Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesMichael Keaton,
The CompanyWINNER: Kevin Kline, As You Like ItOliver Platt,
The Bronx Is BurningSam Shepard,
RuffianJohn Turturro,
The Bronx Is Burning
Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesEllen Burstyn,
Mitch Albom's For One More DayDebra Messing,
The Starter WifeAnna Paquin,
Bury My Heart at Wounded KneeWINNER: Queen Latifah, Life SupportGena Rowlands,
What if God Were the Sun?Vanessa Redgrave,
The Fever
Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television SeriesWINNER: 24
Heroes
Lost
Rome
The Unit
Contact Pamela McClintock at
pamela.mcclintock@variety.com