sag awards (9 posts)

Niko Tavernise/Fox Searchlight Pictures

UPDATE: WWE honcho Vince McMahon tells E! News that Rourke will still be in Houston, even if he's not in a leotard: "I am pleased that Mickey Rourke will be in attendance at WrestleMania to support the WWE Superstars who support him and the film in which he stars, The Wrestler."
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Mickey Rourke's appearance on WrestleMania 25 was a total knockout before it even began.

At the SAG Awards on Sunday, the Academy Award nominee (for his role as Randy "the Ram" Robinson in The Wrestler) told E! News he was planning to "do" the event. He even threatened WWE star Chris Jericho, saying, "You better get in shape because I'm coming after your ass."

But sadly, the April 5 grapple in Houston is not to be.

"Mickey was very honored to be asked, as he has the greatest respect for WWE. However, he will not be participating in WrestleMania," the actor's rep, Paula Woods, says in a statement. "He is focusing entirely on his acting career."

Besides, the Golden Globe winner has a more prestigious match to concentrate on: his upcoming Oscar face-off with Sean Penn.

—Additional reporting by Whitney English

(Originally published Jan. 29, 2009 at 7:36 a.m. PT)

SAG

The Screen Actors Guild is still pondering whether to even give a strike a chance.

National Executive Director Doug Allen has proposed suspending plans to hold a strike-authorization vote, which had already been postponed after originally being scheduled for Jan. 2.

"Although I believe giving the National Board the authorization to determine whether to call a strike is our best strategy, that strategy has been severely compromised by the division of a now deeply and publicly split National Board leadership," Allen wrote in a letter to members.

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Assuming the Oscars go forward as scheduled in this strike-stricken season, No Country for Old Men has firmed up its front-runner status.

The film's cast took home the Best Ensemble prize at Sunday's 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, while Javier Bardem was named Best Supporting Actor.

The accolades came on the heels of No Country helmers Joel and Ethan Coen's victory at Saturday's Directors Guild Awards, an honor which generally bodes extremely well for Academy Award success.

In accepting his award, Bardem expressed his gratitude to the director brothers.

"Thank you, guys, for hiring me, and thank you for taking the hard work of choosing the good takes instead of the ones where I really sucked," he said.

Daniel Day-Lewis was named Best Actor for his turn in There Will Be Blood, and in a poignant moment, dedicated his win to Heath Ledger, who was found dead last week in his Manhattan apartment.

"In Brokeback Mountain, he was unique...He was perfect," Day-Lewis said. "That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I've ever seen."

Julie Christie was named Best Actress for Away from Her and used her acceptance speech to address the matter of the ongoing strike and the solidarity between the actors and writers guilds.

"It's lovely to receive an award from your own union," she said. "Especially at a time when we're being so forcefully reminded how important unions are."

Ruby Dee was named Best Supporting Actress for American Gangster.

On the small-screen side, The Sopranos went out with a bada bang, with the cast earning the Best Ensemble, Drama Series honor and James Gandolfini and Edie Falco taking home lead actor awards.

"This is our last official act as Sopranos together," Gandolfini said. "Here's to you guys. Thank you very much. It's been 10 years. It's been an honor. That's all I can say."

His TV wife echoed his sentiments, saying she had "fallen in love" with her fellow castmates over the last decade.

"I wish for everybody in every walk of life, but particularly for actors, to have the opportunity to have a work experience like I have had with my family here," Falco said. "You're not supposed to get this attached because it's a transient business. I have fallen in love with these people, and I don't know how you walk away from that."

As for the comedic types, 30 Rock's Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin walked away with lead acting honors, while the cast of The Office was honored as Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Kevin Kline took home the award for Best Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for his turn in As You Like It, and Queen Latifah was honored as Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries for Life Support.

The guild's first-ever stunt ensemble prizes went to The Bourne Ultimatum and 24 before the main ceremony began.

Charles Durning, who counts Tootsie, The Sting and O Brother, Where Art Thou? among his credits, was the recipient of the guild's Lifetime Achievement Award.

"There's nothing more gratifying than having an achievement award from one's peers," Durning said. "Over 50 years ago, I had the honor of working with some of the best actors, directors and writers in our industry. It's been a dream come true."

Though the SAG Awards typically receive far less attention than the glitzier Golden Globes and Academy Awards, this year was an exception, due to the writers' strike.

Because the actors guild has been so diligent in its support of the writers guild, the WGA gave its blessing to the awards ceremony, meaning the stars turned out in droves for the event, a situation which may prove unique this red carpet season.

Earlier this month, organizers of the Golden Globes scrapped the ceremony in favor of a stripped-down newscast after the writers' guild refused to allow its member to work on the show and after most nominees said they would not cross picket lines to attend.

The WGA has made it clear that its members will also not be permitted to work on the Oscars, slated for Feb. 24. Though most stars have maintained the position that they will not attend the awards if the strike is still in effect, organizers of the awards have said they will go forward with the ceremony as planned.