LOS ANGELES — “No Country for Old Men” solified its Academy Awards prospects as Javier Bardem won as supporting actor and the film was honored for overall cast at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, which may stand as the highlight of Hollywood’s film-honors season if the writers strike undermines the Oscars.
Past Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis of “There Will Be Blood” and Julie Christie of “Away From Her” won the lead-acting honors, also giving them a boost to win the same trophies at the Oscars.
Day-Lewis dedicated his win to actor Heath Ledger, found dead in his Manhattan loft last week.
“In ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ he was unique, he was perfect,” said Day-Lewis, already an Oscar winner for “My Left Foot.” “That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I’ve ever seen.”
The SAG show itself was generally free of labor talk, with only Christie addressing the matter openly among the winners.
“It’s lovely to receive an award from your own union,” Christie said “especially at a time when we’re being so forcefully reminded how important unions are.”
Bardem had kind words for Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed “No Country” and adapted the screenplay from Cormac McCarthy’s novel.
“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,” said Bardem, who won for his chilling role as a relentless killer tracking a fortune in missing drug money.
Ruby Dee won supporting actress for “American Gangster.” She shared fond thoughts of her late husband and frequent acting partner, Ossie Davis, who died in 2005.
“I accept it also for my husband Ossie,” the 83-year-old Dee said, “because he’s working on things up there.”
Though its last episode aired several months ago, “The Sopranos” grabbed all three TV drama categories to open the ceremony, with James Gandolfini and Edie Falco taking both lead-acting prizes and the entire ensemble joining them to accept the award for overall cast performance.
“Ten years … 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.”
Minutes before, Gandolfini took the first trophy of the night.
“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.”
For comedy series, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey were the lead-acting winners for “30 Rock,” while “The Office” won for best ensemble.
The guild presented its life-achievement award to Charles Durning, whose credits include “The Sting,” “Tootsie” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
The guild’s first-ever prizes for best stunt ensemble went to “The Bourne Ultimatum” for films and “24” for TV.
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