Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange in Grey Gardens (HBO)
In addition to Betty White's and Sandra Bullock's speeches, another highlight at the SAG Awards ceremony was much less polished though quite memorable nevertheless. That was when a breathless Drew Barrymore stuttered her way while trying to come up with something coherent to say during her acceptance speech. Barrymore had just been named best actress in a television movie or miniseries for Grey Gardens.
"Improv is usually a good thing," the by now veteran 35-year-old actress said, "… but it's backfiring on me now." She then remarked that the Screen Actors Guild was formed in the mid-1930s, a time when the Barrymores were already working in Hollywood (Ethel's film career began in earnest in the mid-40s), adding that she's glad to be "keeping their name alive."
"And right now I'm feeling really sick," Barrymore finalized, "… And that's a good thing … in a professional path." She was dead serious, but many audience members laughed. Barrymore was just as overwhelmed when she accepted her Golden Globe last week.
Jeremy Renner, Brian Geraghty, and Anthony Mackie introduced their Iraq War drama The Hurt Locker, with Renner ending the intro by saying that "war is a cold, lonely, and lethal addiction." Perhaps too cold, lonely, and lethal for SAG voters, as the critics' favorite film of 2009 went home empty-handed.
Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, and Penelope Cruz introduced a clip from Nine, which also failed to win anything. The Rob Marshall musical was up for best supporting actress — Cruz — and best ensemble.
Up in the Air also failed to win anything, despite nominations for supporting actresses Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, and for actor George Clooney.
All in all, Inglourious Basterds was the only film to win more than one award: best supporting actor for Christoph Waltz and best ensemble. Best supporting actress winner Mo'Nique thanked the unsung ones from the Precious cast and crew. Mo'Nique has won so many awards already, she can afford to do her thank-yous in installments, so as not to sound repetitive.
The in memoriam segment featured the likes of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, David Carradine, James Whitmore, Gale Storm, Bea Arthur, and Patrick Swayze. And to think that Soupy Sales received much more applause than Oscar winner Jennifer Jones or Oscar nominee Richard Todd. That's lasting fame and prestige for you.
In fact, I wonder how many people under 80 in the SAG Awards audience had actually heard of the Barrymores mentioned in Drew B.'s speech.
Drew Barrymore wasn't incorrect. She didn't specify which Barrymores she was referring to.
I was merely pointing out that of the three, Ethel Barrymore had her Hollywood career launched in the mid-40s.
Lionel Barrymore won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931). John Barrymore is mostly known for his roles in movies like Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Twentieth Century (1934), and Don Juan (1926), the first ever movie to use a Vitaphone soundtrack. Funny you only call out Ethel's career in the mid-40's as if Drew was incorrect?