Rags-to-riches drama “Slumdog Millionaire cemented its status as favorite for next month’s Oscars here Sunday after winning the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The Mumbai-set love story about a contestant on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire scooped the best ensemble cast prize at the awards show, regarded as a bellwether for likely winners at the Academy Awards show.
Veteran Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor accepted the award alongside his co-stars, including Dev Patel and Freida Pinto.
“It was overwhelming enough to be nominated. To win this is unbelievable, said Kapoor. “Our gratitude to the great genius Danny Boyle, he added, referring to the film’s director.
Other films nominated for the award included “Doubt, “Milk, “Frost/Nixon and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
It was the second industry award for “Slumdog Millionaire in 24 hours following its triumph on Saturday at the Producers Guild of America Awards.
Last week, the film earned 10 Oscar nominations for the Feb. 22 Academy Awards, trailing “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with 13.
However, bookmakers and pundits increasingly say “Slumdog Millionaire is the favorite for the Oscars’ best picture prize, with Academy voters reportedly bowled over by the film’s uplifting finale.
In other awards Sunday, Sean Penn and Meryl Streep won the best actor and actress awards for their performances in “Milk and “Doubt respectively, while Australian heartthrob Heath Ledger won a posthumous award in the best supporting actor category for Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight.
Ledger, who earlier this month won a Golden Globe for his performance, is now the odds on favorite to win a posthumous Oscar at the Academy Awards after earning a nomination last week.
Ledger’s “Dark Knight co-star Gary Oldman accepted the award as the audience rose in a standing ovation.
“I’m quite emotional, Oldman said. “He was an extraordinary young man, with an extraordinary talent and it is wonderful that you have acknowledged and honored that talent tonight. On behalf of Heath, his family and his family on ‘The Dark Knight’ I thank you.
Meanwhile, living Hollywood legend Streep appeared to be genuinely taken by surprise with her win, which saw her edge out Angelina Jolie (“Changeling ), Melissa Leo (“Frozen River ), Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road ) and Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married ).
“I didn’t even buy a dress, Streep said. “I’m really, really, really shocked. And even though awards mean nothing to me anymore, I’m really happy, the two-time Oscar-winner joked.
Penn, meanwhile, who is also nominated for the Oscars next month, won for his portrayal of murdered gay politician Harvey Milk in “Milk.
“Something happened to me during the making of this movie and I noticed it tonight when I noticed that the statues have rather healthy packages, Penn joked. “As actors we don’t play gay or straight, we play human beings. This is a story about equal rights for all human beings.
In the best supporting actress category, Kate Winslet triumphed for her portrayal of a former Nazi prison guard hiding a secret in “The Reader.
Winslet, who has been nominated in the best actress category at the Oscars for the same role, pipped “Doubt co-stars Viola Davis and Amy Adams, Spain’s Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona ) and Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ).
“It’s really an honor to be included in what I think is such a remarkable year for movies, Winslet said. “I really feel like everybody should be given a medal. I have to say that because I really believe it to be true.
