SAG awards nominations announced, 3 films cap

Nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards followed an on-going trend for award shows this year. Three films, "Inglourious Basterds," "Precious" and "Up in the Air," earned three nominations each, capping a week of numerous critics' and industry honors.

World War Two fantasy "Basterds" and urban drama "Precious: Based On the Novel Push by Sapphire" both landed on the nominee list for best performances by a film cast from the Screen Actors Guild, which represents movie and television actors.

Joining the nominees for top film cast, the group's highest honor, were the stars of the musical "Nine," including Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis, as well as the actors in Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" and "An Education."

"Up in the Air," starring George Clooney as a man who fires people in corporate downsizings, earned its three nominations for Clooney as best actor and Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick for best supporting actress.

But the movie, which has been labeled by Hollywood watchers as a frontrunner in the race for Oscars after winning early critics awards, failed to make the list for best ensemble cast. And that factor could hurt its prospects for Academy Awards.

"Inglourious Basterds," "Nine" and "Precious," which all have figured prominently in the current awards season, should solidify their status as key contenders, and low-budget films "The Hurt Locker" and "An Education" boost their prospects.

Along with Clooney, on the list for Best Lead Actor were Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart," Colin Firth in "A Single Man," Morgan Freeman for "Invictus" and Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker."

The five nominees for best actress in a film were Sandra Bullock for football movie "The Blind Side," Helen Mirren in "The Last Station," Carey Mulligan for "An Education," newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious" and veteran Meryl Streep for the culinary comedy "Julie & Julia."

SAG awards will be given out on January 23rd in Los Angeles.