31st SAG Awards Kick Off with Kieran Culkin’s Triumphant Win: Highlights & Insights

The 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards took place on Sunday night, hosted by Kristen Bell. She honored Los Angeles firefighters and celebrated Kieran Culkin, who won for his role in “A Real Pain.”

Bell’s introduction set the tone for the night. The ceremony streamed live on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium, highlighting the dreams of actors who come to Los Angeles. It also acknowledged the city’s challenges, especially the wildfires that started in January. These devastating events caused the guild to cancel its in-person nominations announcement and create a disaster relief fund for affected members.

As part of her opening, Bell entertained the audience with a rendition of “Do You Want to Be an Actor?” to the tune of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from “Frozen.” She jokingly referred to the attending firefighters as the “most attractive tables” in the room.

Before the evening unfolded, actor Courtney B. Vance, who leads the SAG-AFTRA charitable foundation, addressed the struggles of many members and their families who lost homes in the fires. He noted, “It’s been a hard year with COVID, strikes, and now wildfires.”

As the first award of the night was presented, Kieran Culkin walked away with a SAG trophy. He humorously remarked, “It’s funny that the heaviest of all awards is given by actors.” Despite his playful speech, he made it clear how much the award meant to him.

The SAG Awards often give clues about the upcoming Oscars. Actors make up a large part of the Academy, so their choices can influence the final decisions. Winners from other major awards like the BAFTAs and Golden Globes have set the stage, but there’s still excitement in the air.

Movies like “Anora” and “Conclave” are in the running for Best Picture. “Anora” has gained momentum from wins at the PGA and DGA, but “Conclave” recently snagged a BAFTA, adding some unpredictability to the season. There’s a lot of buzz about the performance of “Emilia Pérez,” which faced an unexpected rise and fall in the awards race.

Netflix streamed the awards live, marking another year of its involvement. “Wicked” led the films with five nominations, while the TV category was dominated by “Shōgun,” which won early awards for its cast members and best stunt ensemble. The film award for stunts went to “The Fall Guy.”

The competition for Best Actor and Best Actress is fierce. While Brody has received numerous accolades for “The Brutalist,” Chalamet and Fiennes could easily surprise everyone. Best Actress could be a showdown between Moore and Madison.

This year, Jane Fonda will also receive the SAG Life Achievement Award, honoring her remarkable career and contributions to the industry.