Late twists

The 32nd Actor Awards – newly rebranded after 31 years as the Screen Actors Guild Awards – may have just shaken up what had looked like a settled Academy Awards race. This week we are taking a look at some of the most interesting and surprising winners and what it means for the Oscars race.

The ensemble prize went to “Sinners,” throwing the cat among the pigeons after “One Battle After Another” took the lead with its Producers Guild win. Historically, the cast award is not the most reliable predictor of Best Picture, matching the Oscar roughly half the time. Still, the film’s momentum is hard to ignore, particularly after Michael B Jordan also won male actor in a leading role for his dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack.

That category had looked like it was in the bag for Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” but Jordan’s win suggests the race may now be tighter than expected.

Jessie Buckley continued her strong run through awards season, winning female actor in a leading role for “Hamnet.” Since premiering at the Telluride Film Festival, her emotionally raw performance as a grieving mother has produced the kind of audience reaction that often translates into Oscar success.

In the supporting categories, Amy Madigan took the prize for “Weapons,” while Sean Penn won for “One Battle After Another.” Penn was MIA again as he was when he won the BAFTA. However, he now appears well positioned for another Oscar. With voting now closed and the ceremony due to take place on March 15, we will have to watch this space.