Fresh from its wins at the Golden Globes, ChristopherNolan's "Oppenheimer" on Wednesday topped the nominations for theinfluential Screen Actors Guild Awards, which are key to Oscars success.
The SAG Awards, voted on by Hollywood actors, are likely toenjoy a profile boost of their own this year as they are broadcast globally onNetflix -- an awards show first for the world's biggest streamer.
"Oppenheimer," which tells the story of theinventor of the atomic bomb, earned nods for Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr.and Emily Blunt, as well as "outstanding performance by a cast" --the SAG Awards' top prize.
Nolan's three-hour epic, which earned nearly $1 billion andreceived rave reviews from critics, is rapidly becoming the clear favorite forthe Academy Awards in March.
"Barbie" -- the other half of last summer's"Barbenheimer" box office phenomenon, and the year's highest grossingfilm -- picked up nominations for Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and overall cast.
The surreal comedy based on the wildly popular doll alsopicked up a nomination for its stunt performers.
The other films with three acting nominations werehistorical epic "Killers of the Flower Moon" -- despite its leadingman Leonardo DiCaprio missing out -- and scathing satire "AmericanFiction," starring Jeffrey Wright.
Both movies are nominated for best cast, with musical remake"The Color Purple" rounding out that category.
'Colossal'
This year's SAG Awards gala, held on February 24, will bestreamed on Netflix, as the platform slowly moves into hosting live events.
The Screen Actors Guild will bestow a lifetime achievementaward on Barbra Streisand.
In a statement, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher praisedthe EGOT -- Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony -- winner as "a colossal iconwith a relentless work ethic, evolving with each stage of her remarkablejourney."
Speeches at next month's gala are certain to featuremultiple references to last year's Hollywood strikes, which saw the industryshut down as SAG-AFTRA -- along with the writers' guild -- went head-to-headwith studios.
A deal was finally reached to end the actors' strike inNovember.
While Netflix will host the gala, none of its films werenominated for the night's biggest prize.
But the streamer did land five movie nominations, includingBradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan for Leonard Bernstein biopic"Maestro," and Jodie Foster and Annette Bening for "Nyad."
Elsewhere, Globes winners Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine JoyRandolph picked up nods for "The Holdovers," as did Emma Stone andher co-star Willem Dafoe for "Poor Things."
All four films missed out on nominations for outstandingcast.
The winner of that prize has gone on to win best picture atthe Oscars in three of the past four years ("Parasite,""CODA" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once").
Actors represent the biggest branch of the membership of theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which votes for the Oscars.
The SAG Awards also honor television, with"Succession" on top with five nods, followed by "The Bear,""The Last of Us" and "Ted Lasso," all on four.
DGA nominations
Hollywood's directors' guild also announced its ownnominations Wednesday.
Both Nolan's "Oppenheimer" and Greta Gerwig's"Barbie" again made the shortlist of five nominees for the DirectorsGuild of America's best film.
They were joined by Martin Scorsese's "Killers of theFlower Moon, "Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers," and "PoorThings" from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos.
The DGA Awards will take place on February 10.—AFP