2016 SAG Award Nominations Are Full Of Surprises, Including 'Trumbo' And 'Beasts Of No Nation'

It's a big week for awards season: On Wednesday, the Screen Actors Guild unveiled the nominees for its annual awards, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is set to announce the Golden Globes shortlist the following morning. In a year with few clear front-runners, these awards will crystallize the Oscar derby that began in earnest around Labor Day and has grown increasingly murky ever since.

Or so one would think. Instead, the SAG Awards threw us even more curveballs. Purported pacesetter "Spotlight" received less attention than expected, with Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo left out of the supporting-actor field. "The Martian," "Joy" and "The Hateful Eight" came up empty-handed, and "Mad Max: Fury Road" only managed a stunt-ensemble nomination. Helen Mirren made off with two surprise nods, Sarah Silverman's dramatic indie "I Smile Back" scored Best Actress over the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Lily Tomlin, and "Straight Outta Compton" edged out hefty competition in Best Ensemble.

For those playing along at home, pay closer attention to the SAG finalists, no matter how wonky some seem. Most of the folks who vote for those awards are members of the Academy's actors branch, who will in turn select the nominees for the Oscars' acting prizes. The HFPA has no membership overlap with the Academy and only an honorific bearing on the race. The catch is that SAG uses a nominating committee, so it's only a sample of the organization's taste. (Also, a shoutout to all you fabulous television folks, who are recognized by both groups, even though film gets the bulk of the awards emphasis at this time of the year. Love y'all!)

The full list of SAG nominees, announced by Anthony Mackie and Anna Faris at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, is below. The 22nd annual SAG Awards take place Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. They will air live on TNT and TBS.

FILM

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

"Beasts of No Nation"
"The Big Short"
"Spotlight"
"Straight Outta Compton"
"Trumbo"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Brie Larson, "Room"
Helen Mirren, "Woman in Gold"
Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"
Sarah Silverman, "I Smile Back"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
Johnny Depp, "Black Mass"
Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Rooney Mara, "Carol"
Rachel McAdams, "Spotlight"
Helen Mirren, "Trumbo"
Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"
Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
Idris Elba, "Beasts of No Nation"
Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
Michael Shannon, "99 Homes"
Jacob Tremblay, "Room"

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

"Everest"
"Furious 7"
"Jurassic World"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation"

TELEVISION

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

"The Big Bang Theory"
"Key and Peele"
"Modern Family"
"Orange Is the New Black"
"Transparent"
"Veep"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Uzo Aduba, "Orange Is the New Black"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Ellie Kemper, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
William H. Macy, "Shameless"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Viola Davis, "How to Get Away with Murder"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"