2023 SAG Awards Predictions

It is the final big one before the BIG ONE – aka, the Oscars. The Screen Actors Guild is ready to hand out their awards for the best film and television acting performances of 2022. 

Unlike some previous years where many of the film acting categories were locked by this point, that is not the case this year, making this year’s ceremony much more intriguing. One thing is certain, by the end of tomorrow night’s ceremony, we will have a much clearer picture of who is likely to take home Oscar gold on March 12. Here are my predictions for this year’s SAG awards. 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

• Steve Carrell (The Patient)
• Taron Egerton (Black Bird)
• Sam Elliott (1883)
• Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird)
• Evan Peters (Dahmer)

Will Win – Evan Peters. Yes, there was controversy around the miniseries. However, what was never in dispute was Peters’ chillingly masterful performance. Not to mention that despite the controversy the streaming numbers for Monster were incredible. Before Wednesday debuted, it was the most-watched series on Netflix for 2022. 

Could Win – SAG has this annoying aspect where it does not include supporting categories. As a result, you will often find actors who have swept supporting categories at the Emmys or Golden Globes, competing in Lead at SAG, which is the case here for Paul Hauser. He has been on a roll these past two months, winning the Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice, for Supporting Actor. So it would not be too shocking to see him pull off an upset, as it is clear voters love his performance. 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

• Emily Blunt (The English)
• Jessica Chastain (George and Tammy)
• Julia Garner (Inventing Anna)
• Niecy Nash Betts (Dahmer)
• Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout)

Will Win – Amanda Seyfried is the safe bet here as she has yet to lose this category since last year’s Emmys. And her performance as Elizabeth Holmes is lauded across the board. 

Could Win – Do not sleep on Nicey Nash Betts here. The fact that she made it into this category is impressive enough, and she gives a career-defining performance in Monster. 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Carrigan (Barry)
• Bill Hader (Barry)
• Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building)
• Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
• Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

Will Win – Jeremy Allen White seems the obvious winner here. He’s a fresh face in the category from a much-buzzed-about freshman show, whether or not some believe it is a comedy. Also, he is the only one in the category not in danger of splitting votes with a castmate. 

Could Win – It is more than possible that a guild of fellow actors could choose to reward a legendary actor like Martin Short or Steve Martin. Also, Bill Hader, surprisingly, has never won this award despite the critical love for Barry. With no Jason Sudeikis to battle against, this may be his moment. 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

• Christina Applegate (Dead to Me)
• Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
• Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
• Jenna Ortega (Wednesday)
• Jean Smart (Hacks)

Will Win – I will be honest, I was surprised that only Quinta Brunson got in here for Abbott Elementary. Lovely as Quinta is, I think of her as more of the Jerry Seinfeld of Abbott Elementary. That her strength is as the writer/creator of the show versus the acting, where to be frank, most of the cast outshines her. So that said, I think SAG voters will stick to last year’s script and award Jean Smart her second consecutive Lead Actress award. 

Could Win – Well, Quinta, of course, depending on how much the voters love Abbot Elementary. It would be highly entertaining if Jenna Ortega were to pull off a surprising win here. 

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• Barry
• The Bear
• Hacks
• Only Murders in the Building

Will Win – This is where I believe Quinta will get her award, as part of the ensemble of Abbott Elementary, and deservingly so. Abbot Elementary boasts one of the most impressive company of actors – from Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, and Sheryl Lee Ralph – they all deliver every time. 

Could Win – Hard to say, as I think Abbott is the sure thing in this category. But perhaps Hacks or even Only Murders may pull off a surprise upset, with the Ted Lasso juggernaut not present this year.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

• Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul)
• Jason Bateman (Ozark)
• Jeff Bridges (The Old Man)
• Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
• Adam Scott (Severance)

Will Win – SAG voters love Marty Byrde (aka Jason Batement in Ozark), as evidenced by his two SAG awards for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. So hard to bet against him here, as this was the show’s farewell season. 

Could Win – Bob Odenkirk has so often been an, “always a runner-up, never the winner,” in this category, that voters may decide it is time he finally has the winning moment. Of course it is never wise to sleep on a legendary actor like Jeff Bridges. 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

• Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus)
• Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown)
• Julia Garner (Ozark)
• Laura Linney (Ozark)
• Zendaya (Euphoria)

Will Win – One of the toughest categories, with three separate Emmy/Golden Globes winners in the category (once again, SAG does not do Supporting, which is where Julia Garner typically competes). Neither Zendaya nor Julia or Jennifer have lost an award they were nominated for in months. So who will the voters choose? Well, I may be way off base for this one, especially as Hollywood seems so in love with Coolidge, but I think Zendaya will take it. 

Could Win – Jennifer Coolidge, of course. 

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

• Better Call Saul
• The Crown
• Ozark
• Severance
• The White Lotus

Will Win – Like Quinta Brunson, I believe this is where Jennifer Coolidge will win her award when The White Lotus is awarded Best Ensemble in a Drama Series. 

Could Win – Many of the nominees are strong enough to win. However, I would say Ozark is the obvious choice, as once again, it was the show’s farewell season and voters love the collective performances of the actors. 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

• Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
• Hong Chau (The Whale)
• Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)
• Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
• Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Will Win – A few months ago, Supporting Actress seemed a toss-up. Then Angela Bassett won Globes and Critic’s Choice, and it looked like she was on her way to a full sweep, culminating in an Oscar win. But then BAFTA happened last weekend, where Kerry Condon emerged victorious, which cannot be dismissed as Condon has numerous critics’ awards under her belt. All that said, I think SAG voters are sticking with Bassett. SAG voters love a narrative and they especially love awarding legendary actors who have perhaps not yet fully gotten their due – think Ruby Dee’s win in this same category for American Gangster. So, Bassett, it is. 

Could Win – Kerry Condon, of course. That said, SAG also does like to throw a curveball or two, so don’t be too shocked if Jamie Lee Curtis sneaks out the win. Especially since much of the narrative I noted above regarding Angela Bassett applies to Jamie Lee Curtis as well. 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

• Paul Dano (The Fabelmans)
• Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin)
• Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)
• Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
• Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse)

Will Win – Ke Huy Quan. BAFTA certainly seemed to throw a spoke in the wheel of what looked like a Quan awards season sweep. However, I do not see a repeat of Barry Keoghan’s win and think the Quan winning train will get back on track. 

Could Win – Either Barry Gleeson or Barry Keoghan. It depends on how much SAG voters love The Banshees of Inisherin and which of the two they love more. 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

• Cate Blanchett (Tár)
• Viola Davis (The Woman King)
• Ana de Armas (Blonde)
• Danielle Deadwyler (Till)
• Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Will Win – Many believe this is still a race here, again based on the narrative around Michelle Yeoh – an older actress of color where this may be her best performance and the best chance for an Oscar. I don’t agree. People have been saying for months this is a tight race between Cate and Michelle, but Cate has not lost yet. I think Cate Blanchett is a lock here and a lock to win her third Oscar come March 12. 

Could Win – Despite many believing this to be a race between Cate and Michelle, I can see SAG voters, as a possible makeup for the Oscar snub of both Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler, awarding Danielle the win. And that is not to say that Danielle would be an undeserving winner, but once again, SAG voters love a narrative. And every once in a while, they throw a surprising win that has no chance of repeating at the Oscars. Think Emily Blunt winning Supporting Actress for A Quiet Place. 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

• Austin Butler (Elvis)
• Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)
• Brendan Fraser (The Whale)
• Bill Nighy (Living)
• Adam Sandler (Hustle)

Will Win – This is probably the category that all eyes will be on. The reason is because it may be the difference between the Oscar race for Best Actor being all but over, if Austin Butler wins versus it still simmering, if Brendan Fraser wins. I know I have talked about how much SAG voters love a narrative, and Fraser has probably the best of all the nominees. Still, at its core, his performance was transformative, as was Austin’s, but in a movie that fewer people loved, as compared to the response for Elvis. So what do I think will happen? I’m tentatively leaning toward Austin Butler. I think as much as SAG voters may love Brendan, there has been an obvious tidal shift in Austin’s favor, and I think many voters will fall in line with that shift. 

Could Win – Brendan Fraser, of course. But it would be hilarious if this is the one that Colin Farrell wins, when everyone thought if any award was a sure thing for him, it was BAFTA? 

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

• Babylon
• The Banshees of Inisherin
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• The Fabelmans
• Women Talking

Will Win – Perhaps one of the toughest years in this category because so many of the nominees are deserving. The award will likely come down to the two award-season favorites – The Banshees of Inisherin and Everything Everywhere All at Once. If I consider history, I am going to say Everything Everywhere wins. One, because it is deserving and two, it is a film with a heavy Asian cast. Think Black Panther winning some years ago. 

Could Win –The Banshees of Inisherin. It is hard to dismiss a film that, like Everything Everywhere, has four acting nominees. That is as clear an indication as ever that it is a strong ensemble of actors.

5 Book to Film Adaptations I’m Looking Forward to This Year

Ah the age old question – which was better, the book or the movie adaptation? Popular consensus says books are always better than movie adaptations and in most instances this is true. And in many ways, it makes sense why this would be the case. A book has more opportunity and breadth to truly develop a story and its characters, versus a movie, which is limited by time.

However, while I was once fully onboard “the book is always better than the film adaptation” train, a few film adaptations in recent years have made me rethink this.

Just a few off the top of my head is The Perks of Being a Wallflower (I felt like I got to know Charlie way better in the film than in the book) and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (no offense to Jenny Han but I actually kind of really hated the book and had I read it before seeing the film, I would have likely skipped the film entirely. Glad I didn’t).

I’ve also found many film adaptations that I thought were as good as the books and while obviously some things needed to be left out due to time restraints, I thought the essential aspects of the story were all still there.

And so I’ve become quite the fan of book to film adaptations and I’m always excited to see how the story is translated from the pages to the screen. So without further ado, here are five book to film adaptations being released this year that I’m most looking forward to.

1. Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple – I read this one at the start of this year and although I had a few small issues with it, in general I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see how it’s adapted. Plus, the fact that Bernadette will be played by in my opinion, one of the greatest actresses of her generation – Queen Cate Blanchett, is all I needed to be sold.

 

2. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn – I am a huge mystery/thriller book fan. If there is some big twist, mystery to unfold, I’m all in. So I devoured this book in less than a week. Some parts of it were predictable and I figured out most of the twists, including the guilty person, mid-way through the story but it was still a fun read. So I’m very excited to see it play out on the big screen, especially as the cast is top notch, including two of my other favorite actresses – Amy Adams and Julianne Moore.

 

3. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven – One of my favorite books of the last few years. This story broke my heart in the best way possible. And the whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking how amazing a movie the story could make. And finally we’re here. I have to be honest, I’m a little nervous just because I loved the book so much. But I’m going to go in with an open mind and hope for the best.

 

4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – I know what some of you are thinking. Do we really need ANOTHER Little Women film adaptation? And to be completely honest, that was my initial reaction on first reading that another adaptation was being made. But then the cast kept being announced and I was sold. I mean when you have Queen Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, plus Greta Gerwig directing, how can I say no? I could personally do without Emma Watson (very intelligent and accomplished young woman but good actress she most certainly is not) but that’s a minor issue I’m willing to overlook.

 

5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Okay, full disclosure, I liked but didn’t love the first season of this adaptation. And a big part of this was due to some of the major changes made for the series, particularly as it pertained to Madeline’s (Reese Witherspoon) character and her marriage to Ed. Because I absolutely adored Madeline and Ed in the book and the series massacred them in my opinion. Those issues aside, I also didn’t see a need for a second season of a stand-alone book. That said, curiosity has won out, particularly in seeing how they pull off a second season and so I will most definitely still watch. Hopefully I don’t come away regretting it.

Images Courtesy Google Images

2015 Pop Culture Year-End Review

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Per the usual, it was certainly a dramatic year in pop culture and entertainment. From the amazing, to the tragic to the WTF…this year had it all. It would take forever to list all the things that wowed, amused, annoyed or just plain baffled me. And so, in the spirit of being more positive in 2016 (yeah, we’ll see how long that lasts…), I decided to focus on the 10 moments/events, etc. in entertainment, I loved the most this year.

Adele 25 – We had to wait almost four years, but it was well worth the wait. After taking some time away from the spotlight in the wake of her astonishing success with the album 21, Adele returned this year, picking up right where she left off by delivering an album of heartbreaking, soaring ballads and gut wrenching honest emotion. I have certainly made no secret of my Adele-love, so this one should come as no surprise. And just to be clear, this is not about jumping on a bandwagon. I have been a fan of Adele’s ever since I randomly stumbled on the video for her song Chasing Pavements and that love was cemented when I heard Hometown Glory and saw her perform To Feel My Love live. And I will continue to be a fan as long as she delivers such tender and heartfelt honesty in her music.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II – I know the reviews were mixed and many fans (especially non-book readers) were not too happy with this film. However, as a fan of the book series, I thought the film was a fitting end to the franchise. Could some things have been better, of course; which is often the case with any film adaptation. However, as she has done since the first film, I thought Jennifer Lawrence was perfect in her portrayal of Katniss. She was helped by a strong and impressive supporting cast. As always, Liam Hemsworth remained uneventful but at least he wasn’t “ruin the movie” awful. He was more or less just bland and uninteresting.  Donald Sutherland’s portrayal of President Snow remained absolute perfection, as was Elizabeth Banks who made Effie such a scene stealing character that they kept her around longer in the movies than she actually was in the books. And of course, Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutcherson, who while the writing may not have always been there for the latter, did great with what he was given. So a great franchise that I’m sure I’ll get the box set when it’s released.

The Affair: Season 2 – Like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, this was a little divisive. A lot of the critics have been less than thrilled with the direction the season took and to be honest, I’m not sure I am completely in love with the season finale, especially the reveal of how Scotty Lockhart really died. But that said, looking back on the season as a whole, there was a lot I did love and enjoyed about it and I found it as compelling, if not more so, than the first season. I will note that it probably helped that I have never really cared for the show’s lead characters, Alison and Noah, especially the latter. Therefore they weren’t really ruined for me this season, which is a problem many had with the season, because I already thought they were plenty awful in the first place. In my opinion, Noah continued being a selfish, self-centered jerk and Alison a whiny bore who did very well at playing the victim even when she wasn’t. The whole season felt for me like the ending of Descent (Noah’s fictional bestseller he wrote based on his affair with Alison), coming to fruition. That is, the man realizing that this woman he blew up his family and life for wasn’t who he thought she was and wasn’t worth it and in the end, in a fit of anger and bitterness, he kills her. I don’t think the killing Alison part will happen but I have a feeling the show will end on Noah’s original ending for the book – that is, the couple sitting down quietly to dinner with this big secret between them. Basically in my opinion, I see The Affair as a tragedy. It isn’t a love story but a Shakespearean or Greek tragedy of how one decision, one choice, can tragically change the course of so many lives. And that is what made the season so compelling.

Survivor: Season 31 – Survivor had a milestone season this year – the show about outwitting, outplaying and outlasting, turned 30. Unfortunately, the landmark season turned out to be VERY dull and uninspiring. The only semi-interesting aspect to the whole season was watching Mike immunity win his way to the final tribal council and ultimately the win. Especially as this REALLY annoyed and stuck in Dan’s craw. But aside from that, it was a season of jerks, little strategic play and uninspiring tribal councils. Not so for Season 31 which, for the first time in the show’s history, saw of cast of players who had played once before, voted to play again by the viewers of the show. Many of the cast members viewed the second chance as a huge gift, particularly because the fans voted them in and were determined to make the most of it. Season 31 turned out be one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons in years – blindside after blindside, awesome immunity idol plays, you never knew who was really aligned with whom, etc. In the end, nice guy Jeremy who was completely blindsided by his alliance in his original season, took home the million in a complete sweep. I will admit that much as I liked Jeremy and was happy for his win, I was sad for Spencer who I really came to like in his original season. It wasn’t just that he lost, but that he lost because he completely missed Jeremy’s obviously being a huge threat, the jury eviscerated him and his character and he just looked so sad and disappointed at the reunion show. Still, a great season that hopefully Season 32 can live up to.

Jon Stewart’s Final Daily Show Season – After 16 years at the helm, Jon Stewart signed off from The Daily Show this year in perfect fashion. He remained consistently funny and insightful, with brilliant biting wit and sarcasm. I shared my feelings on what the show and Jon Stewart meant to me personally after his last episode and while Trevor Noah has acquitted himself well enough as Stewart’s replacement, the sting of the loss is still being felt and likely will for a little while longer. But after almost two decades, I understood Jon’s desire to leave and move on to something else. After all, as the old adage goes, “best to leave before they kick you out.”

Katy Perry’s Superbowl Half-Time Show – I am not the biggest fan of Katy Perry’s. In fact, there are really only a handful of her songs that I truly love. That said, while this was certainly not my favorite halftime show of all time (that honor still belongs to Prince), I think she did a pretty damn good job. The inclusion of Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot, who probably both seemed random when first announced, was a stroke of genius; particularly Missy’s appearance which helped rejuvenate the hip hop star’s career and remind so many of just how awesome she is. You can check out my original review of the performance here.

Mr. Robot: Episode 6 – If you aren’t watching USA’s Mr. Robot, you need to. The show is a dark, twisted, complex and mind-bending ball of crazy that makes you feel like you’re on a never-ending acid trip. And it is freaking fantastic. At the core of the show’s success is the brilliantly understated performance by the enigmatic Rami Malek, who plays lead character Eliot Alderson. If you’ve read my most recent blog post, you probably know how thrilled I am at all the award show love he and the show have gotten. While the entire season is amazing, if I would suggest one episode that encapsulates the dark and disturbing brilliance of the show perfectly, and where Malek just absolutely shines from beginning to end, it would be Episode 6. Racing against the clock to help a very dangerous criminal, whose associates are holding his neighbor and sometimes love interest hostage, escape from prison, Malek expertly delivers a range of emotion, from fear, panic and gut-wrenching sadness with a quiet subtlety and grace that’s just mesmerizing to watch.

Bates Motel: Season 3 – If you have ever watched the classic horror film Psycho or at the least heard about the plot, you probably already know how completely bat-shit crazy Norman Bates is. Bates Motel, the criminally under-appreciated A&E drama is a prequel that tells the story of who Norman Bates was before he became completely bat-shit crazy and murdered Marion Crane, while dressed as his dead mother. In other words, we’re already spoiled as to where the show is going and essentially have just been waiting for that big moment. The moment where Norman and Mother truly start to become one. Season 3 of the show, which aired earlier this year, finally delivered that moment. Played to absolute perfection by Freddie Highmore (seriously, that he has never even been nominated for this role is beyond absurd), the season saw the continued inevitable decline of Norman’s mental state as he fell deeper and deeper into his psychosis. It all culminated in the brutal murder of the emotionally lost Bradley by the hands of Norman as “Mother.” It was one of the most disturbing, horrific and spellbinding scenes I saw on television this year.

Kendrick Lamar’s Alright – Kendrick Lamar escaped the dreaded sophomore slump in absolutely brilliant fashion. Coming on the heels of his critically acclaimed good kid, m.A.A.d city, Lamar delivered one of, if not the best album of the year, To Pimp A Butterfly. Picking up where he left off on good kid, m.A.A.d city, the album is chock full of powerful messages and truths about the plight of the young African American male, inner city youth, white supremacy, the struggle to find and identify oneself, etc. And while many songs are powerful on their own, probably the stand out moment comes from the song Alright, which became a rallying cry for the #blacklivesmatter movement. It would be naïve to not see and understand why this song is currently as important and powerful as it is, with all that’s going around the U.S., particularly in regards to police brutality against African Americans. Certainly a powerful song in general but the added weight of the current socio-political climate makes it one of the most important songs in decades and a rallying cry for so many.

Top 5 Fashion Moments – If you’ve been reading my blog often or even occasionally, you know I’m always here for fashion and some great fashion moments. So I would be remiss to not include some type of fashion list in my review of my favorite pop culture moments of the year. And here they are:

Rihanna – Met Ball Gala

It was the dress that spawned hundreds of memes and sure, we can go on for days with the jokes about her looking like a human omelet. But as I noted in my recap about this year’s Gala, it is a costume ball for crying out loud. It is probably the one time celebrities should embrace the bold and daring and take crazy risks and just have fun. And I feel like Rihanna totally got that.

Diane Kruger – Venice International Film Festival

Some did not love the big bow on the side but I have to say, from the moment I saw this look, I fell in love with it. There is something just so timeless and classic yet bold about it.

Cate Blanchett – Cannes Film Festival 

This look just screams movie star and red carpet. I loved the bold print, the drama and simultaneously, the whimsical and softness of it. This is a movie star’s dress and Cate Blanchett who carries herself in such a regal and classic manner, was the perfect one to carry it off.

Lupita Nyong’o – Cannes Film Festival

After an amazing debut season on the red carpet on her way to winning her first Academy Award, things seemed to go VERY wrong with Lupita on the fashion front. I really started to believe her previous red carpet moments had merely been a stroke of luck. So thank goodness for this gorgeous green Grecian moment. Not only was the dress stunning but it matched her skin tone beautifully and she wore it very well.

Lady Gaga – The Primetime Emmy Awards 

 

There really isn’t anything that amazing about this dress. It’s your typical classic black evening dress. What made it such a memorable red carpet moment was who was wearing it. It was truly a jaw dropping moment when the woman who’d once worn a meat dress, showed up at the Emmys looking a classic old-Hollywood star. And she wore it so well.

Pop Culture Rewind

Au revoir o Festival de Cannes

The curtains officially came down on the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, late Sunday, local French time, with some surprising and not so surprising winners. Dheepan, the drama about Sri Lankan refugees seeking a life in France, walked away with the festival’s highest honor, the Palme d’Or. This was considered a surprising pick to some, because with Joel and Ethan Coen the Presidents of this year’s jury, many assumed they would lean more towards the quirky, surreal and satirical choices. However, it is entirely possible, in my opinion anyway, that this is exactly why they didn’t go that route, because everyone expected them to. This way it minimized any possible cries of bias and unfairness.

Other surprises included Rooney Mara’s co-win for Best Actress for the film Carol, along with Emmanuelle Bercot for her role in the film Mon Roi. While impressed with and respectful of Mara’s performance, many were surprised that the award did not go to Cate Blanchett, who is truly the lead in the film. It was more surprising that Blanchett was also not the co-winner with Mara, instead of Bercot. However, let’s be honest, it’s Cate Blanchett – chances are she’ll be cleaning up for this role or at least getting nominated, when Award season goes into full effect later this year.

Other winners included Best Actor, which went to Vincent Lindon, for his role in The Measure of a Man, The Grand Prix prize, which is something of a runner up to the Palme d’Or, which was awarded to the film Son of Saul and the Jury Prize, the third place finish, awarded to The Lobster, the film many assumed would have appealed the most to the Coen brothers’ sensibilities. Other winners included Best Director to Hou Hsiao-hsien for the film The Assassin and Best Screenplay to Michael Franco for the film Chronic.

While I’m sure the films were all fantastic, the conclusion of Cannes also really means the curtain call on two weeks of the most gorgeous red carpet fashion moments of the year. So as we say goodbye to this year’s festival, here are my picks for some of the most gorgeous gowns and best fashion moments.

Chanel Iman – Donna Karan Atelier

Emily Blunt – Stella McCartney

Cate Blanchett – Giorgio Armani

Nieves Alvarez – Elie Saab Couture

Araya A. Hargate – Ashi Studio

Lily Donaldson – Saint Laurent

Cate Blanchett – Gilles 2015 Collection

Poppy Delevingne – Burberry

Natalie Portman – Dior Couture

Li Bingbing – Zuhair Murad Couture

Images courtesy vogue.co.uk

David Letterman Signs Off

After 33 years, ten of which was spent at NBC, David Letterman officially signed off from late night television, this past Wednesday. The final show drew a more than respectable 13.76 million viewers, making it the Late Show’s biggest audience in ten years. It was the perfect send off for a man who was equal parts funny, cranky, intelligent, acerbic and even a little weird.

The final show began like any other, with Dave delivering his usual snarky monologue, in which he could not help poking fun at the big late night war in the early 90’s between himself and Jay Leno, over who would succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Many had assumed the job would go to Dave, who for years had been helming his own post Tonight Show, show on NBC. Instead, the execs at NBC went with Leno, prompting Dave to exit the network entirely and eventually land at CBS.

The episode also included a retrospective of the show’s 22 years on the air, which featured funny, poignant and of course the very absurd moments. A few famous friends stopped by to help Dave deliver his final Top 10 list, before the Foo Fighters brought it home with a performance of Everlong, the song they played on Dave’s first show back from heart surgery. One final goodbye and a thank you from Dave to fans, friends and loved ones, ended the night and brought the curtain down on one of late night’s longest running shows and one of its most fascinating personalities.

Growing up, I didn’t always really understand David Letterman’s appeal. At times he just seemed like that cranky old guy who barely wanted to be at his job versus Jay Leno who seemed personable and fun and Conan who was sort of an adorable oddball and then later Jimmy Fallon, who was just fun and cool.

However, as I got older, I came to better understand and appreciate Dave’s quirks and more importantly his wit and biting sarcasm. I finally saw him for the intelligent and clever host he was. Don’t get me wrong, the crankiness was still there but I eventually saw it as part of the larger performance and schtick. If Jimmy was the cool, frat boy-esque host for example, then Dave was your curmudgeon old neighbor. But it didn’t make it any less funny and brilliant. Goodnight and goodbye to a legend – thanks for the laughs.

A Comic Legend Passes Away

Anne Meara, actress and comedy legend, passed away on Saturday, May 23, at the age of 85. Meara was known for one half of the comic duo Stiller & Meara which included her husband and partner of 61 years, fellow comic and acting legend, Jerry Stiller. The couple had two children, Amy and son Ben, who has gone on to establish his own respectable acting and comic career. While never the “leading lady”, Meara still built an incredible and impressive resume, appearing in an array of hit shows throughout the decades. One of her more recent and memorable performances, was as Miranda’s mother-in-law suffering from dementia, on Sex and The City. A wife and mother and one hell of an actress. RIP Anne…

Many in Hollywood reacted to the news on social media, tweeting out their condolences to the family and paying tribute to Anne.

Stiller and Meara have been a wonderful presence in comedy my whole life. Now Anne Meara is gone, and I salute her.

— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) May 24, 2015

Goodbye to half of the terrific comedy team Stiller and Meara . R.I.P. Anne Meara @STILLERandMEARA @RedHourBen

— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) May 24, 2015

I adored #annemeara saw #stiller@meara open for diahann Carroll at the Sands Hotel in Vegas funny cutting edge ahead… http://t.co/S7HOmG9RoA

— Sandra Bernhard (@SandraBernhard) May 24, 2015

with a heavy heart – she was so real http://t.co/nvpL3j1plW pic.twitter.com/FkT7t7wKjA

— Rosie (@Rosie) May 24, 2015

I was lucky enough to know Anne Meara personally, and I’m very saddened by her passing. She was wonderful. Love to her family. #RIPAnne

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) May 24, 2015

Rest In Peace Anne Meara. Thank you for the laughs on and off the screen of The king Of Queens Your… https://t.co/RXvIAHe9Nn

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) May 24, 2015

The Death of “A Beautiful Mind”

This was a tragic end to a life fraught with tragedy and triumph. John Nash Jr., the brilliant mathematician and 1994 Nobel Prize winner for Economics, who was the inspiration for the 2001 award winning film A Beautiful Mind, passed away on Sunday, May 24, when the taxi he was riding in, lost control, causing Nash and his wife Alicia to be ejected from the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Nash, considered by some to be one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20^th century and most notably known for his work in game theory, famously suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. His illness and the struggles he suffered because of it, including the strain on his marriage to Alicia, was the focal point of the film A Beautiful Mind.

John and Alicia’s love story was a fascinating study in courage and strength. Although the couple divorced in 1963, Alicia still cared for John, with the two continuing to even live together. Eventually, they remarried in 2001. If there is anything positive to take away from this horrible tragedy, it is that the two left this world together, as a team, the same way they lived. RIP John and Alicia.

Russell Crowe, who portrayed John in A Beautiful Mind and Ron Howard who directed the film, both tweeted out their condolences and paid respects to the couple.

Stunned…my heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts. https://t.co/XF4V9MBwU4

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) May 24, 2015

RIP Brilliant #NobelPrize winning John Nash & and his remarkable wife Alicia. It was an honor telling part of their story #ABeautifulMind

— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) May 24, 2015

A Decade Since Tom Cruise Officially Lost His Mind

This month officially marks 10 years since Tom Cruise, so overcome with his “love” for Katie Holmes, famously jumped on Oprah’s couch and the Cruise insanity went into full “cruise control.” Much of the world watched in stunned and horrified awe, as a once beloved movie star seemed to lose his mind. What quickly followed was a firestorm of jokes, mockery, whispers about the legitimacy of the Tom/Katie relationship, aka TomKat, more accusations about Scientology, the church Cruise famously belongs to, being a cult. And some wondered if the cult had finally sent Cruise completely batshit crazy.

A feud with Brooke Shields over her admittance to using anti-depressant drugs followed, as well as rumors about little Suri and whether she existed and if she was an alien (which okay, was very mean). Cruise eventually sat down with Oprah again at his home, to address the couch controversy and everything else that came with it. The jokes still continued sporadically but for the most part many moved on as this is Hollywood and there’s always a new scandal to mock and laugh about. That was until Katie Holmes famously filed for divorce, according to many sources, completely blindsiding Cruise and once again putting the entire embarrassing moment back in the public’s consciousness. I mean when a guy famously jumps on a couch like a maniac for you, you figure this relationship will last. I guess not so much.

I’m not sure we will ever know the complete truth about the Tom and Katie relationship and what exactly Tom was thinking in that moment on Oprah but it is definitely a moment in pop culture history we will never forget. I still remember clearly where I was when I watched the moment. I remember being simultaneously confused, amused and horrified. I also remember thinking while watching, “oh he’s never going to live this down…” I guess you can say I was psychic. Here, relieve the moment in all its glory.