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SAG Award Nominee Performances May Require Significant Media-Wise Discernment

Actors who gave faith-filled performances to performances laced with foul content filled out the Screen Actors Guild Award nominees.

Before viewing these SAG award-nominated performances, though, please read the Movieguide® reviews to make media-wise decisions.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. For the full list of nominations, please click here.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role - Christian Bale

FORD V FERRARI

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
FORD V FERRARI is an extremely powerful character study about the famous American car designer Carroll Shelby and racecar driver Ken Miles fighting corporate interference, physical challenges and personal issues to build a revolutionary car for Ford to challenge Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race. FORD V FERRARI has a subtle Christian, uplifting worldview where self-sacrifice, friendship and family win out, but it’s almost fatally marred by lots of strong foul language.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role - Leonardo DiCaprio

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quality:
***
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD tells about a Hollywood stunt double and his long-time actor friend, a TV western star who’s consigned to playing villains, and their encounter with elements of the Manson Family, who in real life went on a killing spree in 1969. Despite some captivating scenes, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD meanders too much when it comes to plot and has abundant foul language, some substance abuse, and extreme violence, especially at the end, though it clearly makes the evil Manson Family the bad guys and acknowledges the strong bond of friendship between the actor and his stunt double. The movie’s violence and crude dialogue are excessive and rather gratuitous.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role - Adam Driver

MARRIAGE STORY

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
MARRIAGE STORY is a misleading title, because the movie is actually about two married theater people going through a separation and divorce, which becomes increasingly rancorous when the wife hires an aggressive, feminist divorce lawyer. The performances by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in MARRIAGE STORY are excellent, and the movie is emotionally powerful and poignant, but there’s lots of strong foul language and no positive spiritual or religious content to inspire media-wise moviegoers.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role - Taron Egerton

ROCKETMAN

Quality:
****
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
ROCKETMAN is the story of rock music legend Elton John’s sad childhood and rise to worldwide fame mired by drug and sex addiction and his battle to overcome those problems and achieve happiness until he finally decides to be a homosexual. Dazzling musical numbers and a compelling performance by Taron Edgerton as Elton keep ROCKETMAN flying smoothly, but the R-rated movie has lots of foul language and a mixed worldview with strong Romantic and pro-homosexual elements combined with some strong moral content showing the dangers of substance abuse and proving that money can’t buy happiness.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role - Joaquin Phoenix

JOKER

Quality:
***
Content:
-4 Intentional blasphemy, evil, gross immorality, and/or worldview problems. (To be avoided)
JOKER stars Joaquin Phoenix in the title role of Batman’s future nemesis, in a story that imagines the origins of the psychotic supervillain known as the Joker. JOKER creates a politically correct version of the iconic villain as a man who’s become mentally and emotionally damaged and is eventually driven violently insane and angry against those who’ve done him wrong, including rich people and his own mother. JOKER ends up in an abhorrent place and contains lots of strong foul language and some extreme violence that may inspire some copycats.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Cynthia Erivo

HARRIET

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
HARRIET is the incredible story about how Harriet Tubman became Harriet Tubman, the woman who saved thousands of slaves and brought them to freedom before the Civil War. HARRIET is an exceptionally well-made movie with a strong Christian worldview, but it does have intense scenes and some foul language.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Scarlett Johansson

MARRIAGE STORY

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
MARRIAGE STORY is a misleading title, because the movie is actually about two married theater people going through a separation and divorce, which becomes increasingly rancorous when the wife hires an aggressive, feminist divorce lawyer. The performances by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in MARRIAGE STORY are excellent, and the movie is emotionally powerful and poignant, but there’s lots of strong foul language and no positive spiritual or religious content to inspire media-wise moviegoers.

Lupita Nyong'o

US

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
US is a psychological horror movie about a family on vacation that’s being hunted by doppelgangers of themselves. US is thrilling and has some spiritual illusions and other positive elements, but there’s also extreme violence and lots of foul language, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Charlize Theron

BOMBSHELL

Quality:
***
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
BOMBSHELL is a drama about the reasons behind the Fox News Channel’s firing of long-time CEO Roger Ailes due to accusations of sexual harassment. BOMBSHELL has some first-rate performances, especially by Charlize Theron as former Fox superstar Megyn Kelly, but its message condemning sexual harassment in the workplace is marred by excessive, gratuitous foul language, a few silly political jabs at conservatives, a scene mocking a minor character’s Christian faith, a fictional lesbian subplot that undercuts the movie’s premise, and strong lewd references.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Renee Zellweger

JUDY

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
JUDY follows the life and career of Judy Garland, focusing mostly on her final days performing in England during the mid 1960s. JUDY has a strong Romantic worldview and shows the tragic ending of Judy Garland’s life due to her addiction to prescription drugs and a custody battle for her children.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Tom Hanks

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Quality:
****
Content:
-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a wonderful movie starring Tom Hanks as the famous children’s television host, Fred Rogers, whose simple Christian wisdom helps a troubled reporter become a better man and reconcile with his estranged father. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a delightful, winsome, powerful, heartrending movie that exalts forgiveness, kindness, grace, and love.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Al Pacino and Joe Pesci

THE IRISHMAN

Quality:
****
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
THE IRISHMAN is an epic gangster movie by Martin Scorsese about an Irish teamster leader and Mafia hit man who allegedly became a protégé and friend of the head of the Bufalino crime family and Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Though Frank Sheeran’s story in THE IRISHMAN, which comes from a book, has its skeptics, the movie is a meticulously crafted but overlong epic about connections between mobsters and union leaders, with an electric performance by Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, but it also has abundant foul language, extreme violence and an open-ended conclusion with the protagonist talking to a Catholic priest.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Brad Pitt

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quality:
***
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD tells about a Hollywood stunt double and his long-time actor friend, a TV western star who’s consigned to playing villains, and their encounter with elements of the Manson Family, who in real life went on a killing spree in 1969. Despite some captivating scenes, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD meanders too much when it comes to plot and has abundant foul language, some substance abuse, and extreme violence, especially at the end, though it clearly makes the evil Manson Family the bad guys and acknowledges the strong bond of friendship between the actor and his stunt double. The movie’s violence and crude dialogue are excessive and rather gratuitous.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie

BOMBSHELL

Quality:
***
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
BOMBSHELL is a drama about the reasons behind the Fox News Channel’s firing of long-time CEO Roger Ailes due to accusations of sexual harassment. BOMBSHELL has some first-rate performances, especially by Charlize Theron as former Fox superstar Megyn Kelly, but its message condemning sexual harassment in the workplace is marred by excessive, gratuitous foul language, a few silly political jabs at conservatives, a scene mocking a minor character’s Christian faith, a fictional lesbian subplot that undercuts the movie’s premise, and strong lewd references.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Scarlett Johansson

JOJO RABBIT

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
JOJO RABBIT is a quirky satire about a young boy’s growth from being a member of the Hitler Youth during World War II to being a better person when he finds out his mother is hiding a teenage Jewish girl in their attic. Despite the satire, JOJO RABBIT becomes a very moving experience as the boy interacts with the Jewish girl and rediscovers his humanity. However, the movie has lots of PG-13 foul language and some violence, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Jennifer Lopez

HUSTLERS (2019)

Quality:
***
Content:
-4 Intentional blasphemy, evil, gross immorality, and/or worldview problems. (To be avoided)
HUSTLERS tells the true story of women who decide to take their jobs at the strip club to the next level and swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from their wealthy patrons. HUSTLERS verges on praising the actions of these characters and has very little redemptive qualities and abundant objectionable content, so the movie is really abhorrent.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BOMBSHELL

Quality:
***
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
BOMBSHELL is a drama about the reasons behind the Fox News Channel’s firing of long-time CEO Roger Ailes due to accusations of sexual harassment. BOMBSHELL has some first-rate performances, especially by Charlize Theron as former Fox superstar Megyn Kelly, but its message condemning sexual harassment in the workplace is marred by excessive, gratuitous foul language, a few silly political jabs at conservatives, a scene mocking a minor character’s Christian faith, a fictional lesbian subplot that undercuts the movie’s premise, and strong lewd references.

THE IRISHMAN

Quality:
****
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
THE IRISHMAN is an epic gangster movie by Martin Scorsese about an Irish teamster leader and Mafia hit man who allegedly became a protégé and friend of the head of the Bufalino crime family and Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Though Frank Sheeran’s story in THE IRISHMAN, which comes from a book, has its skeptics, the movie is a meticulously crafted but overlong epic about connections between mobsters and union leaders, with an electric performance by Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, but it also has abundant foul language, extreme violence and an open-ended conclusion with the protagonist talking to a Catholic priest.

JOJO RABBIT

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
JOJO RABBIT is a quirky satire about a young boy’s growth from being a member of the Hitler Youth during World War II to being a better person when he finds out his mother is hiding a teenage Jewish girl in their attic. Despite the satire, JOJO RABBIT becomes a very moving experience as the boy interacts with the Jewish girl and rediscovers his humanity. However, the movie has lots of PG-13 foul language and some violence, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quality:
***
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD tells about a Hollywood stunt double and his long-time actor friend, a TV western star who’s consigned to playing villains, and their encounter with elements of the Manson Family, who in real life went on a killing spree in 1969. Despite some captivating scenes, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD meanders too much when it comes to plot and has abundant foul language, some substance abuse, and extreme violence, especially at the end, though it clearly makes the evil Manson Family the bad guys and acknowledges the strong bond of friendship between the actor and his stunt double. The movie’s violence and crude dialogue are excessive and rather gratuitous.

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
AVENGERS: ENDGAME picks up five years later where the last movie left off, with the remaining Avengers still mourning the loss of their friends at the hands of Thanos, but deciding they must find a way to go back in time and defeat Thanos once and for all. Some plot points are unresolved and some storylines are left hanging, and there’s lots of foul language, some other edgy, immoral content, and even a few tedious, annoying moments in AVENGERS: ENDGAME, but the movie has a unifying, emotionally powerful, morally uplifting main plot that extols family and fatherhood.

FORD V FERRARI

Quality:
****
Content:
-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.
FORD V FERRARI is an extremely powerful character study about the famous American car designer Carroll Shelby and racecar driver Ken Miles fighting corporate interference, physical challenges and personal issues to build a revolutionary car for Ford to challenge Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race. FORD V FERRARI has a subtle Christian, uplifting worldview where self-sacrifice, friendship and family win out, but it’s almost fatally marred by lots of strong foul language.

THE IRISHMAN

Quality:
****
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
THE IRISHMAN is an epic gangster movie by Martin Scorsese about an Irish teamster leader and Mafia hit man who allegedly became a protégé and friend of the head of the Bufalino crime family and Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Though Frank Sheeran’s story in THE IRISHMAN, which comes from a book, has its skeptics, the movie is a meticulously crafted but overlong epic about connections between mobsters and union leaders, with an electric performance by Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, but it also has abundant foul language, extreme violence and an open-ended conclusion with the protagonist talking to a Catholic priest.

JOKER

Quality:
***
Content:
-4 Intentional blasphemy, evil, gross immorality, and/or worldview problems. (To be avoided)
JOKER stars Joaquin Phoenix in the title role of Batman’s future nemesis, in a story that imagines the origins of the psychotic supervillain known as the Joker. JOKER creates a politically correct version of the iconic villain as a man who’s become mentally and emotionally damaged and is eventually driven violently insane and angry against those who’ve done him wrong, including rich people and his own mother. JOKER ends up in an abhorrent place and contains lots of strong foul language and some extreme violence that may inspire some copycats.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quality:
***
Content:
-3 Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD tells about a Hollywood stunt double and his long-time actor friend, a TV western star who’s consigned to playing villains, and their encounter with elements of the Manson Family, who in real life went on a killing spree in 1969. Despite some captivating scenes, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD meanders too much when it comes to plot and has abundant foul language, some substance abuse, and extreme violence, especially at the end, though it clearly makes the evil Manson Family the bad guys and acknowledges the strong bond of friendship between the actor and his stunt double. The movie’s violence and crude dialogue are excessive and rather gratuitous.