Chadwick Boseman movies win big at the SAG awards

Chadwick Boseman’s movies, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and jazz period film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” were the big winners at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, one of the last major ceremonies before the Oscars.

Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer last year at age 43, picked up another award for his final role as an ambitious 1930s trumpet player in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

Sunday’s SAG win positioned him as front-runner for his first Oscar at the Academy Awards on April 25.

Accepting on Boseman’s behalf, his widow Simone Ledward Boseman cited a saying from the late actor himself. “If you see the world unbalanced, be a crusader that pushes heavily on the see-saw of the mind.”

Viola Davis won best actress for playing a jazz diva in “Ma Rainey,” besting presumed favorites Frances McDormand for “Nomadland” and Carey Mulligan in revenge drama “Promising Young Woman.”

The SAG awards, chosen by members of the acting union, are closely watched because actors form the largest voting group in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s SAG ceremony was scaled down from a gala dinner to a one-hour presentation, held remotely, and peppered with jokes about how actors filled their free time during lockdown or got a start in their careers.

Many of the SAG winners and nominees are also up for honors at the British BAFTA awards next week, and the Independent Spirit awards on April 22.