'NO COUNTRY,' 'SOPRANOS' ARE SAG WINNERS; DAY-LEWIS, CHRISTIE, BARDEM, DEE SCORE INDIVIDUAL HONORS (THR, VAR, AP, ENV, NYT)

By Nancy Vialatte

"No Country for Old Men" took two prizes at Sunday�s 14th annual SAG Awards: best motion picture cast and a supporting nod for Javier Bardem. The other film honors went to Daniel Day-Lewis for "There Will Be Blood," Julie Christie for "Away From Her" and Ruby Dee for "American Gangster". And, despite the ongoing strike, the New York Times says, �once the awards ceremony started, it began to seem like the old Hollywood still prevailed.�

HBO's "The Sopranos" ended its awards journey the way it started it: with a sweep of the drama series categories at the SAG Awards.

NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock" split the honors on the comedy side, with "Office" taking best ensemble and "30 Rock" stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey winning best actor and actress, respectively.

SAG celebrated its 75th anniversary on Sunday and despite ominous storm clouds, the rains held off long enough for a star-studded red carpet - the only one thus far in awards season. But while lots of stars turned up, a number did not make it to the event, including winners Baldwin, Kevin Kline and Queen Latifah.

Looking back over the history of the actors guild, SAG president Alan Rosenberg said the founders "looked to the writers guild for inspiration," beginning a tradition of "trade solidarity, which extends to today." With that, he called for WGA president Patric Verrone, who was in the audience, to take a bow, notes The Hollywood Reporter.

Jenna Fischer of "The Office" dedicated her show's win to its out-of-work crew members while Julie Christie, a longtime activist, said, "It's lovely to receive an award from your union - especially at a time when we are being so forcibly reminded how important unions are."

Mostly, though, presenters kept it lighthearted. "Welcome to the most glamorous and exciting evening in the history of the world," Steve Carell said facetiously as he and Fey kicked off the first presentation.

Josh Brolin spoke on behalf of the "No Country" cast of 47 when that film took the ensemble award.

"It is a risky movie, and it's nice to have risky movies now," he said. Offering his thanks to the Joel and Ethan Coen, he added, "The Coen brothers are freaky little people, you know. And we did a freaky little movie, whether you like the ending or not."

As the cast left the stage, Brolin was overheard saying, "I just found out that Tommy Lee Jones was in the movie. This is the ensemble that never met."

In accepting his best actor award for "Blood," Day-Lewis offered some of the most heartfelt words of the night as he paid tribute to the late Heath Ledger. He spoke of how the best acting provided him with a sense of regeneration, and he cited Ledger's work in "Monster's Ball" and "Brokeback Mountain."

"That scene in the trailer at the end of ("Brokeback") is as moving as anything that I think I've ever seen," Day-Lewis said. "And I'd like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger."

Dee was named best supporting actress in a film for �American Gangster� and is also nominated for an Oscar in the same category. A first-time nominee and respected veteran of stage, screen and TV, Dee hoisted the trophy, saying, "This is my first time holding one of these boys." Thanking the guild, she said she accepted the award in the name of her fellow actor and husband, Ossie Davis, who died three years ago.

"I accept it also for my husband Ossie because he's working on things up there."

Bardem meanwhile thanked his American counterparts for welcoming him into their ranks. Backstage, he quipped, "Can you believe I have two of these? They are so heavy! Wow!" A photographer asked Bardem to pose with his trophies, then announced: "It's the only time that I'm going to ask you to take a picture with two naked men; I promise!"

Seven years after the first season of "Sopranos," Gandolfini said, �This is our last official act as 'The Sopranos' together," and hoisted his trophy toward the table where the show's cast was seated. "Here's to you guys."

"We love each other, we love working together and being together," "Office" co-star Fischer said on behalf of her castmates.

For her part, Fey was her usual self-deprecating self. "I thank anyone in the Screen Actors Guild for considering me an actor at all," she said. "If you've seen me on the show with Alec Baldwin, then you know it's sort of like watching Fred Astaire dance with a hat rack. And after a while, you're like, 'Oh, that hat rack is pretty good, too.' So, you've given an award to the hat rack, and I thank you."

Charles Durning, a two-time Oscar nominee and eight-time Emmy nominee, was honored with SAG's Life Achievement Award.

In his thanks, Durning referred to British actor Ralph Richardson, who when asked at age 83 how he did it, replied, "I don't know, I'm just getting the hang of it." Said During: "And that's how I feel, I'm just getting the hang of it. Now I no longer chase my dreams - raised my sights a little, maybe. But tonight thanks to all of you, I am living my dream. Thank you so much for this honor."

SAG's longform awards went to the stars of two HBO movies. Kline won for his role in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of William Shakespeare's comedy "As You Like It," while Latifah added a SAG Award to her Globe for her portrayal of a drug addict-turned-AIDS activist in the based-on-a-true-story "Life Support."

Stunt performers and coordinators were also honored for the first time this year by SAG in a new awards category. Receiving the award for outstanding stunt ensemble in a film was Universal's "The Bourne Ultimatum." On the television side, Fox's "24" picked up the prize.

With the wins, "No Country" gained momentum as the Oscars approach. The Coen brothers' film has eight Oscar noms, including best picture and supporting actor for Bardem. The Coens also took the top directing prize Saturday from the Director's Guild of America.

In five of the past 12 years, the winning SAG pic has gone on to grab the Oscar, although that wasn't the case last year, as "Little Miss Sunshine" won the SAG prize, but the Oscar went to "The Departed,� points out Variety.

'NO COUNTRY,' 'SOPRANOS' ARE SAG WINNERS; DAY-LEWIS, CHRISTIE, BARDEM, DEE SCORE INDIVIDUAL HONORS (THR, VAR, AP, ENV, NYT)

By Nancy Vialatte

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