Here’s Greg Brown, managing director of AFI Dallas International Film Festival, on last night’s award show. AFI has a little news of its own today too – to see some of the films the festival will screen this year, go here.  

 OK….I admit I didn’t see it all, but sure was nice to see a “real” Hollywood awards show last night-the Screen Actors Guild Awards.  Even if they were relegated to TBS.

Although we still don’t know what will happen with the Oscars since the writers’ strike remains unresolved, the stars turned out in force last night.  (Brad and Angelina!  Tom Cruise!)  We weren’t forced to watch another “press conference” to learn who won what.  The writers gave SAG a waiver, and the actors were supportive in return with several expressing support  for the union from the stage.

A couple of highlights I caught:

•·         Daniel Day Lewis’ moving acceptance speech paying tribute to Heath Ledger, especially his performances in Monster’s Ball and Brokeback Mountain.

•·         Julie Christie (who looks absolutely amazing at 66!) joking that if she forgot anyone in her acceptance speech that she was still in character as an Alzheimer’s patient in Away From Her.  This was a performance Dallas audiences had the chance to see as the Closing Night film at last year’s inaugural AFI DALLAS International Film Festival.  And there’s another Dallas connection…Away From Her was produced by Dallas-born and -bred Doug Mankoff.

Awards like this are supposed to be fairly dependable predictors of the acting categories when the Academy Awards are doled out.  So, do Javier Bardem and Ruby Dee-along with Day-Lewis and Christie-have the upper hand.  One can only hope that we’ll be able to tune in February 24 to check it out.