SCREEN ACTORS GUILD NOMINATIONS

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir (A Better Life)

George Clooney (The Descendants)

Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar)

Jean Dujardin (The Artist)

Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)

Viola Davis (The Help)

Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)

Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin)

Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)

Armie Hammer (J. Edgar)

Jonah Hill (Moneyball)

Nick Nolte (Warrior)

Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Bérénice Bejo (The Artist)

Jessica Chastain (The Help)

Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)

Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)

Octavia Spencer (The Help)

Best Ensemble Cast

Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen and Owen Wilson (Midnight in Paris)

Bérénice Bejo, James Cromwell, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman and Penelope Ann Miller (The Artist)

Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

Rose Byrne, Jill Clayburgh, Ellie Kemper, Matt Lucas, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Chris O’Dowd, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids)

Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O’Reilly, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer, Mary Steenburgen, Emma Stone, Cicely Tyson and Mike Vogel (The Help)

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. You know that sinking feeling you get when the critics' groups ignore your favourite contenders? Things don't tend to get any better when the major groups ring in. Starting with the BFCA yesterday, and potentially continuing with the HFPA tomorrow, now is the winter of our nomination-related discontent. Top of my list? Guess. The snub of Shame - neither Michael Fassbender nor Carey Mulligan recognised. This might be perhaps only slightly acceptable were five worthy contenders nominated in these respective categories, and they're not the only deserved nominees to lose out, but when Leonardo DiCaprio can be nominated for his poor portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover and Michael Fassbender cannot be nominated for his groundbreaking work, I can't settle for this. These are actors voting for these awards. Somehow, the critics, most of whom (I presume) are not actors, manage to get things so much more right.

Also left out in favour of less deserving nominees are Gary Oldman, Michael Shannon, Ryan Gosling, Elizabeth Olsen, Rooney Mara, Albert Brooks (can you believe that?!?), Max von Sydow, Vanessa Redgrave and Shailene Woodley. It's extraordinary that Armie Hammer and Jonah Hill got in while Albert Brooks was not. Even more extraordinarily, check out the nominees for Midnight in Paris' Ensemble Cast nod. No mention of most of that cast. Corey Stoll (the best performance in that film), Tom Hiddleston, Juno Temple, nope. Carla Bruni? Why, yes. Playing 'Museum Tour Guide' in two or three short scenes. WTF.

On the plus side, some love for Albert Nobbs. I always thought Glenn Close would show up once the big awards started to announce, and a nomination for her after a considerable drought the past few weeks is very welcome indeed. A Golden Globe nomination is probably all she needs to keep herself in contention. And I won't complain about the nomination for Janet McTerr, additionally. Also, Nick Nolte's brilliant performance in Warrior has its second major nomination in as many days. I can definitely see the HFPA making that same, well-considered decision tomorrow. So yes, some positive accomplishments, but mostly I'm just too pissed off to bother being positive. HUFF HUFF HUFF.