Movie lovers it's awards season and one actor is absolutely killing it: Kieran Culkin. You probably know him from Succession but he just snagged a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie A Real Pain. And let me tell you his acceptance speech ? Totally worth watching. It was funny charming a little bit chaotic and oh-so-Kieran.
SAG Win for 'A Real Pain': Kieran Culkin Continues Awards Season Domination
Kieran Culkin took home the SAG Award for his performance in A Real Pain. He plays Benji Kaplan a character described as spirited but tortured in the seriocomic buddy movie directed by Jesse Eisenberg. This win is a big deal. It is another notch in his belt during this awards season. He has been winning left and right for this role and it's definitely making people think Oscars.
What made this SAG win extra special was that unlike some previous awards shows Kieran actually showed up to accept it! He has been a bit elusive at other ceremonies but he made sure to be there for the SAGs and we are glad he did because his speech was pure gold.
The Speech Heard Round Hollywood: Jokes Brody and a Shout-Out to Jesse Eisenberg's Sister?
Kieran Culkin's acceptance speeches are becoming legendary for their free-associative style and self-deprecating humor. His SAG speech was no exception. He started off right away joking about the weight of the SAG Award itself saying it was "incredibly heavy" and that "I don't think anyone could hold this for 45 seconds — which is the allotted time Adrien Brody". He quickly clarified it was a joke adding "There was no reason to take that shot. I love you. Take your time." The camera even caught Adrien Brody laughing in the audience. It was all in good fun.
Then he got to the heart of why he was even on that stage A Real Pain and his director and co-star Jesse Eisenberg. But in true Kieran fashion he took an unexpected route. He thanked Jesse's sister Hallie Eisenberg. Apparently Jesse cast Kieran in the movie without even seeing his work or having him audition all because his sister suggested it. Kieran quipped "He cast me because his sister told him to. I want to thank his sister Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in her stupid brother's ear." It was a hilarious and genuinely sweet moment all at once.
Oscar Frontrunner Alert: Is This Kieran Culkin's Year?
This SAG win is a huge indicator for the Oscars. Kieran Culkin is now considered a major frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. He has basically swept the precursor awards already. He has won Golden Globes Critics Choice Awards Independent Spirit Awards and awards from the National Board of Review the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. That is quite a collection.
What's interesting is that Kieran seems to be taking this whole awards season with a grain of salt. He has a charmingly detached attitude like he can't quite believe all the fuss. He treats awards as "a bit of a joke and a curiosity" according to Gold Derby . He is not really campaigning hard or trying to schmooze anyone. He seems much happier spending time with his wife and kids than working the Hollywood circuit. And yet his talent and performance are shining through regardless.
'A Real Pain': The Movie Behind the Buzz
So what is A Real Pain anyway? It is a dramedy written directed and starring Jesse Eisenberg. It follows two mismatched cousins Benji played by Kieran Culkin and Benny played by Eisenberg. They go on a trip to Poland to honor their late grandmother and explore their family history. The movie deals with themes of family trauma identity and finding humor in dark places. Culkin's performance as Benji has been particularly praised for its mix of comedic energy and underlying vulnerability.
SAG Awards and Oscars: A Strong Predictor for Supporting Actor
If you are wondering how much the SAG Award predicts the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor the answer is quite a lot. In the 30 years of the SAG Awards the SAG winner for Supporting Actor has gone on to win the Oscar 21 times. That is a pretty good track record. And recently the connection has been even stronger. For the past eight years in a row and nine out of the last ten the SAG and Oscar winners in this category have been the same.
The last five actors to win both the SAG and Oscar for Supporting Actor are Robert Downey Jr. (just last year for Oppenheimer) Ke Huy Quan Troy Kotsur Daniel Kaluuya and Brad Pitt. That is some impressive company. While nothing is ever guaranteed in the Oscars history suggests that Kieran Culkin is in a very strong position to add an Academy Award to his growing collection of accolades.
A Sweet Moment of Sincerity: Thanking Wife and Kids
Despite all the jokes and quirky comments Kieran Culkin's SAG speech did have a genuinely heartfelt moment. At the very end he made sure to thank his wife Jazz Charton saying "my wonderful gorgeous funny wife Jazz I love you. Thank you for giving me my favorite people in the world." It was a brief but sweet shout-out to his family showing a touch of sincerity amidst all the humor. He and Jazz met in 2012 eloped in 2013 and have two children together. It's clear his family is incredibly important to him.
Key Awards Won by Kieran Culkin for 'A Real Pain' (So Far):
- SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
- Critics Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Performance
- National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor
- New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (Tied)
Will He Complete the Sweep? All Eyes on the Oscars for Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin's journey through this awards season has been captivating to watch. He is talented funny and refreshingly himself. His SAG Award win just solidified what many already suspected: he is the frontrunner for the Oscar. Will he complete the awards season sweep and take home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor? We will find out on March 2nd but right now all signs point to yes. And if his Oscar speech is anything like his SAG speech it is going to be must-see TV.