Well (sadly) there is no such category at the Academy Awards, but we all know that SAG has one and since we are debating Picture/Actor/Actress/Sup. Actor/Sup. Actress/Director I thought it'd be interesting ti take a look at the ensemble noms, especially considering that in recent years this category has been a good predictor for BP nominees.

Nominees in recent years (winners in bold and BP nominees with *):

2005:

Crash *
Brokeback Mountain *
Good Night, and Good Luck *
Hustle & Flow
Capote *

2004:

Ray *
Hotel Rwanda
Million Dollar Baby *
The Aviator *
Finding Neverland *
Sideways *

2003:

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King *
In America
Mystic River *
The Station Agent
Seabiscuit *

2002:

Adaptation
The Hours *
Chicago *
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers *
My Big Fat Greek Wedding

2001:

Gosford Park *
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring *
In the Bedroom *
Moulin Rouge! *
A Beautiful Mind *

2000:

Billy Elliot
Chocolat *
Traffic *
Almost Famous
Gladiator *

______________________________________________________________________________________________

This is what I currently predict for this year:

The Departed
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Babel
Flags of Our Fathers

Three of them should snatch BP noms. Alternatives are: Volver, United 93 and Little Children. I don't think The Queen has a specifically strong overall cast, same for The Last King of Scotland.

As far as the winner goes, it is between The Departed and Dreamgirls to me.

I really think it's more between Babel and Dreamgirls. The Departed is looking to be a masterpiece based on early reviews, but I doubt it'll get much awards attention besides Jack, and Scorsese finally getting his Best Director Oscar.

I would say based on reviews that praise the acting of the entire cast that The Departed would win the SAG ensemble award.

I also remember thinking a few years ago that there was no way that LA Confidential would not win SAG ensemble. I thought that right up until I read that The Full Monty won. So you never know with SAG.

If Departed loses to Dreamgirls, it's pretty much f'ed come Oscars.

I do see it winning though.

Others that could make it in - Prestige, Little Children, Bobby, Good German, and Good Shepherd.

This year will be seeing a really great best ensemble lineup.

Annette Bening, Alec Baldwin, Jill Clayburgh, Evan Rachel Wood, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brian Cox, etc........I think Running With Scissors has a good chance for a nomination at least.

It's Dreamgirls to lose.

I am getting more and more convinced that The Departed will take it. I mean pretty much every member of the cast is getting praised for this film. Even Mark Wahlberg!!!

Bobby has the most going for it in the Sag department.

I dont think Flags will get in.

I see...
Bobby
The Departed *
Dreamgirls *
Litle Miss Sunshine
And a fifth nominess that'll also get a BP nomination (Babel, Children of Men, Flags of our Fathers, and The Good German are all strong possibilities)

There is no way any movie will deserve it more than The Departed. Every little role was played great.

The Departed will win this hands down.

Other nominees - Babel, Dreamgirls, Bobby and take your pic for the last slot.

I don't think Departed will win.

But if it does, it's a huge check mark in its column for BP.

I would love to see a SAG nom for Infamous but I know its highly unlikely. The entire cast did fantastic work, esp Craig, Bullock, and Jones.

I wouldn't count out The Good Shepherd. The cast list...

Matt Damon
Angelina Jolie
Alec Baldwin
Billy Crudup
Michael Gambon
William Hurt
Joe Pesci
John Turturro
Robert De Niro

...is extremely impressive. The other four nominees, IMO, will be Babel, The Departed, Dreamgirls, and Little Miss Sunshine.

If Hustle & Flow and Capote got in last year on the strength of their lead actor's performances, The Queen has a good chance, particularly as a serious BP contender. It is at least as likely as the three alternatives listed.

True, I definitely see it getting nominated at this point, but unless Dreamgirls gets over 85% on RT I think The Departed has this one locked up.

It's pretty clear now that The Queen is a lock (along with Dreamgirls and The Departed).

Ensemble films without a strong lead Oscar-worthy lead actor or actress performance don't usually get nominated for SAG unless it also ends up getting nominated for Best Picture Oscar as well. So if either Babel, Bobby, Children of Men, The Good German, The Good Shepherd, Little Miss Sunshine, or United 93 gets nominated for SAG, it's pretty much guaranteed an Oscar nom as well.

However, most SAG ensemble nominees, especially those that don't end up getting an Oscar best picture nomination, have at least one strong lead performance that gets nominated for either best actor or best actress, so we should be watching out for seemingly unlikely nominees that most people aren't predicting for SAG ensemble (Blood Diamond, The Devil Wears Prada, Half Nelson, The Pursuit of Happiness, Venus, Volver)

My updated predictions...

The Departed
Babel
Little Miss Sunshine
Dreamgirls
The Good Shepherd

I'm very iffy on the last one...It is really a wild guess. I still don't see The Queen up there. Except for Michael Sheen and Helen Mirren, I didn't read anything about any other star of the film.

But if The Queen misses out, then it will get snubbed at the Oscar for Best Picture which I just don't see happening. I think there is a bunch of British actors in the royal family that gave competent enough performances to be nominated.