Who'll be nominated for the DGA Award on Tuesday?
Just like we saw at SAG, beware: the December releases will probably get skunked.
So forget late-comers "There Will Be Blood'," "Atonement" and "Juno." DGA loves actors-turned-directors even more so than the Oscars, so Sean Penn ("Into the Wild") is definitely in. However, the guild is traditionally cruel to art-house pix, so forget Julian Schnabel ("Diving Bell").
Or am I wrong? CLICK HERE to see predix from other pundits. Below is my forecast.
MY NO-GUTS-NO-GLORY PREDIX:
Tim Burton, "Sweeney Todd" *
Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Sidney Lumet, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
Sean Penn, "Into the Wild"
Ridley Scott, "American Gangster"
* NOTE: Amended at 6:40 p.m. PT, switching from David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises"
Other contenders: Ben Affleck ("Gone Baby Gone"), Tony Gilroy ("Michael Clayton"), Paul Greengrass, ("The Bourne Ultimatum"), Ang Lee ("Lust, Caution"), James Mangold ("3:10 to Yuma"), Mike Nichols ("Charlie Wilson's War")
The key to predicting DGA is to remember these factors: the group is comprised of 13,000 members who primarily work in television, not feature films. About 8,000 live in the Los Angeles area — the rest are scattered across the U.S. They are not permitted to receive DVDs, so they must view films at industry screenings or their local Cineplex. Considering all that — plus the fact that DGA ballots were shipped the first week of December — how many members do you think have seen December release "Diving Bell and the Butterfly"? Also, keep this in mind: DGA uses a weighted ballot, not a preferential one. If you don't know the difference, you haven't been reading Gold Derby regularly. Shame, shame!
Ack, I was thinking of Oscars for Pedro and company, but still. You lack faith more and more. Don't worry, Kris Tapley is a lot worse sometimes. Ugh.
I can't believe people still thought Scott was a big player in the race. Don't they see how completely average American Gangster is turning out to be?
And Sweeney Todd has flaws. That's why it's failing to reap here and there. Depp was average and has had at least 4 better performances. Calling this his career best is bullshit. He did not inject nearly enough emotion, which was necessary to bring Sweeney to life. He played him like an emo sap. I'm sorry, but Helena stole the screen from him scene after scene. Despite their lack of singing skills, she made it work a lot better. But I will say that I liked it, A-, and that this was one of Burton's best directorial efforts. I still think PGA might nod Sweeney, which means that Burton might benefit from that. I don't expect to see Sweeney Todd in the BP race whatsoever. Everyone needs to deal with the fact that this is not something they'd embrace. Big Fish should've been his foray. Oh well. Try again, Timmy.
Posted by: James | January 08, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Wow, you got only two out of five! Don't place too much money on your bets this year.
Posted by: Larry G | January 08, 2008 at 02:31 PM
HAHAHA, I WAS BETTER THAN YOU.
Sorry, I've been very lazy this year, so the gloating is rejuvenating my enthusiasm.
Posted by: James | January 08, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Where's Paul Thomas Anderson?
And if Fernando Meirelles, Alfonso Cuaron, and Pedro Almodovar got nommed, why won't Julian Schnabel?
I can understand Joe Wright's omission, but I still think he'd get in, especially over...well, all your alternates.
Posted by: James | January 08, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Can you explain these former noms?:
Dreamgirls (17/25 Dec)
Munich (23 Dec)
Million$ Baby (19 Dec - ltd)
Posted by: Michael | January 07, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Best Director
*P.T Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
*Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country For Old Men"
*Sean Penn, "Into the Wild"
*Julian Schnabel, "Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
*Ridley Scott, "American Gangster"
Posted by: Robert Di Ielsi | January 07, 2008 at 09:08 AM