Directors Guild Announces Nominations
Posted on Wednesday January 9, 2008, 10:14 by Olly Richards
 The Directors Guild of America has announced its list of nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for 2007. The DGA awards are quite closely scrutinised as their selection very often end up in the running for Best Picture at the Oscars (since only getting three right in 2001, they've chosen at least four the same as the Academy each year). Their choices are:
Paul Thomas Anderson – There Will Be Blood
Joel and Ethan Coen – No Country For Old Men
Tony Gilroy – Michael Clayton
Sean Penn – Into The Wild
Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Those are some fine movies, but our first reaction was pa-HAH?! Michael Clayton? That movie was just fine and featured some terrific performances, but one of the best of the year and, indeed, one of the best directed of the year? Not in our book. Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Joe Wright or Paul Greengrass easily deserve a place on that list over Gilroy.
This list of nominees isn't good news for Wright's Atonement or Ridley Scott's American Gangster, both of which have slipped from the front of the pack to dark horses. Atonement would have been our early pick to sweep the Oscar board, but that's looking highly unlikely now. That said, we'd be surprised to see either Gilroy or Schnabel make the Oscar shortlist. It wouldn't be a crime if they did, but there do seem to be other more worthy contenders.
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the ageless stranger
Posted on Wednesday January 9, 2008, 12:19
I haven't seen Michael Clayton yet, so I can't comment but I wouldn't necessarily say American Gangster was one of the best films of the year either. Great film, yes, really enjoyed it, but I dunno if I'd be looking at it for a globe or a shiny man.
As for the others, There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men aren't out here yet, but I'm waiting anxiously. And I'm curious about Diving Bell. |
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Freeman
Posted on Wednesday January 9, 2008, 12:52
Michael Clayton should not be there period. I haven´t seen Atonement but it seems like the typical Oscar movie. I am predicting a Coen sweep however, they deserve it damn it. All the greats have to win at least once and it has been a theme in the past with Cameron, Spielberg, Scorsece. They should have won with Fargo and/or Miller´s Crossing, now is their time, I´m sure of it. |
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okayeoiny
Posted on Wednesday January 9, 2008, 15:49
its hard to pass judgement having not even seen the first 2, and it is a bit of an odd list. but atonement? I think not - while it was a decent film, the direction was average at best - and as for the mention of the absence of tim "i'm weird" burton? What is it with empire staff's fascination of this boring one trick pony? |
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VesperPekkala_87
Posted on Thursday January 10, 2008, 20:53
Why no Joe Wright?????
That's all I wanna know!!
Atonement is a masterpiece adaptation. He deserves to be nominated. If he misses out on Oscar, then I and many other devotees will be extremely offended!!!
Heads will Roll I tells ya!!! |
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captainkronkite
Posted on Sunday January 13, 2008, 14:26
i was lucky enough to see no country this weekend in the previews. the coens have truly hit the jackpot with this one. fantastic in nearly every way (especially deakins cinematography (the man is a genius)). i would love to predict a coen cleansweep of the awards but im afraid i cant force myself to be so optimistic.
i missed michael clayton which was a shame so i cant really comment on gilroys inclusion. however, im more than confident that PTA's There Will Be Blood will be superb. waiting anxiously for it.
as for the people missing out i thought joe wright deserved some recognition as atonement was superb and turned me, a bonafide cynic, around to his adaptation. american gangster simply wasnt good enough. just a case of a director working well outside his genre. finally, i totally agree with okayeoiny that burton is a one trick pony, entertainin though he can sometimes be, not worthy of inclusion come award season. |
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