Chris Nolan, David Fincher Among DGA Nominees

A few days ago, the Directors Guild of America announced the five nominees for the organization's best director award:  Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Tom Hooper, and and David O. Russell.  The nominee list for the best director Oscar usually sticks pretty close to the DGA selections.  The most obvious names missing from this list are the brothers Joel and Ethan Coen (for True Grit).

I think many movie award watchers believe David O. Russell (The Fighter) may be the odd man out in favor of the Coens when the Oscar nominations are announced later this month.  However, I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Nolan (for Inception) didn't get a best director Oscar nomination, as happened when he got a DGA nomination but not an Oscar nod for The Dark Knight in 2008, and also for Memento in 2001.  Lord knows that Nolan fans want Oscar validation for him, and the Lord also knows that he should have received that validation already (although he did receive a screenplay Oscar nomination for Memento).  Here, is the press release from the DGA:

LOS ANGELES, CA: Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2010.

"2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the DGA, making the celebration of this year's five nominees especially meaningful," said Hackford. "Their inspired films radiate the passion and unique vision of each of these filmmakers, who are about to become part of our Guild's rich history. My sincerest congratulations to all five nominees."

The winner will be named at the 63rd Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 29, 2011, at the Grand Ballroom of Hollywood and Highland.

DARREN ARONOFSKY
Black Swan
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. Aronofsky’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Jennifer Roth
First Assistant Director: Joseph Reidy
Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
Second Second Assistant Director: Travis Rehwaldt
Location Manager: Ronnie Kupferwasser

This is Mr. Aronofsky’s first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination.

DAVID FINCHER
The Social Network
(Columbia Pictures)

Mr. Fincher’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: JoAnn Perritano
First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
Second Assistant Director: Allen Kupetsky
Second Second Assistant Director: Maileen Williams

This is Mr. Fincher’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008. He previously won the DGA Commercial Award for Speed Chain (Nike), Gamebreakers (Nikegridiron.com), and Beauty for Sale (Xelibri Phones) in 2003 and was nominated in that category again in 2008.

TOM HOOPER
The King’s Speech
(The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Hooper’s Directorial Team:
Production Manager: Erica Bensly
First Assistant Director: Martin Harrison
Second Assistant Director: Chris Stoaling

This is Mr. Hooper’s first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination. He was previously nominated for the DGA Award for Movies for Television/Miniseries for John Adams in 2008.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Inception
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Jan Foster
First Assistant Director: Nilo Otero
Second Assistant Director: Brandon Lambdin
Second Second Assistant Director: Greg Pawlik
Additional Second Assistant Director: Lauren Pasternack

This is Mr. Nolan’s third DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Dark Knight in 2008 and for Memento in 2001.

DAVID O. RUSSELL
The Fighter
(Paramount Pictures and The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Russell’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Mark Kamine
First Assistant Director: Michele Ziegler
Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
Second Second Assistant Director: Timothy Blockburger

This is Mr. Russell’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.

www.dga.org/

Kathryn Bigelow Makes History; Oh Snap!

Kathryn Bigelow made history last night by becoming the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, for The Hurt Locker.  Obviously, a woman winning isn't the only shocker.  Bigelow won the award intead of James Cameron for his behemoth hit, Avatar.  Cameron had momentum after winning a Golden Globe for directing Avatar just two weeks ago.

Since the DGA Awards began in 1948, only six times has the DGA winner for feature film directing not gone on to win the Oscar for Best Director.  The last time this happened was in 2002 when Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago, but Roman Polanski won the Oscar for The Pianist.

Here's the press release from the DGA for last night's awards:

Press release from the Directors Guild of America:

Kathryn Bigelow wins DGA Feature Film Award for The Hurt Locker. Other winners of 2009 DGA Awards announced. (January 31, 2010)

LOS ANGELES, CA: The winners of the 2009 Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards and the recipients of the Guild's 2010 Career Achievement Awards were announced tonight during the 62nd Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles . Kathryn Bigelow won the DGA's Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for The Hurt Locker.

Following the welcome by DGA President Taylor Hackford to an audience of more than 1,600 guests, director/actor Carl Reiner hosted the ceremony.

Presenters included (in show order): Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison (Glee), DGA Board Member Jesus Trevino, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington (Avatar), Jodie Foster (The Beaver), DGA Board Member Donald Petrie, Carey Mulligan (An Education), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire), President and CEO of Disney Robert Iger, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman (Up In The Air), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), DGA Secretary/Treasurer Gil Cates, Robert Zemeckis (A Christmas Carol), Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Jane Alexander (Terminator Salvation), DGA President Taylor Hackford, and 2008 DGA Feature Film Award winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).

The DGA's Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally served as a near-perfect barometer for the Academy Award for Best Director. Only six times since the DGA Award's inception in 1948 has the winner not gone on to receive the Academy Award for Best Director.

This is Ms. Bigelow's first DGA Feature Film Award. [END]

Here is a list of the 2010 Director's Guild of America winners:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:
KATHRYN BIGELOW
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)

Ms. Bigelow's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Tony Mark
First Assistant Director: David Ticotin
First Assistant Director (Canadian Unit): Lee Cleary


DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Feature Documentary
Winner: Louie Psihoyos, "The Cove"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Movie for Television
Winner: Michael Sucsy, "Grey Gardens"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Dramatic Series Night
Winner: Lesli Linka Glatter, "Mad Men," "Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Comedy Series
Winner: Jason Winer, "Modern Family," Pilot

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical Variety program
Winner: Don Mischner, "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Reality Program
Winner: Craig Borders, "Build It Bigger Season 3": "Hong Kong Bridge"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Daytime Serial
Winner: Christopher Goutman, "As The World Turns," "Once Upon A Time"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction in Commercials
Winner: Tom Kuntz - Eyebrows, Cadbury; Tailor, Skittles; Scents For Gents, Old Spice; Tips, Career Builder