Director's Guild of America (DGA) Announces their Line-Up (2013)

Today the Director's Guild of America (DGA) announced their nominees, and they are:

Alfonso Cuaron-Gravity
Paul Greengrass-Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen-12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell-American Hustle
Martin Scorsese-The Wolf of Wall Street


(Picture Source: www.awardsdaily.com)

Some fun facts about these nominees, three are first time nominees: Cuaron, McQueen, and Greengrass.  Martin Scorsese has earned his 11th career DGA nomination; he has only won the DGA twice once for The Departed, and once for directing Boardwalk Empire.  David O. Russell is receiving his second nomination, his first was for The Fighter.

So what do these nominees mean, well even O. Russell who got a Best Director Oscar nomination for Silver Lining Playbook last year was not nominated for the DGA.  Last year the DGA only nominated 2 of of the 5 DGA nominees.  The DGA nominated Kathryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck and Tom Hooper.  The Academy replaced these three with Benh Zeitlin, Michael Haneke, and O. Russell.  The deadline for Academy ballots is tomorrow, although the Academy is getting a push for more people to vote.  Will this trend continue?

I think this year's line-up may be shaken up by Spike Jonez (Her) and Alexander Payne (Nebraska).  Watch out for these two men still.  I think Nebraska is liked way more than The Wolf of Wall Street although the Guilds have proven both have legs.  While many predicted a surprise nomination for Dallas Buyers Club director Jean-Marc-Valle that did not happen, and I can't imagine him sneaking in here without a Guild nomination, his direction has not been singled out the way Zeitlin or Haneke's direction were.

The other possibility is that this could be the Best Director line-up, while many are using data from last year, although throughout the 2000s the average match of DGA and Oscar is typically 4 out of 5, with last year's being the biggest anomaly.  My prediction is that Alexander Payne or Spike Jonez bump one or two of these directors.  Imagine if they bump O. Russell would Hustle have Argo effect.  That won't happen, the director that looks the weakest is Scorsese, and even he and his film do not look as weak as many thought.

My director predictions at the moment are:
Alfonso Cuaron-Gravity
Paul Greengrass-Captain Phillips
Spike Jonez-Her
Steve McQueen-12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell-American Hustle