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DGA Nommies
Slumdog Millionaire's Danny Boyle, The Dark Knight's Christopher Nolan, Milk's Gus Van Sant, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button's David Fincher and Frost/Nixon's Ron Howard were announced this morning as Directors Guild nominees for top feature film of 2008.
I'm fixing myself a coffee in the morning and I'm thinking Boyle, Fincher, Howard, Nolan and Van Sant. I'm taking the bus into the city and I'm thinking Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, The Dark Knight, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Milk. I'm walking down Varick St. in the windy frigid cold and I'm thinking Van Sant, Nolan, Boyle, Howard and Fincher. I'm ordering a Pinot Grigio at Balthazar and I'm thinking Milk, The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I'm throwing up in a gutter in Little Italy and I'm thinking Fincher, Van Sant, Nolan, Howard and Boyle. I'm in a taxi heading down Ninth Avenue, etc., etc.
Oh, I'm sorry...did I forget to mention the Writers Guild nominees yesterday? I did, didn't I? Well, you can read about them somewhere else.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM
comment #1
actionman
says ...
"I'm throwing up in a gutter in Little Italy and I'm thinking Fincher, Van Sant, Nolan, Howard and Boyle."
I just laughed out loud at my desk. Thanks, Wells.
Posted by actionman
at January 8, 2009 12:10 PM
comment #2
George Prager
says ...
I'm walking past Ruby Foos and I'm thinkin' Piven, Piven, Piven and Piven.
Posted by George Prager
at January 8, 2009 12:18 PM
comment #3
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
"Oh, I'm sorry...did I forget to mention the Writers Guild nominees yesterday? I did, didn't I? Well, you can read about them somewhere else."
Sigh. Ain't that the truth-- nobody ever gives a toss about the screenwriters.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at January 8, 2009 12:32 PM
comment #4
NDH
says ...
BORING! A few Guild nominations come out in the space of a week, and suddenly everything about the Oscars is predetermined. Although on the bright side, this will make the announcement of a surprise nominee a helluva lot more surprising.
Posted by NDH
at January 8, 2009 12:35 PM
comment #5
buckzollo
says ...
You should have been thinking that the DGA, like according to you, the PGA, are just a bunch of timid consensus wussies. FYI I am PGA and voted from an enormous list, every film released in 08 (I think). Although I had to vote for five fims to nominate, I was also voting for the one film I had already decided is best picture, Benjamin Button.
Posted by buckzollo
at January 8, 2009 12:35 PM
comment #6
Aladdin Sane
says ...
It would be nice to see some deviation, but except for Frost/Nixon, I'm not entirely unhappy w/ the list.
I would have liked to seen Aronofsky or Mendes or Demme just to shake things up. Howard made an entertaining movie, but it seems to me that it's coasting on his name more than anything else here.
Posted by Aladdin Sane
at January 8, 2009 12:36 PM
comment #7
115thDreamer
says ...
Yes, the Top Five really seems to be locked in at this point. What could even take away one of the spots at this point? Rev. Road? Doubt? I'm not seeing it. Personally, I think either Button or Frost/Nixon should slide down and let Rev. Road take its rightful place, but it ain't gonna happen.
Posted by 115thDreamer
at January 8, 2009 12:48 PM
comment #8
mattn
says ...
Your Oscar Balloon appears to be missing The Dark Knight in the top categories. Is this an oversight or deliberate?
Posted by mattn
at January 8, 2009 1:11 PM
comment #9
MilkMan
says ...
Ron Howard for Best Director? Really? I mean, I know the guy is everyone's pal and everything, and I'm sure he brings his movies in on time and under budget, but really, Best Director? Hasn't he been praised enough for his unceasing run of mediocrity? What did he do in Frost/Nixon that 100 other directors wouldn't or couldn't have done? He deserves to be nominated for an award for simply being competent?
Posted by MilkMan
at January 8, 2009 1:26 PM
comment #10
actionman
says ...
For once, I agree with you MilkMan.
Frost/Nixon was well made and competent in all areas of filmmaking. But to nominate Howard over so many other deserving filmmakers is just nonsense.
Posted by actionman
at January 8, 2009 1:38 PM
comment #11
Renfield
says ...
Ron Howard is the king of bland. He's a Spielberg without the passion and mommy/daddy issues.
Every filmmaker needs a basic psychological issue in order to keep things interesting.
Posted by Renfield
at January 8, 2009 1:50 PM
comment #12
the400blows
says ...
It's interesting that Wells doesnt' have Howard or Nolan in his Oscar balloon. But he has Shanley and Mendes. Interesting....
Posted by the400blows
at January 8, 2009 4:22 PM
comment #13
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
If the Academy decides to slide Aronofsky in for Howard (unlikely, but here's hoping), they would have themselves one helluva fine list of directors. Certainly my favorite selection of filmmakers since 2002 (the year R. Howard won, ironically enough).
If that ends up happening, I'd actually argue that it's one of the best groups of directing nominees *ever.* Yeah, I said it.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 8, 2009 4:52 PM
comment #14
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
LOL Renfield.
That is sooo true.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 8, 2009 4:53 PM
comment #15
bluefugue
says ...
[quote]Ron Howard is the king of bland. He's a Spielberg without the passion and mommy/daddy issues.[/quote]
Spielberg also has, unlike Howard, one of the most fully developed senses of camera movement and blocking in the history of cinema -- on a par with Welles, Renoir, and Kurosawa. He is a technical master, though the content of his films is often problematic.
Howard is a competent pro, nothing more; but he has made some good films (I'm very fond of Apollo 13).
Posted by bluefugue
at January 8, 2009 5:59 PM
comment #16
smiley
says ...
Its about time Fincher and Nolan are recognized for their work in the cinematic field. I'd like to see Aronofsky added to that list as well.
Posted by smiley
at January 8, 2009 8:02 PM
comment #17
Renfield
says ...
Bluefugue,
That's what I meant by "passion".
Posted by Renfield
at January 8, 2009 9:33 PM
comment #18
MALONE
says ...
I'm having a homemade milkshake and thinking about ZODIAC. I'm thinking about TO DIE FOR. And I'm thinking about how Ron Howard is merely a good filmmaker, not a great one.
Posted by MALONE
at January 8, 2009 10:21 PM
comment #19
K. Bowen
says ...
Ron Howard. Sigh.
Posted by K. Bowen
at January 9, 2009 2:17 AM
comment #20
BurmaShave
says ...
Renfield, Ron Howard was raised by Andy Griffith and Tom Bosley, how fucked up can we expect him to be?
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 9, 2009 4:56 AM
comment #21
jse33
says ...
Doubt is going to receive 4 acting nominations and a Screenplay nomination. I think it still has a very good chance of knocking out one of these top 5. My guess? Doubt replaces The Dark Knight, but Nolan gets in for Director. Will the Academy really nominate a Batman movie?
Posted by jse33
at January 9, 2009 4:59 AM
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