1. Bugonia (nominees: Ed Guiney, p.g.a. & Andrew Lowe, p.g.a., Yorgos Lanthimos, p.g.a., Emma Stone, p.g.a., Lars Knudsen, p.g.a.) — Not a serious nomination…not a chance. Marginal Lanthimos.
2. F1 — Ceremonial nomination. Totally respectable film for what it is, but included just to round out the pack.
3. Frankenstein (nominees: Guillermo Del Toro, p.g.a., J. Miles Dale, p.g.a., Scott Stuber, p.g.a.) — not a serious nomination, and GDT knows this.
4. Hamnet (nominees: Liza Marshall, p.g.a., Pippa Harris, p.g.a., Sam Mendes, p.g.a., Steven Spielberg, p.g.a., Nicolas Gonda, p.g.a.) — A serious, totally respectable nomination.
5. Marty Supreme — Totally serious, high-octane nomination…world-class all the way.
6. One Battle After Another (nominees: Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson — Obviously a favored winner, not because it’s better than Marty Supreme but because all the industry whores are supporting it for political metaphor (anti-Trump) reasons, and because of the safety-in-numbers factor.
7. Sentimental Value (nominees: Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar) — Totally serious, high-octane nomination…world-class all the way.
8. Sinners (nominees: Ryan Coogler, p.g.a., Zinzi Coogler, p.g.a., Sev Ohanian, p.g.a.) — A schlocky exploitation film secures an identity tribute nomination…terrific. Politically meaningful as far as it goes, but hasn’t a prayer of winning.
9. Train Dreams (nominees: Marissa McMahon, p.g.a., Teddy Schwarzman, p.g.a., William Janowitz, p.g.a., Ashley Schlaifer, p.g.a., Michael Heimler, p.g.a.) — Not a serious nominee. Basically an attaboy, pat on the back.
10. Weapons (nominees: Zach Cregger, p.g.a., Miri Yoon, p.g.a.) — Totally serious, high-octane nomination…world-class all the way.
Shame, shame, shame upon the Directors Guild noms for blowing off Sentimental Value‘s Joachim Trier.
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Ryan Coogler, Sinners (Warner Bros.)…get outta here.
Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein (Netflix)…WHAT??
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (A24)…fine.
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet (Focus Features)