Directors Guild of America Release Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film

By our guest blogger, Spencer Morton

The Directors Guild of America [DGA] have released their nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film. The five nominees include: Kathryn Bigelow [“The Hurt Locker”], Lee Daniels [“Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire”], James Cameron [“Avatar”], Jason Reitman [“Up in the Air”], and Quentin Tarantino [“Inglourious Basterds”].

This is a fairly predictable list, and is a good indicator of what the Academy Award nominations for Best Director may turn out to be this year. In the past two years, 80 percent of the DGA’s nominations for feature film director have gone on to be nominated for the Oscar.

Few should really feel left out of this list. These are among the best five we’ve had all year.
As for predicting the winner, that’s tough to call. There are two heavyweights here in Tarantino and Cameron. Tarantino was the better director this year, but recently, everyone and their mother is talking about “Avatar.” Reitman got a nomination in 2007 for “Juno,” but I don’t see him winning the award this year. Then there are the two relative newcomers: Bigelow and Daniels. Daniels is the first African-American to be nominated for the DGA award and Bigelow is just the fourth woman to receive a nomination. Will these be factors--or will it come down to their work?  Hopefully, the latter.

And if that's the case, look for either Bigelow or Daniels to take the honor. Their films received stronger directorial praise then the other nominees’ films, and it will also prove a historic feet for the DGA. An African-American or a woman finally will take home the award.