And the nominees are:

Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

Winners will be announced Saturday, Jan. 31st.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: caresa,

Thanks Caresa.

I still think Ron Howard might be replaced by someone in the Oscar list, but less certain at the moment who that would be, and thus, maybe this will be the list.

I'd have to check, but has there ever been a DGA/Academy director/Academy best picture perfect correlation? Maybe 2005....

UPDATE: Yup, 2005 was a three-way perfect match - I recall from the time that this was the first and only case. Good chance for second this time, but again, remember, Andrew Stanton couldn't be nominated here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

Yeah, '05 was exactly the same.

Smart money is that one of these men will not make the Oscar cut, obvious choice is Ron Howard, but there is sort of a lack of viable contenders to take his place. With RR and The Reader lagging, maybe Darren Aronofsky.

Actually, I think thouse could very well end up being the Oscar nominees. The only one who I can see sneaking in in place of Howard is Mike Leigh, but I doubt that happens.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Troy,

Eastwood of course is the other possibility.
He was nominated for Letters with no DGA nomination.

But yes, trying to think who would have enough #1 votes to get into the mix other than these fives is a challenge.

A big blah to Ron Howard making the cut.

Could they nominate the director of Wall-E, Andrew Stanton or no because it is a animated film? Wouldn't that be a shocker..

Stanton has little chance of a director's Oscar nomination even if WALL-E makes it into best picture.

I agree about Howard, but this is his 4th nomination (and he has won twice) compared to one Oscar nomination (and win).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

Just throwing it out there. Like you said, coming up with alternatives is challenging. I think these 5 will end up as the Oscar 5.

quote:

Originally posted by Troy:
Could they nominate the director of Wall-E, Andrew Stanton or no because it is a animated film? Wouldn't that be a shocker..

As I have said before I do not think most directors of live-action film know what animation directors do and only know it is different than what they do.

Those will be the Best Picture nominees, but I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Aronofsky instead of Howard.

Troy - I agree with you that Aronofsky is the other possible choice, and am certainly not ruling him out.

quote:

Troy - I agree with you that Aronofsky is the other possible choice, and am certainly not ruling him out

You mean Leigh?

Though now that MysteriousRent brings up Aronofsky, I could see that happening as well.

Sorry, meant Aronofsky/Mysterious Rent
Leigh doesn't have a chance. Hawkins is struggling to be a best actress nominee, and if she makes it, is likely the only one from the film.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

well no surprise here....and the obvious choices to replace Howard are Aronofsky and Leigh. Nobody else stands a chance really.

But since none of their movies are gaining anything, then I don't see any reason to bet against Frost/Nixon and its director. If anything at this point, I think it's easier for the movie to miss Picture to Wall-E than Director to somebody else...Leigh and Aronofsky haven't shown up anywhere...

I think we're all thinking a little too much about 1995 and Apollo13...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Benito Delicias,

I think that this is the line up. It's the best picture line up that might not match up.

quote:

Sorry, meant Aronofsky/Mysterious Rent
Leigh doesn't have a chance. Hawkins is struggling to be a best actress nominee, and if she makes it, is likely the only one from the film

Leigh seems to be respected by his peers. I think he could end up being a spoiler, particularly considering he was able to get a nomination for "Vera Drake." I think has has more of a chance getting in than you think. Hawkins is struggling because (a) she is an unknown (b) it is a comedic role (c) she is being overshadowed by much bigger names in flashier roles.

WHAT A BORE!

I have a gut feeling there will be one picture/director split up again. Eastwood? Aronofsky? Taking the place of Howard or possibly Fincher? Or what about Gran Tarino (blech!) taking the place of Curious Case in picture and leaving Fincher in for directing?

In the end, I just see Frost/Nixon being the type of film to get a picture nomination and being dropped from director. I just have a Seabiscuit feel.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ashmores,

There has been virtually no campaign for Leigh, unlike what Fine Line did for Vera Drake and him.

People are cutting back on Oscar campaigns, and in some cases would not be unhappy not to get nominations - getting them means spending a lot more money (and in many cases losing a lot more money). Since Leigh has no chance of winning, the nomination wouldn't add much to its grosses or DVD sales, it is quite possible Miramax just doesn't care. Not caring = not getting nomination usually.

Miramax is spending its money on Doubt. They might actually secretly hope they don't have two best actress nominees.

The two who have a shot at dislodging one of the five are Aronofsky and Eastwood. I really don't think anyone else is in the running. My bet two is on a match-up.