Thursday January 10, 2013
Unprecedented Disagreement Between the Academy and the DGA
The Director Guild of America announced its nominees for best feature film directing on Tuesday. They were:
- Ben Affleck, Argo
- Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
- Tom Hooper, Les Miserables
- Ang Lee, Life of Pi
- Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced its nominees for best director in a feature film. They were:
- Michael Haneke, Amour
- Ang Lee, Life of Pi
- David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
- Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
- Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Only two agreements: Lee and Spielberg. How common is that?
Last year there was one disagreement: DGA's went with David Fincher (“Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), the Academy with my man Terrence Malick (“The Tree of Life”).
In 2010, one disagreement: DGAs: Chris Nolan and “Inception”; Academy: the Coen Bros. and “True Grit.”
In 2009, no disagreements.
In 2008, DGAs once again went Nolan (“The Dark Knight”), Academy Stephen Daldry (“The Reader”).
In 2007, the disagreement was “Into the Wild” vs. “Juno”; in 2006, it was “Dreamgirls” and “Little Miss Sunshine” vs. “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “United 93”; in 2004, “Finding Neverland” vs. “Vera Drake.” There were no disagreements in 2005.
Generally, the two bodies agree. But when they disagree the DGA tends to be more populist, as in 2003, choosing Gary Ross for “Seabiscuit,” and the Academy more arty, going for Fernando Meirelles and “City of God.”
On rare occasion they disagree on two of the five choices. But have they ever disagreed on three?
No. Since 1970, when the DGAs began nominating five directors in the Academy tradition, the two bodies have never disagreed on more than two directing choices. This year's disagreement is unprecedented.
* * *
ADDENDUM: And Sasha Stone with the reason why:
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