The Directors Guild of America announced its nominees in the theatrical narrative categories this morning for the 2017 DGA Awards.
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The nominees are as follows:
Feature Film
Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”
Garth Davis, “Lion”
Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Kenneth Lonergan, “Manchester By The Sea”
Denis Villeneuve, “Arrival”
First-Time Feature Film
Garth Davis, “Lion”
Kelly Fremon Craig, “The Edge Of Seventeen”
Tim Miller, “Deadpool”
Nate Parker, “The Birth Of A Nation”
Dan Trachtenberg, “10 Cloverfield Lane”
Some quick analysis in regards to Oscar: The DGA’s Feature Film nominations do not always line up exactly with the Academy Award nods for Best Director, but this is one year where they might. There is a slight chance that Pablo Larraín (“Jackie“) or David Mackenzie (“Hell Or High Water“) will surprise with The Academy’s branch, but probably unlikely.
In regards to Best Picture nods, you can be assured all five films (“La La Land,” “Lion,” “Moonlight,” ‘Manchester,’ “Arrival“) are earning nominations. It is not necessarily surprising Mel Gibson didn’t earn a nod here, but many would have expected him to get one over Davis. Does that mean “Hacksaw Ridge” is a fringe Best Picture nominee? Possibly, possibly not. Sadly, this may be the death knell for “Jackie”‘s Best Picture prospects. At this point it simply does not have the guild support. “Fences” and “Hidden Figures” making the cut are much more likely.
Obviously, we cannot overlook the inclusion of Nate Parker in the First-Time Feature Film category. Parker has been almost entirely absent from awards season outside of a few NAACP Image Awards nominations. No matter your opinion of him, this has to be some sweet solace from his peers considering the events of last summer.
The DGA Awards will be handed out on Saturday, Feb. 4.