While it may not have seemed like it right away, it turns out the sleeper Oscar contender this year might just be "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." Initially regarded as a pulp thriller and a bit of holiday season counterprogramming, the film has quietly been building steam, with some strong critical buzz, a steady pace at the box office which will likely see it take $100 million domestically, and Sony is already eyeing getting the sequels underway by the end of the year (though, Fincher will likely be moving on).
Continuing on from surprise nods from both the PGA and WGA, the DGA has once again tipped 'Dragon Tattoo,' landing David Fincher a nomination. He joins a roster of names that have long been expected to be honored this year including Woody Allen for his big hit "Midnight In Paris"; Michel Hazanavicius for the silent movie homage "The Artist"; Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Martin Scorsese for his 3D wonder "Hugo" (another movie that is also shaping up to be a much bigger player at the Oscars than expected).
The guilds tend to be some of the best augurs for who will appear at the Kodak Theater (these folks also vote for the Oscars, unlike critics groups) and generally have a better pulse on how things are shaping up in the industry. It's also interesting to note that one seeming lock is missing: Steven Spielberg.
The DGAs will be handed out on January 28th. Nominees below. [ThompsonOnHollywood]
WOODY ALLEN
Midnight in Paris (Sony Pictures Classics)
Mr. Allen’s Directorial Team:
· Unit Production Managers: Matthieu Rubin, Helen Robin
· First Assistant Director: Gil Kenny
· Second Assistant Director: Delphine Bertrand
This is Mr. Allen’s fifth DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Annie Hall (1977), and was previously nominated in that category for Manhattan (1979), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989). Mr. Allen was honored with the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.
DAVID FINCHER
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Mr. Fincher’s Directorial Team:
· Unit Production Manager: Daniel M. Stillman
· First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
· Second Assistant Director: Allen Kupetsky
· Production Manager (Sweden Unit): Karolina Heimburg
· Second Assistant Directors (Sweden Unit): Hanna Nilsson, Pontus Klänge
· 2nd Second Assistant Director (Sweden Unit): Niklas Sjöström
· 2nd Second Assistant Director (U.S. Unit): Maileen Williams
· Unit Production Manager (Zurich Unit): Christos Dervenis
· Unit Production Manager (U.K. Unit): Lara Baldwin
· Second Assistant Director (U.K. Unit): Paul Taylor
This is Mr. Fincher’s third DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category last year for The Social Network and for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008. He previously won the DGA Commercial Award for Speed Chain (Nike), Gamebreakers (Nikegridiron.com), and Beauty for Sale (Xelibri Phones) in 2003 and was nominated in that category again in 2008.
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS
The Artist (The Weinstein Company)
Mr. Hazanavicius’ Directorial Team:
· Unit Production Manager: Antoine De Cazotte
· Production Manager (FR): Ségoléne Fleury
· First Assistant Director (FR): James Canal
· First Assistant Director (US): David Cluck
· Second Assistant Director (US): Dave Paige
· Second Second Assistant Directors: Karla Strum, Ricky Robinson
This is Mr. Hazanavicius’ first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.
ALEXANDER PAYNE
The Descendants (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. Payne’s Directorial Team:
· Unit Production Manager: George Parra
· First Assistant Director: Richard L. Fox
· Second Assistant Director: Scott August
· Second Second Assistant Director: Amy Wilkins Bronson
This is Mr. Payne’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated in that category for Sideways in 2004.
MARTIN SCORSESE
Hugo (Paramount Pictures)
Mr. Scorsese’s Directorial Team:
· Unit Production Managers: Charles Newirth, Georgia Kacandes, Angus More Gordon
· First Assistant Director: Chris Surgent
· Second Assistant Director: Richard Graysmark
· Second Assistant Directors: Tom Brewster, Fraser Fennell-Ball
· Production Managers (Paris Unit): Michael Sharp, Gilles Castera
· First Assistant Director (Paris Unit): Ali Cherkaoui
This is Mr. Scorsese’s ninth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2006 for The Departed, andwas previously nominated in that category for Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Gangs of New York (2002) and The Aviator (2004). Mr. Scorsese also won the DGA Award last year for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Television for Boardwalk Empire. In 1999, Mr. Scorsese was presented with the Filmmaker Award at the inaugural DGA Honors Gala, and he was honored with the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.