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Directors, cinematographers pick their best
The Directors Guild of America has announced their best-of nominees, and it is an admirable list indeed.
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will be Blood - I haven’t seen the film yet (it opens in Dayton Jan. 18), but I have loved or at least greatly admired every film Anderson has made thus far. Magnolia was my number one pick for its year, and I confounded many a reader by daring to include Punch-Drunk Love in my year-end kudos. So I take it on faith this nom is deserved.
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men: They were mortal locks for a nomination and heavy favorites to win. As far as the Oscars go, the Coens already have a writing Oscar for Fargo; I think people are anxious to give them a directing trophy. More than fine by me. I call them as the winners, for both DGA and the Oscars.
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton: I applaud this pick; I was afraid Gilroy might be passed over because his style is not particularly “visible,” but Gilroy directed his actors faultlessly, and successfully captured the 70s-style filmmaking that heavily influenced the film.
Sean Penn, Into the Wild: I can’t quite laud Penn that highly; I greatly admired but did not absolutely love his film. However, this is without question the best directing he has done.
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Another movie that hasn’t arrived here yet, this title has been drawing many plaudits, so I’m not too surprised by its pick.
Snubbed: Joe Wright for Atonement, which, after being anointed with front-runner status (too) early, seems to be fading in the home stretch. A real shame, as I did love that film and would have preferred Wright over Penn.
My favorite techie category, is cinematography, and the nominations by American Society of Cinematographers are after the jump. For those of you who aren’t big credits people, the cinematographer is responsible for the lighting and camerawork, under the guidance of the director.
Roger Deakins, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: As as story the film is a muddle, but the photography is dazzling. If the ASC goes for “pretty outdoor pictures”, this wins, but …
Deakins also shot, and is also nominated for, the heavy best picture favorite, No Country for Old Men, so I’m guessing he’ll win for that. Deakins’ other credits include every Coen film from Barton Fink forward, plus Kundun and The Shawshank Redemption.
Robert Elswit, There WIll be Blood: Another DP overdue for recognition, Elswit has done amazing work for Anderson. He will get his due someday, but this is Deakins’ year. Elswit’s other credits include Good Night and Good Luck and Michael Clayton.
Janusz Kaminksi, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Steven Spielberg’s regular lenser earns a nom for working with Julian Schabel. Rather amazingly, he has not won an ASC award yet (he has two Oscars, for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan), but I doubt this will get him the prize.
Seamus McGarvey, Atonement: Well, at least there’s some good news for Atonement; this is a well-deserved nomination for the wartime tracking shot alone. But with the film’s momentum slowing, a win looks unlikely. He also shot World Trade Center and Charlotte’s Web, among others.
So what, in your eyes, were the best directed/best looking films of the year? Anyone get snubbed?
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