The DGA to Iñárritu... Again
Sunday, February 7, 2016 at 7:43AM Wide open race, people. Following The Big Short's win at PGA, Spotlight's ensemble prize at SAG, comes the Director's Guild Award for... The Revenant.
Getty Images
Bonafide three-way race for Best Picture which is not common. Whoever wins we'll know that it was close -- unless a sweep reveals otherwise. Hell, Oscar's Best Director competition is also fierce though the advantage goes to Iñárritu at this point.
TRIVIA!
Incidentally, this prize for Alejandro González Iñárritu is his second consecutive from his guild. Though several directors have won twice, a consecutive win has never happened before at the DGA. It has happened at the Oscars, though, and twice at that: John Ford won two in a row for The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and How Green Was My Valley (1941). And not quite a decade later Joseph L Mankiewicz pulled off the same trick with A Letter To Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950). Here's their interesting commonality. In both cases those consecutive wins did not come with consecutive Best Pictures. No director has ever helmed two consecutive Best Picture winners. If The Revenant comes out on top on Oscar night, Iñárritu will be the first to accomplish it in the Academy's 88 years.
Do you think history will be made? (Final Picture/Director predictions are going to be tough this year.)
The complete list of DGA winners and some photos from the event are after the jump...
Dee Rees picking up her prize. With Bryan Cranston in the press room
Alex Garland (Ex Machina) with Steven Spielberg
FEATURE FILM Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
FIRST TIME FEATURE Alex Garland, Ex Machina
MOVIES/MINISERIES FOR TELEVISION Dee Rees, Bessie
DOCUMENTARY Matthew Heineman, Cartel Land
Angela Bassett with David Nutter, who won for Game of Thrones
DRAMATIC SERIES David Nutter, Game of Thrones, "Mother's Mercy"
Lily Tomlin accepted for the absent Veep director in Comedy Series
COMEDY SERIES Chris Addison, Veep, "Election Night"
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS REGULAR Dave Diomedi, The Tonight Show Featuring Jimmy Fallon, "Episode #325"
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS SPECIAL Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
REALITY PROGRAMS Adam Vetri Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge, "Gods of War"
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM Kenny Ortega, Descendants
COMMERCIALS Andreas Nilsson, Emily's Oz, Comcast / Time Upon a Once, General Electric / Dad Song, Old Spice
George Miller (Best Director nominee) and his wife Margaret Sixel (Best Film Editing nominee) 
Whoa! Nate Parker (Birth of a Nation) is already working for next year's nomination
Regina King looking amazing as usual of late
OMG. Even Geena Davis showed up. 
Rachel McAdams, happy to be there.
Reader Comments (40)
The Revenant is one of the most overrated films I've seen in years. It's not even a great film, it's pretensious, trying to be something it's not, and Iñarritu is a cocky director, who thinks he is an autheur. If he wins again, I'll lose my faith on the Oscars. George Miller deserved this...he really did. Mad Max is everything The Revenant is not, a remarkable and honest feature, that will always be remembered. Best Director award is all about aesthetic and narrative, not about surviving on set (or pretending it was Apocalypse Now), everyone seems to have forgotten about that though.
Nate -- oh agreed. People seem to really have absorbed this "it was so hard to make it. we barely survived" which is hilarious because if mad max wanted to have a war with them on just that they'd win given that movie's crazy long production in the desert.
Oh no, really? It's Iñarritu? Boy, it's going to be tough voting in the Oscar pool this year–I have no confidence in choosing Pic & Director now. I had slim hopes that Miller would win Director here, because I think he deserves it. Prediction: if Iñarritu wins the Oscar again this year, his already inflated ego will eventually lead him to a Cimino/Heaven's Gate-style downfall.
I mean the guy is ambitious. And he was rewarded for his best work last year. Why again this year? The Revenant is that typical big event movie that is forgotten as soon as awards are done. It has no staying power. Mad Max is going to become a cult favorite. Spotlight is the serious movie goer's choice.
We are heading towards Crash territory if The Revenant wins.
Honestly, I'm thinking Mad Max might come up the middle to win Picture.
Too bad. It should have been George Miller and Show Me a Hero is so much better than Bessie.
Seeing Geena Davis in that dress reminds me of Lee Grant winning her Oscar and saying she must have really wanted it otherwise why would she wear an old wedding dress.
How awful. I know it's mean, but I really wish a backlash would form against this guy. How come Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Kate Winslet are punished for wanting awards too much, but middle-aged male directors this awards hungry can see their careers thrive to the point that they win consecutive Oscars?!
If I were paranoid, I'd say that the Academy is trying to get me not to watch the Oscars broadcast this year for the first time since I was a toddler - the likely winners are all so terrible! (Yes, I am including Brie and Alicia - boring!)
Hollywood being patriarchal men are not punished for wanting anything.
Uggghhh!! Iñárritu the intense, again. Hollywood is a joke, again. Just check this:
https://vimeo.com/153979733
Does the PGA comes with a clause of copyright infringement?
He is the MOST OVERRATED director working now in the industry. It doesn't help at all that he is a douchebag, either.
One more thing: Blame youerselves (the pundits and critics) who give him wings after the Birdman win. He won't stop now. And he should be. The Revenant could have been an adventure movie instead of the sadistic parade it is (with a PC depiction of aborigins in plan New Age that borders in the ridiculous) As I said in an old post: gross Malick, empty Herzog and Tarkovsky rip-offs everywhere.
Better the Academy won't buy this impostor who thinks of himself as IMPORTANT and who denies films are, first and foremost, build up on artifice. If he wants THRUTH and SUFFERING then he should make a documentary on those subjects pronto and get rid off his sh***.
And he should stop preaching about what REAL cinema should be. He could be infuriating if he weren't so wrong and hilarious about his notions of the medium. Thre is also a parody account in twitter (in Spanish) that describe him better than I ever could. If you can read it, you can check it here:
https://twitter.com/genioinarritu
Oscars So White controversy is the best thing that could happen to this award season. 2015 is horrible and short on classics.
Everyone wondering about who will win and complaining about the options. 2016 will be a superior movie year. New Verhoeven, Viola's Oscar (Fences) all your white favorites will get dragged if they step in the way of her coronation.
The DGC blew it - George Miller is this years best director. His film will be used in film schools to teach how to put together an action sequence. George Miller storyboarded every thing out, and it shows with that tight editing, and no shot is wasted or excessive.
Contrasted with The Revenent = over hyped, baggy, hamtmy acting, convoluted visual story telling, at least 1/2 hour too long,etc. it is NOT "best" directed.
@Suzanne - I too am having trouble with the likely winners at Oscar, some of these choices are adding up to an infuriating year. Between The Revenent, category fraud, and lazy acting choices, I will be driven to drink - more than usual.
I was chalking up Iñárritu's Globe win to the fact that Linklater won their prize last year, awarding him just as much for Birman as The Revenant, but now...
LadyEdith
Miller got the proper credit he deserved by Thierry Fremaux choosing him the Jury's President at Cannes. Talk about what's serious and what's a charade.
@Chofer - I just watched the video comparison you linked to. I think Inarritu stole (was influenced) quite a bit by "The Grey" too - which is why his over inflated reputation is grating to say the least.
I'm almost afraid to say that I enjoyed this film. From what I can see this morning all over the blogosphere, no one else liked it. Personally, I'd have voted for Tom McCarthy or Ridley Scott.
Don't hate me!
LadyEdith
Indeed!! But wouldn't actual directors know better? That's baffling...
And I think this means that Lubezki is going to win cinematography. John Seale was probably his primary competition, but I don't know that MMFR is as strong as we all thought it was. I doubt Deakins will win unless and until he helms a Best Picture frontrunner again.
Three consecutive Oscars ... so excessive when there are so many great cinematographers who are never recognized.
Patryk
It's totally OK to like the film. My point is that professionals in the industry should know better than casual moviegoers when and where the homage begin and the blatant rip-off end. They don't. And the actual film it's arguably spotty in that department (again, it doesn't dare to be an ADVENTURE film through and through because those self-aggrandizing detours Inárritu took on cheep symbolysm of Mather Nature and aborigins, just as Birdman isn't a comedy through and through because Keaton's character succumbs on self-important existencialism about TRUTH in acting and the meaning of REAL ART and ends-up in suicide. That's Iñárritu in a nutshell. But no matter what dou you think; or me. But directors should. Or don't they? I honestly think the mexican director is a genius marketing PR. Nothing more, nothing less.
@Suzanne - I fear you may be right, I liked the work of John Seale (MMFR) a tiny bit more than Deakins on Sicario, but it looks like Lubezki is going to win. Such a shame with so much talent on display.
Just to cheer us up - Mark Harris (on twitter) "AMPAS has revealed a new plan to end voting privileges for anyone who picks The Revenant for Best Picture. Tough but fair"
@LadyEduth
Check this: https://twitter.com/ICSfilm
Wish the Oscars were SO inclusive and this good!
Not crazy about The Revenant and hope it won't win, but I definitely think Lubezki's work world be deserving. Call it a make up for his stunning work in The New World, from which Innaritu brazenly borrowed the entire artistic palate for this movie, including personnel such as Lubezki.
A black president and three consecutives mexicans winning best director?
Who would thought that 10 years ago?
@ chofer
With one exception, those ICS nominees are amazingly tasteful and intelligent. And diverse.
Viva México!
@Paul Outlaw
I'm dying to know the exception. But if it's just ONE it is already good!! I can't say this with all the the other awards this year. They'd all dissapointed me.
I was fiercely hopeful that Mr. Miller would win - as Mad Max was my favorite on the year - but it never felt like it would happen. Something about the MMFR support "feels" soft - which became apparent to me after it lost the Globe, BFCA (despite Miller's win here), and PGA. I remain hopeful that he pulls off the (what is now) upset at the Oscars - but good lord does that look improbable now. No momentum. No one will be talking about Miller (no BAFTA love, either), and he needs it.
In any event, I don't understand the Inarritu hate. TR was in my top ten on the year - a robust epic that told a simple and well-executed story. It had nearly universal critical acclaim - until it starting winning awards - and then the haterism started. Inarritu made an ambitious film - and was duly rewarded. Good for him.
KBJr -- i don't think the hate is totally coming from The Revenant. People started hating on Birdman (which i LOVED) last year and when it won, people were out for Inarittu's blood and so having a follow up be a huge hit that could give him a historic record book win. I think the backlash was bound to happen and has been building for a long time now.
Nat
I became an Iñárritu hater since 21 grams, not Birdman. And I know I'm not the only one. Then came Babel and, even worse, Biutiful. He had it coming from a loooong time... You called it, remember?: "Miserabilism" you said. Birdman was just a break (sort of...) Nothing to do with the awards and accolades. Think he could became a two time Oscar winner whereas Todd Haynes is a not-mominee. That should say something, don't you think? Gross.
Seriously? Was the DGA that impressed by his self indulgent pretentiousness.
The more I think about this awards the less I feel there is a rational explanation for it. Do you think he bought the votes?
This awards season is really depressing me.
George Miller is Best Director, "Room" is Best Picture. Of course, if the Academy didn't screw up last year and gave Best Director to Richard Linklater for "Boyhood" then I'd be sort of Ok with The Revenant for Director this year...but giving it to him 2 years in a row????
chofer
I completely see where you're coming from. I still believe that Carol is the best film of 2015, and Todd Haynes deserved to at least be nominated. I am also a huge fan of Spotlight and MM:FR. Also thought Ridley Scott should have been in there. But, I've watched Carol, MM:FR, The Martian and Spotlight 3 times each, and The Revenant only once.
I actually think I see more of the contenders than the average Academy voter does, lol.
People dont watch the movies they r voting for. I've just watched TR and I was bored as hell. I cant believe that someone who saw MMFR or Room thinks that TR is best of the year at anything.
Either the Revenant will win a swag of Oscars - or it might be another Lincoln and walk away with one or two Oscars out of 12 nominations.
And Mad Max might be completely shut out and join True Grit and American Hustle who got 10 nominations and received nothing.
Just depends on how the secretaries and sons and daughters of Academy members fill out the ballots.
C'mon - we all know some members just give their ballot to their kids or assistants to fill out.
Count me in as another fan of The Revenant and someone who is appalled by all the hateful speech directed at Iñárritu around here. He made a film that people are responding to, including the people who vote for these awards, so he's being rewarded accordingly. A lot of you didn't respond to it and that's fine, it's called a difference of opinion (even if a lot of you seem to be taking your own opinions as universal truth).
The way I interpret Iñárritu through his filmography is as a sentimental nihilist, someone who explores the beauty in the ugly side of life. What I loved about The Revenant is that it winds up being a love letter to the brutality of life, the thing that could destroy us at any moment is exactly what brought us here in the first place. Of course, I also love that Iñárritu did his own version of a Western with this film, with all the archetypal characters and the beats of a Western, while exploring what he wants to explore (which makes it a very personal film). Birdman is another film where he's exploring the beauty in something dark, and that's in the exploration of our own egoes and quest for some form of immortality. Of course, he mocks it at every turn, but tells us it's human nature, which is as lovely as it is ridiculous.
Anyway, that's my take on Iñárritu.
Richter -- i get that take. it's totally accurate, well done. I don't love him as a filmmaker at all (BIRDMAN is the only film of his I love... the others are either too nihilistic for me and or so sure of their own profundity that they make me crazy or both) and I hope he doesn't win twice in a row but what's the alternative... Adam McKay?
oh how i wish it could be George Miller.
Tony T --- good luck buying THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of votes. I think people are just really won over by the "it was so impossible to make this GRANDIOSE EPIC!"... everyone except for people on the internet the only "this was so impossible to make" that deserves statues (and not because it was so difficult to make) is MAD MAX.
To Nathaniel's point, given the choice between giving AGI a second Oscar and giving McKay a first one, I'l take AGI getting his second, because McKay with an Oscar is ridiculous. In a perfect world it'd be George Miller, in a plausible world it'd be Tom McCarthy, and at this point I'm rooting for either.