DGA Nominations: Lion, La La, Manchester, Moonlight, and Arrival
Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:10PM The Directors Guild of America announcement was once the single most crucial nomination in understanding the Oscars to come. It famously meant "these films will be nominated for Best Picture"... more than it even meant "these films will be nominated for Best Director" statistically speaking. In ye olden times that would mean that your five strongest best picture contenders, given today's DGA nominations were La La Land, Moonlight, Lion, Manchester by the Sea and Arrival.
Chazelle, Jenkins, Davis, Lonergan, Villeneuve
But that was in the days of 5 nominations. Times are different now and have been since 2009...
MOVIES
THEATRICAL FEATURE
DAMIEN CHAZELLE La La Land
GARTH DAVIS Lion
BARRY JENKINS Moonlight
KENNETH LONERGAN Manchester by the Sea
DENIS VILLENEUVE Arrival
The DGA nominations usually relate to Oscar's Best Director category on a 4/5 level only. They always replace someone, like so...
2015: Ridley Scott lost his spot for the Martian (DGA) to Lenny Abrahamson on Room (Oscar)
2014: Clint Eastwood lost his spot for American Sniper (DGA) to Bennet Miller for Foxcatcher (Oscar)
2013: Paul Greengrass lost his spot for Captain Phillips (DGA) to Alexander Payne for Nebraska (Oscar)
2012: A CRAZY YEAR. Only two of the DGA's choices made it to the Oscar shortlist (Spielberg & Lee) while the other mainstream nominees were replaced by scrappier indie and foreign film choices
2011: David Fincher lost his spot for Dragon Tattoo (DGA) to Terrence Malick for Tree of Life (Oscar)
2010: Christopher Nolan lost his spot for Inception (DGA) to the Coen Bros for True Grit (Oscar)
So expect one of their main men to get the boot on January 24th when Oscar nods are announced. Recent history suggests that when they replace someone they always go with someone on a lower budget less bombastic title. Which theoretically means that Villeneuve is the most vulnerable... but Arrival for all its big genre trappings is gorgeously unforced, even understated. So maybe the DGA will have a rare 5/5 match with Oscar this year?
FIRST TIME DIRECTOR
GARTH DAVIS Lion
KELLY FREMON CRAIG Edge of Seventeen
TIM MILLER Deadpool
NATE PARKER Birth of a Nation
DAN TRACHTENBERG 10 Cloverfield Lane
Certifiably insane to leave Robert Eggers (The Witch) off of such a list but I understand that the industry has very very short memories and it opened nearly a year ago. And the critical community, who are just as terrible as the industry for "shiny new toy" syndrome, didn't rally to remind voters.
DOCUMENTARY
OTTO BELL The Eagle Huntress
EZRA EDELMAN O.J.: Made in America
JOSH KRIEGMAN & ELYSE STEINBERG Weiner
RAOUL PECK I Am Not Your Negro
ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS Life, Animated
TELEVISION
Dramatic Series
THE DUFFER BROTHERS
Stranger Things, “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers” (Netflix)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Timothy Lonsdale
First Assistant Director: Richard Denault
Second Assistant Directors: Maria Battle Campbell, Kristina M. Peterson
Second Second Assistant Director: Simeon Jones
Additional Second Assistant Director: Franchesca Winters
RYAN MURPHY
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, “From the Ashes of Tragedy” (FX)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Chip Vucelich
First Assistant Director: Leo Bauer
Second Assistant Director: Janell Sammelman
Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Pexa
Additional Second Assistant Director: Alicia Lewis
JONATHAN NOLAN
Westworld, “The Original” (HBO)
Directorial Team
Unit Production Manager: Robert Del Valle
First Assistant Director: Kim H. Winther
Second Assistant Director: Jeff Okabayashi
Second Second Assistant Directors: Michelene Mundo, Katie Pruitt
MIGUEL SAPOCHNIK
Game of Thrones, “The Battle of the Bastards” (HBO)
JOHN SINGLETON
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, “The Race Card” (FX)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Chip Vucelich
First Assistant Director: Dan Shaw
Second Assistant Director: Matt Pexa
Second Second Assistant Directors: Kim Richards, Kyle Hollingsworth
Comedy Series
ALEC BERG
Silicon Valley, “Daily Active Users” (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Tyler Romary
First Assistant Director: Nick Mastandrea
Second Assistant Director: Sally Brunski
Second Second Assistant Director: Kim Richards
Additional Second Assistant Director: Kathleen D. Brennan
DONALD GLOVER
Atlanta, “B.A.N.” (FX)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Alex Orr
First Assistant Director: Veronica A. Hodge Hampton
Second Assistant Director: Jason Graham
Second Second Assistant Director: Danielle King
Additional Second Assistant Director: Mike Brune
MIKE JUDGE
Silicon Valley, “Founder Friendly” (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Tyler Romary
First Assistant Director: James “Billy” Burton
Second Assistant Director: Thomas Boucher
Second Second Assistant Director: Kim Richards
BECKY MARTIN
Veep, “Inauguration” (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Hyman
First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
Additional Second Assistant Director: Gary Cotti
DALE STERN
Veep, “Mother” (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Hyman
First Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
Second Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
Additional Second Assistant Director: Cecilia Sweatman
Movies For TV And Miniseries
RAYMOND DE FELITTA
Madoff (ABC)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Moshe Bardach
First Assistant Director: Scott Lazar
Second Assistant Director: David Fischer
Second Second Assistant Director: Ramona Murphy-Adair
Location Manager: Eddy Collyns
THOMAS KAIL (Directed By)
ALEX RUDZINSKI (Live Television Direction By)
Grease Live! (Fox)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Carrie Havel, Adam Mishler, Brad Duns
Head Stage Manager: Garry Hood
Stage Managers: Jennifer Marquet, John Esposito, Jonathan Marks, Rob Sellers Jr., Dani Farrelly, Paul Forrest, Roy Friedland, Chris Hines, Roxanne Lozano, Drina Mohacsi, Tshaka Stewart, Mike Strauss, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Ari Woog
KENNY LEON (Directed By)
ALEX RUDZINSKI (Live Television Direction By)
Hairspray Live! (NBC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Carrie Havel, Brad Duns, Amy Wilcox Barker
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, John Esposito, Dani Farrelly, Roy Friedland, Paul Forrest, John Hill, Chris Hines, Roxanne Lozano, Jonathan Marks, Jennifer Marquet, Donna Parker, Cody Renard Richard, Rob Sellers Jr., Murray Siegel, Jackie Stathis, Mike Strauss
JAY ROACH
All the Way (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Scott Ferguson
First Assistant Director: Josh King
Second Assistant Director: Aaron Fitzgerald
Second Second Assistant Directors: Jason C. Brown, Matthew Milan
STEVEN ZAILLIAN
The Night Of, “The Beach” (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Greer Yeaton
First Assistant Director: Michael Steele
Second Assistant Director: Ginger Gonzalez
Second Second Assistant Director: Rachel Iovine
Location Manager: Shane Haden
Variety/News/Talk/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show #1437” (HBO)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
Stage Managers: Patrick Whitney, Brian Anderson
NORA GERARD
CBS Sunday Morning, “Charles Osgood Farewell Broadcast” (CBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Bernard Rozenberg, Jessica Frank, Patricia Finnegan, Jyll Phillips Friedman
Stage Managers: Mark Dicso, Lindsley Newbury
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Episode #0179” (CBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Yvonne DeMare, Karen Yaeger
Stage Manager: Mark McKenna
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Dave Chappelle” (NBC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
PAUL PENNOLINO
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, “Episode #1030” (TBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Jeremy Hardwick
Stage Manager: Laura Mack
Variety/News/Talk/Sports – Specials
JERRY FOLEY
Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 – The Best is Yet to Come (NBC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Randi Grossack
Key Stage Manager: Jeffry Gitter
Stage Managers: Bennymar Almonte, Lauren Class Schneider, Joey Despenzero, Jeff Markowitz, Karen Tasch Weiss
TIM MANCINELLI
The Late Late Show with James Corden, “The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special” (CBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Matt Powers, Bac Delorme, Brian Sutherin
Stage Managers: Michael J. Schiff, Teri Pensky Hlubik
LINDA MENDOZA
Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House (PBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Dora Mendoza, Kelly Hernacki
Stage Managers: Lynn Finkel, Elise Reaves, Phyllis Digilio-Kent
PAUL MYERS
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, “A Very Special Full Frontal Special” (TBS)
GLENN WEISS
The 70th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Ricky Kirshner
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Peter Epstein, Joey Despenzero, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Andrew Feigin, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Alfonso Pena, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider, Jim Semmelman
Reality Programs
KEN FUCHS
Shark Tank, “801” (ABC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Amy Wilcox Barker
Head Stage Manager: Eric Rhoden
Stage Managers: Doug Neal, Michael Strauss
JOHN GONZALEZ
Live PD, “Episode 5” (A&E)
Directorial Team:
Stage Manager: Jeff Buda
BRIAN SMITH
STRONG, “Welcome to STRONG” (NBC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Anna Moulaison Moore, David Charles
Stage Manager: Drew Lewandowski
J. RUPERT THOMPSON
American Grit, “The Finale Over the Falls” (Fox)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: David Charles
Stage Managers: Daniel Curran, Kevin Fletcher
BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER
The Amazing Race, “We’re Only Doing Freaky Stuff Today” (CBS)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Dan Coffie
Children’s Programs
LIZ ALLEN
The Kicks, “Pilot” (Amazon)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Maria Melograne
First Assistant Director: Michael Williams
Second Assistant Director: Walter Parry
ALETHEA JONES
Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, “Gortimer and the Jacks of All Trades” (Amazon)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Richard G. King
First Assistant Director: Lance W. Lanfear
Second Assistant Director: David Berke
Second Second Assistant Director: Christopher H. Cook
MICHAEL LEMBECK
A Nutcracker Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
TINA MABRY
An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win (Amazon)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Richard G. King
First Assistant Director: Otto Penzato
Second Assistant Director: David Berke
Second Second Assistant Director: Christopher H. Cook
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Candice Lee, Matthew W. Ross
JOHN SCHULTZ
Adventures in Babysitting (Disney Channel)
Commercials
LANCE ACORD (Park Pictures)
Frankie’s Holiday, Apple – MAL
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
Movie Night, Kohl’s – Anomaly
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
Second Assistant Director: Rob Kay
DANTE ARIOLA (MJZ)
Hold Your Breath, SunTrust – Strawberry Frog
Unit Production Manager: Natalie Hill
First Assistant Director: George Nessis
Second Assistant Director: Isaac Mejia
Riding is the New Driving, Lyft – Made Movement
Unit Production Manager: Natalie Hill
First Assistant Director: John Lowe
Second Assistant Director: Julian Metter
Second Second Assistant Director: Dave Liehn
Tell Me When To Go, Beats
Unit Production Managers: Natalie Hill, Susan Levin
First Assistant Director: Chris Medak
Second Assistant Director: Adam Stern
Second Second Assistant Director: Jani Vournas
FREDRIK BOND (MJZ)
Dive, Apple – TBWA/Media Arts Lab
First Assistant Director: Howell Caldwell
Everyday Hero, Philips – Ogilvy & Mather
World of Play, LG – Energy BBDO
Unit Production Manager: Line Postmyr
First Assistant Director: Anthony Dimino
Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor
Second Second Assistant Director: R. Ben Parker
Additional First Assistant Director: Chris Blanch
Additional Second Assistant Director: Steve Bagnara
DEREK CIANFRANCE (RadicalMedia)
Chase, Nike Golf – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
First Assistant Director: Rick Lange
Second Assistant Director: Ethan Ross
Doubts, Powerade – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
Expectations, Powerade – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
Manifesto, Squarespace – Anomaly
First Assistant Director: David Backus
Second Assistant Director: Josh Voegelin
AG ROJAS (Park Pictures)
The Best Planet, S7 Airlines – Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam
The Snail, Samsung – Leo Burnett USA
First Assistant Director: Robert Dean Phillips
Reader Comments (43)
You/re forgot to mention the OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR FOR 2016:
- 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
I've got a feeling Gibson will replace Davis at the Oscars.
"2011: David Fincher lost his spot for Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (DGA) to Michael Haneke for Amour (Oscar)"
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Wow, is this Davis' first citation all season?
If he does get dropped, who replaces him? I'm assuming Mackenzie?
Davis out, Scorsese in.
I can see Villeneuve and Davis being replaced by Scorsese, Gibson or David Mackenzie. It would be a shame since I think both of them did a great job. "Lion's" first half is a harrowing but inspiring story, but as a newbie Davis may be the most vulnerable.
Hoooray! Sooo happy for denis, well desreved nomination. Go denis!
I'm betting on Villeneuve being replaced by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water).
I think Oscar drops Davis for Scorsese, although you never know with the Weinstein brothers.
YAS!!! No Gibson. Ir he couldn't make it here, it's done for the most elitist Oscars at the directors branch.
The Academy often likes a foreign-language director. I'm predicting Paul Verhoeven, but maybe Maren Ade also has a chance. If there were any justice, Pablo Larrain would be getting in. But there isn't and he won't.
No way Gibson is in with the more prestigious Oscar Directors' branch if he can't make it in with DGA.
Suzanne - exactly.
given Oscar's more "elitist" (though that word has lost meaning lately) leanings i'd say the only men with a chance to rock this apple cart now are VERHOEVEN, MACKENZIE, FORD, NICHOLS or LARRAIN... but i cant' decide who is most vulnerable among the DGA nominees. I guess Villeneuve or Davis but i love both of them so... *cries*
This one goes out to all the female directors, who very deservingly could have occupied all five spots.
Davis out. Larrain (Foxcatcher of the year) or Scorsese in.
I think Davis gets out for Pablo Larrain. There is a foreign/arthouse contingent that helped get names like Pedro Almodovar for Talk To Her, Krzysztof Kieslowski for Red, Lenny Abrahamson for Room, Michael Haneke for Amour, etc., in the Final Five. Even if Jackie is an English language film, Larrain also had Neruda which was in the running for Foreign Language Film and The Club earlier this year. I think he can be the surprise of the day.
This lineup is terrific. I would swap out Davis for Scorsese, but still, good job, DGA. Lion is very underrated.
PS lots a youngins! Nice.
If Oscar nominates Scorsese over Villeneuve I will kill somebody.
Congratulations to all the nominees.
I too feel that one of these will not make the Oscar cut.
I keep wondering if Jim Jarmusch could surprise. It could be a classic lone director nod like we used to get in the olden days!
But I think it's more likely to be one of the alternatives Nathaniel mentions or perhaps LarraĆn, if Jackie has been lurking more than people have realised.
I do love a surprise on nomination day and the Directors' branch has been delivering on that front in recent years!
I have a sneaking suspicion Tom Ford gets in
If you're trying to predict who's out in a non-exact match-up, it could be Jenkins or Lonergan. Remember that last year at this time, the majority of Oscar Watchers were predicting Ridley Scott FOR THE WIN (at least at Gold Derby) and he wasn't even nominated.
Yeah, I agree Ken-I would only count Chazelle as the safe nominee here. I still think that Scorsese could surprise, but that's based more on gut than actual evidence. Still worth noting the only time he made it with AMPAS but not DGA was Last Temptation of Christ.
Noteworthy to me are the inclusion of Nate Parker and the exclusion of Ava DuVernay.
I was thinking Davis would be this year's Abrahamson or Tyldum. Under the radar, not flashy, but hits voters with an emotional gut punch and gets in over bigger names.
Nat, I know you love THE WITCH, but 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE and DEADPOOL were both out in February, yes? I'd say it's more to do with genre bias... but then... CLOVERFIELD and DEADPOOL. Hmmm. I think the more egregious miss is the director of KRISHA.
This is about the best lineup one could hope for. Thank god no Ford or Gibson.
Nat: I think this is probably a rare 5/5. Look at who, typically, gets dropped in the transfer from DGA to Oscars. Ridley Scott for Abrahamson. Clint Eastwood for Bennett Miller. Paul Greengrass for Alexander Payne. David Fincher for Terence Malick. Christopher Nolan for the Coen Bros. One or two of those might be coincidence, but all FIVE? That's a PATTERN. They're all long-running filmmakers with commercial mega-successes behind them dropped for smaller, less commercial talent. We don't have one of those this year for an easy "drop call." Lonergan and Villeneuve are in the most danger by that pattern, but even that's a STRETCH.
I'm so happy about Denis Villeneuve, it shows that Arrival is getting some credit for being one of the best films I saw this year. A DGA nomination is some serious respect.
I think he will stay in the Oscar line up. That's my bet and I'm sticking to it.
I would totally date three of them.
Chazelle, Jenkins and Lonergan will be nominated (unless we'll have once again 'ARGO's year'). Davis - well, he's this year's Morten Tyldum so he will be also (and he's got TWO nominations for DGA so his work must be REALLY liked)/
Villeneuve is probably the weakest of this group but who can replace him? I guess that Scorsese and Mackenzie are the strongest possibilities. Gibson and Ford are behind them. And that's all.
I have a feeling that only two or three of these directors get Oscar nominations. I think Chazelle and Jenkins are in, Lonergan is possible, and Davis and Villeneuve are on shaky ground. I'm excited to see what happens.
This makes me rethink Lion and its potential. I'm glad they omitted Gibson and Ford. I still am reeling about how easily the blogosphere was ready to welcome the misogynist, homophobic, racist anti-Semite Gibson, especially with the ham fisted direction and ludicrous acting it features. Garfield must be an actor who shines with brilliant direction only. He was great in The Social Network and mostly everything else I've seen him in.
Great list! Imo, Davis, n not Villeneuve is the most vulnerable here. He is the surprise nominee here where most punters din put him in the top 5
I kno its v unlikely this list will transfer 5/5 to Oscars, so I'll say Davis repace by Mackenzie or Ford or Gibson.
I'm sorry but i dun tink Scorsese will get in judgin fr the Silence treatment his film is receiving. The Academy may luv him but rem they Dun luv him enough when he was nom in 2002 n 2004, when many predicted he wld finally win.
Nathaniel - Mark Harris, Kris Tapley and Sasha Stone mentioned an interesting point (on Twitter) Mark Harris: "Worth noting that 17-18% of Directors branch is new this year, and mostly foreign. Biggest branch overhaul in AMPAS."
Sasha agrees noting that in a smallish branch (400-500) such an overhaul could have a major affect. The main point being that nominations won't necessarily be the same automatic ones we've come to expect. New blood and generational differences may really have an effect.
Makes it all more interesting, doesn't it?
Patryk, Garfield is extraordinary in Silence and deserves an Oscar nomination.
The Academy Director's Branch has been surprisingly eclectic and unpredictable the past few years, so I don't expect this to match up completely with Oscar. However, I really think this is the final nail in the coffin for Mel Gibson (hopefully!). If he can't make it here for his populist film, then I don't see that happening at all at Oscar.
Honestly, outside of Chazelle, I could see any of the directors being passed over. Last years omission of Ridley Scott was by far (for me), the most shocking snub of last year as I thought he was a serious contender for the win. And we don't need reminding of the Affleck/Bigelow snubs of 4 years ago. Sadly, I think the most vulnerable out of these is Villeneuve. I'm getting a Christopher Nolan-vibe from him. Perhaps there is Imitation Game-level support for Lion in the industry and Davis is safer than we think.
I think the replacement will be an auteur/foreign critical darling like Pablo Larrain or Paul Verhoeven. Or more likely- Scorsese. And depending on how much they like Nocturnal Animals, Tom Ford can't be counted out. But I think it will be one of those 4.
Honestly if I had to pick someone as vulnerable, it would be Lonergan. His film is the least "showy" in terms of direction and there may be enough support behind Scorsese (or even Gibson, I suppose) to boot him out. Davis would also fill this role, but Lion has been surging in the last few weeks.
But really, I think we'll get a 5/5 match with Oscar.
Volvagia -- you're basically repeating exactly what i said in the text of the article so I agree with you :)
Interesting list.
I don't see Davis getting in at The Oscars, but he could surprise.
If they really like Nocturnal Animals, I could see Tom Ford getting in. Other than that, Pablo Larrain or Paul Verhoeven. The Academy tends to make interesting/respectable choices in Best Director and Animated Film so we'll see.
Ditto. Davis out, Scorsese in. Oscars have a raging hard on for the guy.
Craver, ITA. But Scorsese deserves this one. Silence is a haunting testament to his filmmaking mastery. It's a near requiem for a genius--he's still got more to give us.
"Ridley Scott for Abrahamson. Clint Eastwood for Bennett Miller. Paul Greengrass for Alexander Payne. David Fincher for Terence Malick. Christopher Nolan for the Coen Bros."
It's hard to say that Coen Bros are filmmakers without commercial success behind them.
And it's difficult to say that Malick or Coen Bros. are new talents nominated.
IMO they simply ignore genre filmmaking more than DGA. Scott and Nolan directed sci-fi pictures, Eastwood war drama, Fincher crime story.
This is why I suppose that Villeneuve is the most vulnerable of the nominated five and he might be (and probably will be) this year's Nolan and Scott.
... and Deadpool hits once more. Time to seriously think if we are about to see it score more noms at the Oscars than the likely Make Up one. I wouldn't be in shock if it scored Adapted Screenplay and Film Editing after its guilds noms, and the DGA (1st time)-PGA-GG earns it a position in which the unthinkable may finally happen.
And whatever we personally think of the film itself, a Hard-R genre comedy being nominated for Best Picture, is something refreshing. It won't but it would be cool.