Tom O’Neil finds two people out there who actually think someone else could win the DGA tomorrow night:
Well, Gold Derby decided to pursue the point anyway and pooled predix from lots of pundits, who back Boyle by a landslide, that’s true. But I found a few brave (crazy?) souls who dare to stray. They include Bob Tourtellotte (Reuters), Kevin Lewin (World Entertainment News Network) and, well, me. All of us believe Fincher will take this. I even think Christopher Nolan (who’s not nominated at the Oscars) has a shot. After all, there were a few notable cases of previous Oscar snubees actually claiming the DGA trophy: Ron Howard (“Apollo 13”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Color Purple”).
I never said that a director not nominated for an Oscar could win the DGA – that has happened. But it has never happened that a director whose film wasn’t nominated for Best Picture actually wins the DGA. Here’s the other “problem” with Boyle versus the other guys. No one can compete, or has even really tried competing, with Danny Boyle’s charm on camera. He is unpretentious, funny, likable and shows up all the time. The only other director who comes close to him in this regard is Ron Howard. I love Mr. Fincher and Mr. Van Sant but they aren’t exactly the most affable guys on the block. Much of the Slumdog phenom, by the way, in case you all haven’t noticed, is how surprised and happy they all look when they win. Did you happen to catch the look on Danny Boyle’s face when Slumdog won the SAG? He put his head in his hands, shook his head in shock and amazement. That kind of stuff makes voters feel good about what they’re doing. Just a notion but one that is, I think, semi-worth pursuing as an actual thought.