Early Returns

The Directors Guild named Michel Hazanavicius director of the year for The Artist.  Not a great choice.  Yes, a silent film may be striking, but it didn't seem to me the direction was that well done, and some of the staging was downright awkward.  I suppose this makes him the favorite for the Oscars.

He beat Woody Allen, David Fincher, Alexander Payne and Martin Scorsese.  I'm not sure what Allen's doing here--his film seemed pretty lazily shot.  Fincher's work as a director was more notable, though I'm not sure what it all adds up to.  Payne's work didn't seem especially inspired.  Scorsese's nomination I understand--Hugo showed plenty of visual and narrative imagination.  Of course, I thought Terrence Malick should have won, but he wasn't even nominated.

The SAG awards are an even better predictor of the Oscars, since most Academy voters are actors.  The sadly predictable award for supporting actor went to Christopher Plummer for Beginners.  Just as predictable (but maybe not quite so sad), supporting actress went to Octavia Spencer in The Help.

Following that momentum, The Help's Viola Davis won the award for best actress. She probably didn't deserve it, but the competition wasn't that great. For best actor we get maybe the biggest surprise.  Beating out George Clooney and Brad Pitt is Jean Dujardin for his pleasant if bland performance in The Artist.  When he wins his Oscar, I wonder if he'll give his acceptance speech in English. (Or maybe he'll just dance.)

For ensemble, The Help once again won.  That makes sense.  They did a good job and except maybe for Bridesmaids, none of the other titles were as centered on the ensemble (if you can be centered on a group).  There is no comparable Oscar, but this suggests The Help, which didn't get a director nomination, may still be in the running for Best Picture.