Andrew's 2015 PGA Awards predictions

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Which picture shall emerge victorious at this year's Producers Guild of America Awards? Here is my hunch, ranked from most to least likely to prevail...

  1. The Revenant
  2. Spotlight
  3. The Big Short
  4. Mad Max: Fury Road
  5. Straight Outta Compton
  6. The Martian
  7. Sicario
  8. Ex Machina
  9. Bridge of Spies
  10. Brooklyn

This one's a toughie to forecast, not unlike the SAG and DGA awards to come. I can say with confidence that none of The Martian, through Brooklyn, will take home the trophy here, so there's that. If there's a dark horse in this line-up, it might well be Straight Outta Compton. Its lack of Best Picture nom at the Oscars would presumably force the picture to sit on the sidelines here, but you can't discount the possibility, even if it's a slim one, that PGA members use this opportunity to make a statement on the #OscarsSoWhite movement and bestow a surprise victory upon Compton. Still, it's probably unlikely, just as it's improbable the cast triumphs at SAG. I also would be a tad surprised if Mad Max or The Big Short pulled off a victory here, though some seem to think the latter's very much in the running and could even be a threat at the Oscars. I'm not quite on board with that sentiment, though a SAG Ensemble win for the Adam McKay picture could give me second thoughts on the heels of the Oscars. Ultimately, not unlike at the Globes, I think this is a tight, too-close-to-call showdown between The Revenant and Spotlight and, while I anticipate the Tom McCarthy film will score at SAG just over a week from now, I suspect the current buzz and box office for the Alejandro González Iñárritu film may instead carry the day here.

Andrew's 2015 DGA Award nomination predictions

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Tuesday, January 12 marks the announcement of 2015's DGA Award nominations. Here for your viewing pleasure are Andrew's two cents:

1. Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
2. George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
4. Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies
5. Ridley Scott, The Martian
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6. Todd Haynes, Carol
7. Adam McKay, The Big Short
8. J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
9. Lenny Abrahamson, Room
10. Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs

It will be quite a surprise if any of Iñárritu, Miller or McCarthy is snubbed at the announcement of this year's DGA nominations. Perhaps it is McCarthy, missing in action among this year's BAFTA nominees, who is on the shakiest footing. If he misses out here, it becomes exceedingly unlikely Spotlight can win Best Picture come Oscar night. Beyond those three gentleman, I have to go with the two most legendary filmmakers (besides Mr. Miller) in this year's Best Director race, Spielberg and Scott. Spielberg pretty much never misses at DGA when he has a picture in Oscar contention - he was nominated here for Amistad and Empire of the Sun and famously won at DGA for The Color Purple when the Academy didn't even nominate him. If Bridge of Spies hadn't been such an underperformer in this year's Oscar race thus far (beyond nods everywhere for supporting actor Mark Rylance), he would be a shoo-in. I suspect the 5th slot will be a tight one between Scott and Haynes. The DGA hasn't historically been as enamored with Scott as with Spielberg - he wasn't nominated for American Gangster and has never won at DGA. That being said, he is beloved in the directing community and while Haynes could certainly show up here, he hasn't influenced scores of DGA members in the way Scott has. From there, McKay and Abrams could ride their pictures' buzz and momentum to a nomination, though it would be a surprise. Abrahamson and Boyle will get their fair share of votes too but may have to settle for showing up as mere attendees, not nominees.

Andrew's 2015 DGA Awards nomination predictions

in

Tuesday, January 12 marks the announcement of 2015's DGA Award nominations. Here for your viewing pleasure are Andrew's two cents:

1. Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
2. George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
4. Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies
5. Ridley Scott, The Martian
---
6. Todd Haynes, Carol
7. Adam McKay, The Big Short
8. J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
9. Lenny Abrahamson, Room
10. Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs

It will be quite a surprise if any of Iñárritu, Miller or McCarthy is snubbed at the announcement of this year's DGA nominations. Perhaps it is McCarthy, missing in action among this year's BAFTA nominees, who is on the shakiest footing. If he misses out here, it becomes exceedingly unlikely Spotlight can win Best Picture come Oscar night. Beyond those three gentleman, I have to go with the two most legendary filmmakers (besides Mr. Miller) in this year's Best Director race, Spielberg and Scott. Spielberg pretty much never misses at DGA when he has a picture in Oscar contention - he was nominated her for Amistad and Empire of the Sun and famously won at DGA for The Color Purple when the Academy didn't even nominate him. If Bridge of Spies hadn't been such an underperformer in this year's Oscar race thus far (beyond nods everywhere for supporting actor Mark Rylance), he would be a shoo-in. I suspect the 5th slot will be a tight one between Scott and McKay. The DGA hasn't historically been as enamored with Scott as with Spielberg - he wasn't nominated for American Gangster and has never won at DGA. That being said, he is beloved in the directing community and while Haynes could certainly show up here, he hasn't influenced scores of DGA members in the way Scott has. From there, McKay and Abrams could ride their pictures' buzz and momentum to a surprise nomination, though it would be a surprise. Abrahamson and Boyle will get their fair share of votes too but may have to settle for showing up as mere attendees, not nominees.