‘Chicago,’ ‘Hours’ Get Directors Guild Nominations
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The directors of “Chicago,” “The Hours,” “Gangs of New York,” “The Pianist” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” were nominated on Tuesday for the Directors Guild of America’s top award, one of the film industry’s most reliable barometers of Oscar gold.
It was the first time that British theater director Stephen Daldry (“The Hours) and American choreographer turned film director Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) have been nominated for the DGA’s outstanding directorial achievement award.
The award was established in 1949 and except on five occasions, it has gone to the director who later went on to win the Academy Award for best directing.
“The Hours”‘ and “Chicago”‘ were named best drama and best musical or comedy, respectively, at the Golden Globes on Sunday night.
Martin Scorsese, director of “Gangs of New York,” has been nominated four previous times even though he has never won. His nominations include “Taxi Driver” in 1976, “Raging Bull” in 19980, “Goodfellas” in 1990 and “The Age of Innocence” in 1993.
New Zealander Peter Jackson, director of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” was nominated last year for the first film in his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
The nomination for Polanski, the Polish-born director of “The Pianist,” is his third but first since 1974 when he was nominated for “Chinatown.” He was also nominated in 1968 for “Rosemary’s Baby.”
In a statement he said, “Nothing can be more gratifying than recognition by one’s peers. My nomination by the DGA for ‘The Pianist” gives me the great pleasure . However, it would not have been possible without the collaboration of my magnificent crew. I am grateful to them and to the DGA.”
The winner of the DGA Award for 2002 will be announced at a gala dinner on March 1.
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