Martin Scorsese in line for directing award
Story by Jack Foley
MARTIN Scorsese is on the Directors Guild of America’s (DGA) shortlist for best director of 2006’s best director.
The seven-time nominee has been selected for his crime thriller The Departed but faces stiff competition from British director Stephen Frears, for The Queen, and Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, for Babel.
First-time directors and husband and wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are also in the running for their critically-acclaimed indie hit Little Miss Sunshine, while Bill Condon completes the shortlist for Oscar-tipped Dreamgirls.
Announcing the nominations, DGA president Michael Apted said: “Each of these five nominees has demonstrated a remarkable ability to blend craft and vision in the pursuit of masterful storytelling.”
Scorsese has previously received nominations for The Aviator (2004), Gangs of New York (2002), The Age of Innocence (1993), Goodfellas (1990), Raging Bull (1980) and Taxi Driver (1976) – but will be hoping for seventh time lucky for The Departed.
The DGA awards are widely considered to be one of the industry’s most accurate barometers for who will take the Best Director prize at the Academy Awards.
Fifty-two out of 58 DGA award winners have gone on to win Oscars, including Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain last year.
The winner will be announced on February 3.