Director’s destroy Spielberg’s chances for another Oscar

Neither Director Steven Spielberg nor his movie War Horse have any chance of winning a major Oscar next month. That became clear earlier this week when the Directors Guild of America failed to nominate Spielberg for his latest juggernaut. That leaves The Artist as the clear front runner, although between now and final voting many Academy members may feel the black-and-white silent film is just too clever for its own good. The question is what movie acts as a viable alternative. I know Fox Searchlight is going to launch a major campaign for The Descendants, but the last time a film that featured this little action won a best picture Oscar was when American Beauty won a dozen years ago. Next in line is Hugo, director Martin Scorsese’s most personal film and a salute to the history of motion pictures. The Academy has got to love that. Besides, Scorsese won the major prizes just five years ago and Hugo is a much better film than The Departed. But watch out for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a film that has found much more favor with the guilds than I ever though it would.