DGA Honors 'The King's Speech' Director Tom Hooper As Best Director Of 2010

The Directors Guild of America announced its award winners for achievement in 2010 last night, and the big winner was Tom Hooper, director of The King's Speech. That, in conjunction with the film's victory at the Producers Guild awards, puts the movie as the odds-on favorite to win the Best Picture Oscar, and makes Mr. Hooper a likely win for Best Director as well.

The DGA and Academy have gone different ways for Best Director only six times in the past six decades, and I'm not certain this year will make it seven. In Contention points to the difference at the 2003 Oscars, where the relatively young Rob Marshall won the DGA award for Chicago over directors like Martin Scorsese and Roman Polanski. But the Academy went with Roman Polanski as Best Director for The Pianist, even as Chicago won Best Picture.

So will a more experienced director like Darren Aronofsky, David O. Russell or David Fincher be given the nod at the Oscars this year? It's always possible, with David Fincher seeming like the easy choice. But there's a big difference between the level of establishment of Martin Scorsese and Roman Polanski and that of Darren Aronofsky and David Fincher. Given the way things are going I wouldn't be surprised to see Tom Hooper get Best Director even as The King's Speech takes Best Picture. Or could Joel and Ethan Coen pull an upset and win for True Grit?

Here's the full list of DGA award winners. It's a bit surprising to see Martin Scorsese get a win for Boardwalk Empire, but I'm glad to see his name here:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2010:

TOM HOOPER, The King's Speech (The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Hooper's Directorial Team:

Production Manager: Erica Bensly

First Assistant Director: Martin Harrison

Second Assistant Director: Chris Stoaling

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2010:

CHARLES FERGUSON, Inside Job

Representational Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for 2010:

MICK JACKSON, Temple Grandin (HBO)

Mr. Jackson's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Scott Ferguson

First Assistant Director: Philip Hardage

Second Assistant Director: Shawn Pipkin

Second Second Assistant Director: Kayse Goodell and Richard E. Chapla Jr.

Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Glen Moorman

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2010:

MARTIN SCORSESE, Boardwalk Empire, "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO)

Mr. Scorsese's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Harvey Waldman

First Assistant Director: Chris Surgent

Second Assistant Director: Takahide Kawakami

Second Second Assistant Director: Patrick McDonald

Additional Second Assistant Director: Sal Sutera DGA Trainee: Jamiyl Ihsaan Campbell

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2010:

MICHAEL SPILLER, Modern Family, "Halloween" (ABC)

Mr Spiller's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Sally Young

First Assistant Director: Alisa Statman

Second Assistant Director: Helena Lamb

Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew Heffernan

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety for 2010:

GLENN WEISS, 64th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)

Mr. Weiss' Directorial Team:

Associate Directors: Gregg Gelfand, Robin Abrams, Ricky Kirshner

Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Dean Gordon, Phyllis Digilio Kent, Arthur Lewis, Joey Meade, Tony Mirante, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Elyse Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2010:

EYTAN KELLER, The Next Iron Chef, "Episode #301" (Food Network)

Mr. Keller's Directorial Team:

Segment Director: Stephen Kroopnick

Stage Managers: Tom Borgnine, Seth Mellman

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for 2010:

LARRY CARPENTER, One Life to Live, "Episode #10,687" (ABC)

Mr. Carpenter's Directorial Team:

Associate Directors: Tracy Casper Lang, Teresa Anne Cicala, Anthony J. Wilkinson, Jen Pepperman

Stage Managers: Alan Needleman, Keith Greer

Production Associates: Nathalie Rodriguez, Kevin Brush

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs for 2010:

ERIC BROSS, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2010:

STACY WALL (Imperial Woodpecker)

Rise, Nike – Wieden & Kennedy/Portland

First Assistant Director: Bac DeLorme

Second Assistant Director: Steve Del Prete

Second Second Assistant Director: Kenny Hanson

Really?, Microsoft – Crispin Porter & Bogusky/Boulder

First Assistant Directors: Miles Johnstone, Doug Halbert

Second Assistant Director: Michael Brawer

Slim Chin & D Rose, Adidas – 180LA

First Assistant Director: Dave Dean

Second Assistant Director: Carl Jackson

Handshake, Nike – Weiden & Kennedy/Portland

First Assistant Directors: Miles Johnstone, Scott Metcalfe

Second Assistant Director: Michael Brawer