"Lincoln" Film Award Nominations & Wins

[Linda Anderson]

Here's what Spielberg said:

Steven Spielberg has said that Leonardo DiCaprio helped convince Daniel Day-Lewis to sign up for Lincoln.

Spielberg revealed that he made an unsuccessful approach to secure the Oscar-winning There Will Be Blood star for the high-profile political biopic.

"He said, 'I could never play Abraham Lincoln,'" the director recalled to USA Today. "That it was just too intimidating. 'What if I don't succeed? I don't want to bring down the image of a great man'."

Spielberg added that his Catch Me If You Can star DiCaprio was instrumental in recruiting his Gangs of New York co-star Day-Lewis to play Lincoln, a role that was initially earmarked for Liam Neeson.

"Leo DiCaprio was at my house for dinner one night," Spielberg said. "It was just myself, my wife and Leo. And he says, 'Hey, what's going on with your Lincoln project?' I told him the sad story.

"I had one shot at Daniel and he had declined. And that was that. Leo just listened. And then the next morning he called me at my office. He said, here's Daniel's cellphone number, he's expecting your call.

"Leo has never told me to this day what he said to Daniel. But that began this wonderful journey."

Best
Rob

What a wonderful story! That's what friends are for. Thanks, Rob.

[LincolnMan]

That is a cool story-worth passing on.

[Linda Anderson]

"Ben Affleck was named outstanding director for "Argo" at the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards, which were held Saturday night at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland.

"The win solidifies "Argo" as an Oscar frontrunner, after the film also claimed key honors from the Screen Actors and Producers guilds last weekend."

Los Angeles Times

From today's New York Times:

"One of his DGA competitors, Steven Spielberg, received a standing ovation and many accolades from the stage during the ceremony. Noting that this has been an 'incredible year' for movies, Mr. Spielberg, still an Oscar hopeful, added ruefully: 'There have been moments when I wish it was a slightly less incredible year for movies.'"

[Liz Rosenthal]

I may not watch the Oscars. It would pain me too much to see the Lincoln movie get passed over in the major categories.

"Ben Affleck was named outstanding director for "Argo" at the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards, which were held Saturday night at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland.

"The win solidifies "Argo" as an Oscar frontrunner, after the film also claimed key honors from the Screen Actors and Producers guilds last weekend."

Los Angeles Times

From today's New York Times:

"One of his DGA competitors, Steven Spielberg, received a standing ovation and many accolades from the stage during the ceremony. Noting that this has been an 'incredible year' for movies, Mr. Spielberg, still an Oscar hopeful, added ruefully: 'There have been moments when I wish it was a slightly less incredible year for movies.'"

[L Verge]

I have to agree with you, Liz. However, given the whims of Hollywood, I doubt seriously that it will win Best Picture. I don't see how they could deny Daniel Day-Lewis his Oscar. In the case of Best Director, the Academy may have the same mindset that I have in encouraging new people who enter the fray. Spielberg has won so many honors that the voters may think he's been honored enough.

[BettyO]

Same here - I would love to see Lincoln receive the accolades it deserves. I watched the filming closely, was on set several times a day and even had a bit of conversation with Mr. Spielberg - delightful gentleman!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this beautiful film gets the credit it deserves!

[Liz Rosenthal]

At least I'm not alone in my sentiments!

I've been reading a Hollywood blog called awardsdaily.com; the editors are very pro-Lincoln and are already heartbroken at what they see as a likely pass over in favor of the Argo steamroller.

I don't mind giving someone else a chance to win who hasn't won yet, but at least it should be worthy of the win. As someone on the above-mentioned web site pointed out, Argo is not conducive to multiple viewings. Once you know how it turns out, there's no suspense! Conversely, Lincoln does reward multiple viewings. I've "only" seen it twice and already want to see it at least a third time. There is definitely more in that movie to be discovered.

If Argo does win Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, these wins will be newsworthy for the moment, but I can't see Argo having the staying power of a true classic. Lincoln should still win the Posterity vote.

[Linda Anderson]

Ben Affleck was not nominated by the Academy for Best Director nor was Kathryn Bigelow for "Zero Dark Thirty." Spielberg may win the Oscar for Best Director and lose to "Argo" for Best Picture. It would be odd if "Argo" won as its director wasn't nominated nor were the lead actor or actress.

[RJNorton]

That could happen, Linda. Liz, you are right about seeing Lincoln multiple times. I picked up on many things the second time which I had missed the first time. I will be seeing it a third time, also.

[Linda Anderson]

Daniel Day-Lewis won the BAFTA award for Leading Actor. That was it for "Lincoln" although Spielberg was not nominated for directing.

"Argo" won Best Film, Ben Afflick won the Director award and William Goldenberg from "Argo" won the Editor award.

[Gene C]

Maybe they didn't like Lincoln's joke about George Washington.
(BAFTA - British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

[Linda Anderson]

Here's something else for Spielberg to think about. From Roger Friedman:

"It’s been suggested before, but I am hearing it more and more: Academy voters with paper ballots may be writing in Ben Affleck’s name as Best Director. It’s a crazy scenario already. “Argo” is a favorite for Best Picture. But its director, Ben Affleck, isn’t on the ballot. Neither, of course, is Kathryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarantino, or Tom Hooper for their Best Picture nominated films. This may have something to do with the electronic voting in the first round this year. Now many who didn’t want to deal with computers have switched back to a paper ballot. And one way to cure the Affleck dilemma is just to write his name in."

http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/02/13/osc...rector-yes

[Liz Rosenthal]

According to awardsdaily.com, which I've been visiting religiously lately, the Oscars' rules don't allow for write-ins. If this is true (and it had better be, given the source of the info), then I think we can just look at the five nominated directors and theorize from there about who the winner might be.

Here's something else for Spielberg to think about. From Roger Friedman:

"It’s been suggested before, but I am hearing it more and more: Academy voters with paper ballots may be writing in Ben Affleck’s name as Best Director. It’s a crazy scenario already. “Argo” is a favorite for Best Picture. But its director, Ben Affleck, isn’t on the ballot. Neither, of course, is Kathryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarantino, or Tom Hooper for their Best Picture nominated films. This may have something to do with the electronic voting in the first round this year. Now many who didn’t want to deal with computers have switched back to a paper ballot. And one way to cure the Affleck dilemma is just to write his name in."

http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/02/13/osc...rector-yes

[Thomas Thorne]

My understanding that in the early days of Oscar,voters could vote for write in candidates but no longer can.

A write in candidate won an Academy Award for Cinematography in 1935 but the the Academy subsequently announced they would not tabulate write in votes. Bette Davis won her first Oscar the same year. She publicly agreed with the widespread perception that she did not deserve to win. Hollywood thought her victory was a consolation prize for Bette not winning a nomination for her volcanic performance in "In Human Bondage" in 1934. This oversight sparked an unsuccessful write in campaign for her that year.

I have seen no indication that the no write in tablulation rule has ever been changed.
Tom

[Linda Anderson]

Spielberg can rest easy. Roger Friedman has updated his article to add this line:

"One problem: write in votes have been banned since 1936. So don’t throw away your Best Director vote."

http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/02/13/osc...rector-yes