OSCAR WATCH - PGA and DGA WINS

It's no secret that the most deserving films don't always win the top Academy prizes- just take a look at the nominees and you'll see that the Academy also recognises those who have paid their dues. Anyhow, these few weeks as we approach the all important ceremony on the morning of the 27th of February are especially telling in who or which movie will walk away with the golden statuette. 

Last weekend, the Producers Guild of American (PGA) handed out their top award, the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures, to Thomas Langmann of THE ARTIST, while reserving their Producer Of The Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures to Peter Jackson, Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg from THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN. 

And just last night, the Directors Guild of America handed out their Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2011 to Michel Hazanavicius of THE ARTIST, once again sealing the black and white silent film's status as frontrunner to sweep the top prizes at the Oscars. 

Photo Credit: Deadline

Hazanavicius said in his acceptance speech: “Thank you to the DGA. This may be the highest recognition that I could ever get. I really love directors. I really have respect for directors. So this is really very moving and touching for me. I also want to say that, best director, I don’t really know what that is. Every one of us is so different. So to try to say which one is the best is very difficult. But I really appreciate this, and thank you very much.”

We'll continue to share more of suchawards in the runup to the Oscars, so if you're heading into a prediction game with your friends, you'll know where to place your bets- even if your heart doesn't feel likewise. In the meantime, enjoy this blooper reel from THE ARTIST: