By John H. Foote

The Directors Guild of America announced their nominees for excellence in motion picture direction, perhaps providing the greatest influence on the Oscar race.

As expected Martin Scorsese was nominated for The Irishman, and Quentin Tarantino is up for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Scorsese has been nominated nine previous times winning for The Departed (2006) while Tarantino is a two-time nominee without a win.

Bong Joon Ho was nominated for Parasite, as expected as was previous winner Sam Mendes for 1917, and the final nominee, and happiest surprise of the day (for me) Taika Waititi for the black comedy Jojo Rabbit.

Shut out of the nominations was Noah Baumbach for Marriage Story, and his partner Greta Gerwig for Little Women. Both could still turn up in the Oscar race.

Nominations for the Academy Awards are announced next week.

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