Actor-turned-filmmaker Ben Affleck won the top honor from his peers at the Directors Guild of America on Saturday (February 02) for the movie "Argo," which in a "normal" year would make him the odds on favorite to take home the Best Director Oscar in the next few weeks.
After all, Affleck has gained serious momentum ahead of the Academy Awards.
Besides the DGA's, Affleck has won Best Director at the Golden Globes while "Argo" won Best Drama. The cast was also recognized with the top honor from the Screen Actors Guild, while Affleck took home trophies for the Critics Choice Awards and the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
In fact, since 1948, there have been only six occasions when the Directors Guild of America (DGA) winner has not gone on to win the Oscar for Best Director.
That will be seven though, after this year, since the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, failed to nominate Affleck for Best Director in what is considered one of the biggest snubs of this year's Oscars.
SOUNDBITE Ben Affleck saying (English):
"I mean, you're not entitled to win anything. You're not entitled to anything in life, I'm really happy... I'm thrilled and honored that the Academy nominated me as a producer for the movie, and I know, as our movie, we're a little bit of an underdog, we're a little bit of the little engine that could, and taking me out of it maybe helps give us purpose, because it's just about that movie, that picture, but you know, it's OK, I'm really lucky, I'm in a great place."
The DGA is often a good indicator of Oscar winners as DGA members are also members of the Academy. The Oscar for Best Picture also often goes to the winner of the DGA's award.
The 85th Annual Academy Awards will be handed out in a telecast on Sunday, February 24.
