'Blood,' 'Clayton,' 'Diving Bell,' 'Juno' and 'No Country' tops with PGA
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN ANIMATED THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN DOCUMENTARY THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES THE DAVID L. WOLPER PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN LONG-FORM TELEVISION
The Producers Guild of America announced its list of nominees this morning, but there weren't many surprises in store for those hoping to start the week off with a little film awards excitement.
In the midst of box office dominance, Fox Searchlight's "Juno" received a rather expected notice as the film continues its march toward $100 million, while "Michael Clayton," a bona-fide contender as the guilds continue to embrace it, grabbed a notice as well.
Producer Scott Rudin went 2 for 2 today, as Miramax's "No Country for Old Men" and Paramount Vantage's There Will be Blood" received tips of the hat. The former became the Coen brothers' highest grossing film over the weekend, so it should come as no surprise that the PGA would want to recognize it. This becomes the 8th guild nomination for "No Country," the clear stand-out in the precursor season.
The real surprise, to some, anyway, would have to be "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" showing up on the list. But given that Hollywood heavy-hitters Kathleen Kennedy and Jon Kilik are behind the scenes on this one, it really shouldn't come as a major shock.
Surprising omissions included "Into the Wild," "Sweney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and, if you buy the line of logic that the PGA respects the green, "Hairspray."
And the nominees are:
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax)
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax/Paramount Vantage)
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage/Miramax)
"Bee Movie" (Dreamworks Animation)
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation)
"The Simpsons Movie" (20th Century FOX)
"Body Of War" (Phil Donahue Productions/Mobilus Media)
"Hear And Now" (HBO)
"Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song" (The Weinstein Company)
"Sicko" (The Weinstein Company)
"White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki" (HBO)
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" (HBO)
"The Bronx Is Burning" (ESPN)
"High School Musical 2" (The Disney Channel)
"Jane Eyre" (PBS/BBC)
"The Starter Wife" (USA Network)
Red Carpet District is Variety contributor Kristopher Tapley's attempt at making sense of the ever-expanding glut of film awards coverage. He's been on the beat for six years. Email 
Well, if you buy into that logic American Gangster, though a tired rehash of The Departed, would also qualify as a surprise, perhaps more so than the delightful though consistently less competitive Hairspray. As for Sweeney Todd, well...isn't Atonement still the GG winner slightly more likely to make an appearance?<br><br>It's 6 films fighting for 5 slots, with specifically Into the Wild, The Diving Bell, and Juno seeming the most vulnerable for various reasons.
Posted by: Zach | 1/14/2008 12:13:52 PM