Directors Guild Awards set tone for Oscars

(AP) – With the tightest three-way Oscar race in years, the 66th Directors Guild of America Awards could give “Gravity,” ”American Hustle” or “12 Years a Slave” the edge in the home stretch to the Oscars.

The DGA hands out awards for best director in TV and movie categories in Los Angeles on Saturday night in what customarily is a final calling for the film that wins the picture and director Oscars.

Coming out of the recent flurry of Hollywood honors, Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” each remain in competitive positions as they head for the March 2 Academy Awards.

But the DGA could further complicate the race by choosing a still-viable contender like “Captain Phillips” or “The Wolf of Wall Street.”