The "Titanic" cruise toward the Oscars has benefited from an important prize, but "As Good As It Gets" is suddenly attracting equal award attention.
The oceanliner blockbuster won the Directors Guild of America's top prize Saturday night, making filmmaker James Cameron a heavy favorite to repeat at March 23's Academy Awards. The DGA winner has failed to repeat at the Oscars only four times.One night after the DGA honors, however, the two leads in the romantic comedy "As Good As It Gets" - Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt - collected the top acting prizes from the Screen Actors Guild.
"Titanic" did earn a key SAG win: Gloria Stuart, one of the founding members of the Screen Actors Guild, won in a tie for supporting movie actress for her depiction of the film's modern-day Rose.
"After the birth of my beautiful daughter, this is the next best thing that's ever happened to me," the 87-year-old Stuart said at Sunday's event. "It's been a great voyage. I'm so grateful. I'll never be able to tell you how grateful."
Kim Basinger of "L.A. Confidential" shared the supporting actress award with Stuart. "I'm just thrilled to be here and wow, now I win," Basinger said.
The actors in the English stripper comedy "The Full Monty" collected a surprise SAG win for ensemble acting.
"I'm kind of a patsy. I always get shook up," an emotional Nicholson said of his "As Good As It Gets" win for playing an obsessive-compulsive novelist. "I love what I do and I love all the people I get to do it with."
Hunt, the star of television's "Mad About You," appeared shocked at her victory for her role opposite Nicholson as a single mother who waits tables.
"I'm a 25-year member of the Screen Actors Guild. So I'm very proud to get this award," Hunt said.
The other actress nominees were Helena Bonham Carter ("The Wings of the Dove"), Judi Dench ("Mrs. Brown"), Pam Grier ("Jackie Brown"), Kate Winslet ("Titanic") and Robin Wright Penn ("She's So Lovely").
Nicholson beat out Peter Fonda ("Ulee's Gold"), Robert Duvall ("The Apostle"), Dustin Hoffman ("Wag the Dog") and Matt Damon ("Good Will Hunting").
Robin Williams, who played the therapist in "Good Will Hunting," was named best supporting actor.