Clint Eastwood was named best director by the Directors Guild of America for the U.S. film "Million Dollar Baby."

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Saturday's DGA award for the female boxing drama, combined with Eastwood winning the Golden Globe two weeks ago for best director, gives him the best chance for an Oscar, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Since 1949, the DGA and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have disagreed six times for best director of a movie.

However, it may not be the indicator it once was. Since 2001, just two of the four DGA award winners went on to win the Oscar: Ron Howard for "A Beautiful Mind" in 2001 and Peter Jackson for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" in 2003.

The 57th annual DGA ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, with Carl Reiner serving as master of ceremonies for the 19th time.