Clint Eastwood captured top honors at the 57th annual Directors Guild of America Awards handed out last night in Beverly Hills. 50 of the previous 56 years that the DGA Awards have been handed out, the winner for best director also went on to win the Oscar that year. This makes Eastwood the runaway favorite next month at the Academy Awards.

Eastwood won the award for his boxing film 'Million Dollar Baby' starring Hilary Swank, Eastwood and Morgan Freeman.

Martin Scorsese, who was nominated for directing the Howard Hughes biopic 'The Aviator' went home disappointed again. Eastwood praised Scorsese in his acceptance speech. The heralded director has never won an Oscar despite directing such classic films as 'Taxi Driver,' 'Raging Bull' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ.'

'This is a surprise. ... I got to say this is a real pleasure. I am as pleased as punch,' Eastwood said during his acceptance speech. He hopes to make a similar speech next month as the Oscars.