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Here's our take on the best director, which featured shocking snubs for Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Affleck, and somewhat less shocking ones for Tom Hooper and Quentin Tarantino. Left in their wake were Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee, David O. Russell, and -- most surprisingly -- Michael Haneke and Benh Zeitlin. The race is definitely between Spielberg and Lee, with any other winner a huge upset. Spielberg has a slight edge at this point, though he should be thankful Affleck wasn't nominated. Given the surge in buzz for "Argo" lately, he probably would have won if he had been.
Nominees and predictions below. Check out all predictions in all the categories here, and this list of all the Oscar-nominated films available ON DEMAND right now.
The nominees:
"Amour" Michael Haneke
"Beasts of the Southern Wild" Benh Zeitlin
"Life of Pi" Ang Lee
"Lincoln" Steven Spielberg
"Silver Linings Playbook" David O. Russell
Will win: Steven Spielberg
Could win: Ang Lee
Should win: Michael Haneke
Check out all predictions in all the categories here.
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129 Comments
HONOR THE TRUE WINNER | Wed Feb 06 21:10:20 EST 2013
You gotta watch LIFE OF PI at least once [and then THINK about it even more], and you would realize that this film has to be the BEST PICTURE. It has all the great ingredients to win this accolade [hope The Academy get it right this time].
Art, Technology, Storytelling, All perfectly and beautifully blended together. It has such Great depth that makes you want to watch it over and over and over and over again, in a long, long, long, long time to come.
It's like listening to John Lennon. It's like slowly peeling an onion to find out what's in the core, whilst tears slowly trickle down.
Anyway, it doesn't really matter to me whether it wins any Oscars. @laurelhero
PJ | Wed Feb 06 19:58:44 EST 2013
How does Speilberg have a"slight edge?" No one has given him an award for directing Lincoln.
HONOR THE TRUE WINNER | Tue Feb 05 01:46:15 EST 2013
IF race/ethnicity of its nominees is one of the influencing factors in determining the Winners, then sadly The Academy will lose its meaning and its place/role as the ultimate representation of GLOBAL films recognition. @laurelhero
Honor The True Winner | Tue Feb 05 01:14:49 EST 2013
IF race/ethnicity of its nominees is one of the influencing factors in determining the Winners, then sadly The Academy will lose its meaning and its place/role as the ultimate representation of GLOBAL films recognition.
Andes | Mon Feb 04 12:11:07 EST 2013
Ang Lee. Why not another for him? His movie was well done unlike Lincoln which was nothing special. Typical Oscar bait movie and it was like watching an HBO special. Infact it should have gone straight to HBO on TV,where it belongs. That was the quality of it.
Sam | Sun Feb 03 13:00:19 EST 2013
The Academy Awards will vote for Steven because he's been in the business for a long time, he understand the political system and most of the voters are probably his friends. "NO WAY", absolutely NO WAY the Academy Awards will give it to Ang Lee, an Asian cannot win twice. Ben Zeithlin and Michael Haneke can pull a HUGE SURPRISE. David should just try again next year.
Bruce | Sun Feb 03 03:10:30 EST 2013
The chances are :
Steven Spielberg the highest (He surely the best director ever, unless the Academy is tired of him but they won't)
Ang Lee take the second place (I don't know if the Academy has any Asian member to vote for him, but you know what he seems to be James Cameron with Avatar because like Cameron, he's done the impossible)
The third place is either Michael Haneke or David O. Russell. In my opinion the Benh Zeitlin guy didn't have a single chance to beat the great Steven Spielberg or even just Ang Lee but if the Academy is crazy enough to have him win, it will be weird
JD | Sat Feb 02 11:11:30 EST 2013
Ang Lee won't win it. If anybody is going to pull a surprise win, it will be David O. Russell.
Oscar Specialist | Thu Jan 31 17:44:29 EST 2013
Since Kathryn Bigelow was not nominated under this category the clear front-runner is the great Steven Spielberg
Tanner | Tue Jan 29 18:00:08 EST 2013
Well I was very disappointed in the directing category this year! The academy missed some huge contenders...Ben Afleck (Argo), Tom Hooper (Les Miserables), Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) and Quentin Tarintino (Django Unchained). They all deserve to be recognized. Ben Afleck has hit the peek of his career and Argo will take Best Picture on Oscar night (He deserves it). Tom Hooper's creativity in Les Miserables was defiantly over looked, bringing the classic play to life with a modern take was breathtaking (Anne's take on "I Dreamed A Dream...she's going to take home Best Supporting Actress). Kathryn Bigelow who took Best Director in 2010 for The Hurt Locker deserved to be nominated for her historic and intense film, Zero Dark Thirty. She has truly broken the "glass ceiling" for women in the industry and she should have been reconized for that yet again. And Quentin Tarintino, who just makes a bada** action film with heart and AMAZING dialogue (which he has in all of his films, brilliant writer) he will take Best Original Screenplay on Oscar night for Django Unchained. Considering the contenders in the category for Best Achievement in Directing Steven Spielberg will probably take the Oscar home because he created a historic movie based on one of the most loved presidents of the United States. He will win because of the history he modernized and brought to life and because well he's Steven Speilberg one of the greatest filmmakers ever in Hollywood. But of all the contenders I think David O. Russell should win Best Director, Silver Linings Playbook was simply a masterpiece and a movie everyone can relate too. Unconventional family, people who don't know where they belong and haven't found a place in life yet. Well all I have to say is that Silver Linings Playbook has found a place and that place is being nominated on Oscar night and should be recognized for being an unforgettable and brilliant film.
Alezzavier | Sat Jan 26 14:27:15 EST 2013
Mr. Steven Spielberg. Is going to win, you know why , its all about politics ...
liptone | Mon Jan 21 17:08:47 EST 2013
Life of Pi was brilliant. Ang Lee will win Best Director and Best Picture.
AMIT | Sun Jan 20 01:22:53 EST 2013
I will go for Ang Lee as the Best director
Mano | Tue Jan 15 19:30:18 EST 2013
In our opinion, the best Director award will go to Steven Spielberg for making the film Lincoln, 2013.
John | Tue Jan 15 15:58:49 EST 2013
The Academy is tire of Kathryn Bigelow trying hard to compete amongst men. More than 90% of the Academy Awards voters are males. Which means "Male Dominance" tend to be the theme of the Academy. Then there is Ben Affleck who thinks that he can just wake up one morning and decides he wants to direct a film and get nominated for it. Great Director study the art and execution of films for years so as to make near perfect pictures even Kevin Costner did so. Ben is still an "AMATUER IN TRAINING." Cant you people get that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ignatius Albert | Tue Jan 15 12:37:06 EST 2013
Now if we hold a poll on the biggest snubs in Oscars' 85-year history, 2012's Kathryn Bigelow & Ben Affleck would rank up there; they didn't even get nominated! How outrageous is that, especially when both were largely seen as locks by most observers. Quentin Tarantino also has a very strong case with his work in Django Unchained.
What a hugely shocking field of nominees. No one, really no one, could have predicted the 5 directing nominees. Spielberg and Lee were considered near-locks, while David O. Russell was considered a strong contender. But Haneke was a surprise, and Benh Zeitlin simply came out of nowhere to snatch a nomination.
At this moment, I don't see anyone stopping Spielberg from winning, especially when Golden Globe winner Affleck will not be his competitor in the Oscars race.
onelove | Sun Jan 13 18:19:16 EST 2013
Wouldn't it be great for Benh Zeitlin to win for best Director... I love surprises at the Academy Awards and I some how belief this guy can take home the big win for achievement in direction.
Juha Hovilainen | Fri Jan 11 07:49:46 EST 2013
I must be the only one who is tired even seeing Mr.Spielber`s name on the list and seems he will win. What a pity...Kathryn Bigelow should have won this....
Michael Haneke`s victory would be great, but that won`t happen. Pity tough...
SOMEONE | Thu Jan 10 16:41:59 EST 2013
Jackson*
someone | Thu Jan 10 16:40:52 EST 2013
PETER JAKSON WTF WHERE IS HE????
A Tuuua | Thu Jan 10 11:44:37 EST 2013
Who is familiary with academy history that's no suprise to Michael Haneke get nod, since Fellini, various foreign directors get a nod, like Teshigahara, Gravas, Bergman, Kurusowa, Kieslowski and most recently Lee and Schnabel(that's American). I would love to see Lee win this year, such a wonderful movie, films like that are the reason I love the movies:)
JOSH | Thu Jan 10 08:57:19 EST 2013
You were wrong about Zeltin ha
Martin | Thu Jan 10 07:08:51 EST 2013
Check out my final predictions for this categorie at http://www.mondoglam.com/2013/01/camino-al-oscar-2013-predicciones_9.html
Shelshock | Wed Jan 09 01:57:16 EST 2013
My top choices for best director include Bigelow, Affleck, and Ang Lee. The best choice for win would be Lee through his effective direction of music in combination with image, action, and story. Spielberg's genius in directing has been on the decline since his work with "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan." In fine dining, a top chef would look at "Lincoln" and know immediately that it lacks something to enhance the all-around flavor of the dish. Spielberg's direction lacked uniformity and was rather weak at points, especially in the final scenes of the film. The film lagged and was rushed along in the wrong places. The ending was anticlimactic and failed to provide DDL the foundation to truly bring the film to a closing. Instead of ending in a whirlwind, "Lincoln" ended like a deflating balloon. Hooper and Tarantino should also get nods.
Ignatius Albert | Tue Jan 08 20:55:31 EST 2013
The 3 locks for nomination are Spielberg, Bigelow & Affleck; and rightly so as their 3 movies are arguably the best of this year's Oscars. Tom Hooper might just miss out as his directing has not received much praise for "Les Mis".
The 2 slots left up for grabs, in my opinion, shall go to any two of Ang Lee, Quentin Tarantino & Michael Haneke. As for Paul Thomas Anderson & David O Russell, not really for me.
My 5 nominess would be: Spielberg - Bigelow - Affleck - Lee - Tarantino with Haneke very close behind and threatening to snatch a slot, especially considering his Palme d'Or for 'Amour'
Zac | Sun Jan 06 18:16:40 EST 2013
"Life of Pi" is the Oscar worthy effort this year. For nominations, I would say:
Lee, Affleck, Spielberg are locked. Other possibilities: Tarantino, Zeitlin, Hooper, Bigelow, Mendes, Nolan.
James K | Sun Jan 06 15:44:52 EST 2013
Top 10 (I know it's only 5, but the other 5 are possible spoilers) for Best Director.
01. Katheryn Bigalow, 02. Steven Spielberg, 03. Ben Affleck, 04. Quentin Tarantino, 05. Ang Lee 06. Tom Hooper, 07. Michael Hanek, 08. David O. Russell, 09. Paul Thomas Anderson, 10. Sam Mendes.
I think it's Bigalow's year again, but I would not be shocked if either Spielberg or Affleck win it this year. If any possible spoilers not in my top 10, I'd say depending on how they like Looper, may be Rian Johnson.
EDY WILLIAMS | Sat Jan 05 18:35:41 EST 2013
Too much VIOLENCE!!
"Life of Pi" , has it's fantastic book as well, Ang Lee Hit PERFECTION with his choices, your heart he captured to see the face all WET of a BENGAL TIGER holding on the side of a lifeboat for dear life, how those 2 managed 227 days at sea is alot to learn for us.
Thank You Ang Lee
Jack | Sat Jan 05 17:20:45 EST 2013
Affleck, Spielberg, Bigelow, Hooper, and PTA.
Captain Ron Was Brilliant! | Sat Jan 05 15:47:39 EST 2013
Please...everyone...please take your heads out of Tarantino's ass. He IS a great director, don't get me wrong. But he is capable of making bad movies, and Django was just that: BAD. An empty, soulless exercise in self-indulgence. The film had no point, no subtext, nothing at all to say except that "Slavery was bad, but look how cool I can make it all look." I simply can't believe I'm the minority in this opinion. It started out so well too...just sad... Now, please, everyone go and tell me how stupid I am.
Movie Critic Dave | Sat Jan 05 11:52:43 EST 2013
2012 was a remarkable year for film and this crowded Best Director category only validates it. I too think Bigelow, Affleck and Spielberg are "sure-things". Of the rest, I'd go in this order Ang Lee (although I felt that Life of Pi was a little overrated), Tom Hooper (it was a daring attempt even if it lacked the necessary punch). O.Russell's film is too much of a comedy and Tarantino's is a little edgey for the Academy, even though I have Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained in my top ten of the year (over Les Mis and Life of Pi). www.moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/
spassky | Sat Jan 05 11:28:56 EST 2013
My guess is that Russell is gonna take a nom over Quentin.
David | Thu Jan 03 15:43:33 EST 2013
It's funny how the fanboys on here keep pushing for TDKR and the Hobbit. Well guess what, there were other movies made last year, so perhaps you should watch those before judging (although most of these movies will probably go over their heads).
As for Best Director, my favorite would probably be Ang Lee. I don't know why Spielberg would get it...I loved Lincoln, but I don't feel any part of that movie was due to groundbreaking directing choices....it was simply good dialogue with a great performance by DDL.
Life of Pi wasn't a great movie, but sequences and shots were beautiful.
4 | Wed Jan 02 20:36:16 EST 2013
Joss Whedon not getting consideration for The Avengers is ridiculous.
Anthony | Tue Jan 01 13:51:28 EST 2013
And Jacques Audiard...
BOO | Sat Dec 29 11:17:54 EST 2012
I actually really doubt Amour will get a director nom but it would be cool if it did.
rt4500 | Fri Dec 28 14:55:00 EST 2012
Ben? Ang? Really indiewire? Skyfall?!
This is Indiewire, not TMZ. I used to think this was a cerebral place to go for information. Based on quality, not a popularity contest. Leave that to the lame hollywood voters. Have some conviction for the true artists.
Zane | Fri Dec 28 14:47:19 EST 2012
Argo, Lincoln, and Zero Dark Thirty have the best advantage at best picture and best director.
Sylar | Fri Dec 28 09:53:27 EST 2012
Argo sucks ! I dont like oscar get involve with politic, Lincoln and django were wonderful,But the oscar goes to Argo for political stuff! martin scorssese didnt make a movie thats no good ! He is my favourite
Film fan | Thu Dec 27 14:40:21 EST 2012
The directing in Django was utterly brilliant. One of the best directed films I have seen in quite a long time.
Jd | Wed Dec 26 06:41:35 EST 2012
I do not think that NOlan will win an Oscar, much less a nomination. The dark knight rises was good but it was not as amazing as the dark knight and since that movie was shamefully overlooked, I believe it willbe another dry knight for NOlan. This year there are many stong contenders but my money is certainly on Ben and Steven and ANg.
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Hamid | Fri Dec 21 15:00:38 EST 2012
Oscar is politicaly...argo not really.aflek is political.anti is iran..but ang lee_spilberg_hanke is good man..is good director..ang lee by life of pi want make good film..
Stuart O'Connor | Tue Dec 18 16:39:16 EST 2012
SERIOUSLY????.......do you guys watch movies......David Ayers.......End of Watch.....camera shots and direction never before seen....puts you in the movie.........not just a spectator......come on
Juha Hovilainen | Mon Dec 17 09:29:38 EST 2012
Kathryn Bigelow all the way please. I must be the only person who is tired and bored Mr.Spielberg. His best work will always be "Schindler`s List". Ben Afflick...Is it just me or was the movie just average....Nothing special or extra-ordinary.
Rather would like to see a nomination for Sam Mendes "Skyfall", but that won`t happen.
Jack | Sat Dec 15 15:08:16 EST 2012
The very long shots except Affleck & Lee far more credible as superior directing efforts. Skyfall & Dark Knight Rises are major directing achievements. Lincoln way overrated direction. This is directing not ensemble acting, not social commentary of cinema, directing. The Master should fall to bottom of list of long shots along with Moonrise Kingdom and Amour. Jackson the real sleeper.
ralch | Thu Dec 13 11:37:33 EST 2012
I, too, believe Haneke will be nominated, but think Paul Thomas Anderson will take Ang Lee's spot.
cooper | Tue Dec 11 23:08:50 EST 2012
Seeing that I have seen all of these movies I can judge whether they can be here or not. Speilberg, while his best movie in years doesnt deserve 1 spot he might get in there but I dont see him winning for Lincoin. Bigelow, deserves to be nominated it is better then the Hurt Locker but I dont see her wining b/c she only won this two years ago. Affleck, deserves a spot for Argo, got snubed for the Town and I think Argo is better then the Town. Lee, I dont see him getting nominated because he has already won and Life of Pie is not nearly as good as his previous work. Haneke, he should get nominated but I dont see it happening becuase its from a different countrie and is in a different language and while a movie like that can be nominated I dont see Amour being a movie good enough to be from different countrie and getting nominated. Hooper, first off this movie is not good enough to be nominated for anything but Hooper just won it a year ago so I dont see him nominated. Russel, this movie is to sappy and uniteresting and he was just nominated a year ago. Anderson, this is his best movie to date he definity deserves to be nominated and win. Tarantino, deserves it to not his best Pulp Fiction and Bastards are better but it still better then 95% of the movies this year. Zeitlin, good movie but I think it is to independent to get nominated. Mendes, good James Bond movie not good enough for Bond to go to the oscars. Anderson, deserves to win but the acadamy has yet to see the true art that is in Andersons work he should have got a best director award many years ago. Nolan, deserves a best director award just not for this movie he should have got it for the Dark Knight or maybe Inception. Zemeckis, average movie and a average director people still are on his Forrest Gump kick. Jackson, good movie not as good as LOTR and I think the acadamy thinks they have given Jackson his due with how they awarded LOTR
Ross | Mon Dec 10 16:37:57 EST 2012
you have both Nolan and Jackson as 'very long shots'? are you actually being fucking serious?
Stephen Earnest | Sun Dec 09 22:52:11 EST 2012
Steve Spielberg simply does not deserve the Oscar. "Lincoln" is not even close to one of his best films and the fact that it is being so talked about as a serious awards contender is just mind-blowing. Aside from Daniel Day-Lewis' performance, it's a generic biopic that promises much and accomplishes little. The photography is muddled and the supporting performances (minus James Spader, who I quite liked) are nothing special. Directors like Ben Affleck and Paul Thomas Anderson deserve more recognition for their feats than Spielberg for they have both created something that is unlike the rest. We've all seen "Lincoln" a thousand times before. Hell, if it up were up to me, I'd make sure that directors like William Friedkin and Rian Johnson got the credit they deserved. It just seems like the Academy is giving it to Spielberg because he's Spielberg.
Lezlie | Sat Dec 08 14:42:50 EST 2012
I don't believe Michael Haneke will get nominated, and Amour is not likely to get a best picture nom, although a Foreign Language slot is assured for it (and it can probably win it). The first four seem to be very likely, with Tarantino, Russell and Hooper duking it out for the last spot.
Zane | Thu Dec 06 21:32:51 EST 2012
Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, The Dark Knight Rises, and maybe Moonrise Kingdom, The Master, Silver Linings Playbook.
Newly updated No Les Miserables, Hobbit, Django Unchained, and no Amour.
Amour is foreign language, the rest don't have high enough ratings.
Nick | Thu Dec 06 06:46:31 EST 2012
Nolan will be snubbed as usual. He deserved it for Inception but was snubbed. I think Rian Johnson should get a nomination for Looper. Very well directed
Tony | Wed Dec 05 17:31:21 EST 2012
It will be Spielberg for "Lincoln"
Ignatius J Reilly | Wed Dec 05 12:26:17 EST 2012
I vote Affleck only because of the five here, 3 have one it previously (Spielberg twice), which leads me to believe they won't win again. Only because the films they are nominated for seem minor compared to their previous work. Except for Bigelow; not sure why she is even taken seriously. I don't care to see another film about our military conflicts in the Middle East. Anderson shouldn't be discounted. The Academy has been kind to him in the past.
Bob | Mon Dec 03 18:15:28 EST 2012
Peter Jackson for The Hobbit not being anywhere on this list as a possible spoiler, or even a long shot its absolute insanity.
Dave Traverso | Mon Dec 03 10:32:41 EST 2012
I think there's currently only two stone-cold locks in this category, Affleck and Spielberg. Assuming ZD30 and Les Mis are as good as we anticipate, I see one odd man out in the collection of Bigelow, Hooper, Lee and Paul Thomas Anderson. The academy LOVES Anderson, which could lead to a snub for Lee. But until ZD30 and Les Mis get screened a little more, it's too early to tell. www.moviecriticdave.blogspot.com/
monkeypox6 | Sat Dec 01 00:47:51 EST 2012
my nominees list: (in alphabetical order by movie)
1. Ben Affleck, "Argo"
2. Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"
3. Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"
4. Tom Hooper, "Les Miserables"
5. Kathryn Bigelow, "Zero Dark Thirty"
MICHAEL | Fri Nov 30 18:14:04 EST 2012
Where the hell's Christopher Nolan?!
Zane | Thu Nov 29 18:08:24 EST 2012
Christopher Nolan should be nominated for The Dark Knight Rises. Ben Affleck for Agro, Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. Upcoming guesses Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty. These four at least
Zane | Thu Nov 29 18:08:07 EST 2012
Christopher Nolan should be nominated for The Dark Knight Rises. Ben Affleck for Agro, Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. Upcoming guesses Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty. These four at least
Zane | Thu Nov 29 18:07:54 EST 2012
Christopher Nolan should be nominated for The Dark Knight Rises. Ben Affleck for Agro, Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. Upcoming guesses Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty. These four at least
SACHIN | Tue Nov 27 23:48:15 EST 2012
Christopher Nolan is the best director ever..!!
Kyle D. | Sun Nov 25 14:40:49 EST 2012
Understand that the pictures you might consider the most entertaining films and what will be considered by the academy as "best" films are often greatly misaligned. i.e. TDKR, The Avengers, Prometheus, etc.
james | Sun Nov 18 16:21:55 EST 2012
nolan for batman? nolan fanboys are too funny. Peter jackson will probably get the nod since the hobbit is this year.