Oscar Predictions 2013: Best Director.

 

Looking back over my previous Oscar predictions, I realised that I'd completely forgot to post Best Director, silly billy. Anyway, even though it's late now, here it is. Normally the Oscar for Best Director goes hand in hand with Best Picture and I can see why but more often than not, I believe these awards should go to two different films, like when Chicago won Best Picture and Roman Polanski won Best Director for the Pianist. Ok, maybe that's not the best example. Maybe a better one would be the Bafta's a few years ago when The Kings Speech won Best Picture and David Fincher won Best Director for the Social Network. Lets take a look at who will get nominated this year.

 

Ben Affleck, who was an early favourite with Argo, will still see his name be called out when they reveal the nominations, but his chances of winning are slipping away from him. However, I think the critical success of Argo is helping build momentum for his next film. Maybe we'll see Ben Affleck receive an Oscar for best director in the not too distant future.

 

 

Kathryn Bigelow, previous winner for the Hurt Locker, is looking like she has a good chance of picking up a second Oscar in this category with Zero Dark Thirty. The momentum is starting to build and it's already picked up a Critics Choice and Golden Globe nomination. The only thing standing in her way?

 

 

Steven Spielberg, whose name will of course be called out when they announce the nominations this week. Lincoln, which is the current front runner and the one to beat it would seem, is on top of nearly everyone's predictions list. If he does win then this will be his fourth Oscar.

 

 

Ang Lee, a previous winner in this category for Brokeback Mountain, has shot up the list after critical praise for his work on Life of Pi, but I don't think he has a chance to win.

 

The last spot is a little bit hard to call, Tom Hooper who was an early favourite for Les Miserables seems to have lost a lot of his momentum after being criticised for zooming in too close on the actors mouths while singing, but I think the academy is likely to give a nomination to justify their choice in awarded him best director for the Kings Speech. Of course David O Russell has a good shot with Silver Linings Playbook after picking up a critics choice nomination. Even Quentin Tarantino, who's been previously nominated in this category twice before, has a chance with Django Unchanined, which landed a Golden Globe Nomination. Or could we see a surprise nomination for Michael Haneke for the National Society of Film Critics awards film of the year Amour? We'll just have to wait and see.

With all this in mind, here are my predictions for Best Director:

1. Steven Spielberg - Lincoln.

2. Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty.

3. Ben Affleck - Argo.

4. Ang Lee - Life of Pi.

5. Tom Hooper - Les Miserables.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Or have I forgotten something you think should be nominated? Let me know.