Best Director
Michael Haneke, Amour
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
One of the toughest categories to call due to Ben Affleck’s absence; usually, Best Director and Best Picture go hand in hand, but that will not be the case this year, and as such, my money is tentatively on Spielberg. The Academy clearly adores Lincoln – if Argo did not exist, it would be this year’s big winner – and Spielberg has more than enough clout, respect, and admiration within the voting body to win another Oscar. It will be well deserved, too, though I personally think, of the five nominees, David O. Russell’s film and direction is the best. If Life of Pi dominates the evening early on, there is a chance Ang Lee slips in here, and I would not count out Michael Haneke entirely, but I think it is safe to assume we will see Spielberg on stage at the end of the night.
Will Win: Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Should Win: David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
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