With nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards, you’d have to say Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) are all starting to feel fairly locked for Oscar noms for Best Director. One could say the same for Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), given he also landed GG and CCA nominations, but I still feel he’s the shakiest of the bunch.
Anderson is expectedly dominating with wins from the critics groups, with Coogler landing his fair share as well. Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident) scored with New York, and I think just the love for his film overall is enough to see him safely inside the top five for the Oscars.
But this category loves to throw a curveball nomination that few see coming. We know the Academy loves Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), so it could be either of them. The surprisingly strong performance with the Oscars shortlists bodes well for Oliver Laxe (Sirāt). Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Clint Bentley (Train Dreams) are definitely still in the mix. Let’s see what happens when the DGA unveils their nominations on January 8.
BEST DIRECTOR PREDICTIONS:
1. Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – CCA, GG, Gotham
2. Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – CCA, GG
3. Chloé Zhao – Hamnet (Focus Features) – CCA, GG
4. Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident (NEON) – GG, Gotham
5. Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (NEON) – CCA, GG
IN CONTENTION
Noah Baumbach – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Clint Bentley – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Kathryn Bigelow – A House of Dynamite (Netflix)
James Cameron – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)
Jon M. Chu – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix) – CCA, GG
Yorgos Lanthimos – Bugonia (Focus Features)
Oliver Laxe – Sirāt (NEON)
Kleber Mendonça Filho – The Secret Agent (NEON)
Park Chan-wook – No Other Choice (NEON)
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24) – CCA