It’s that time again.  So get out your Clooney puffy #1 fingers and your Coen Brothers pennants.  The Oscar race is on. The following is one in a series on Oscar hopefuls:

Best Director

I would absolutely love to see the Academy double the historical total of women nominated for Best Director this year.  Sofia Coppola, Jane Campioin and Lina Wertmuller are the only women ever to have been up for the statue. This year, Kathryn Bigelow is a deserving lock for Hurt Locker and a career of strong work.  Lone Scherfig, a dark horse for An Education, gave that film gravitas. And Jane Campion has an outside shot for Bright Star.

In December, I was thinking that this would also be the year for Michael Haneke, arguably the most important European filmmaker of the last twenty years, to be recognized.  But The White Ribbon doesn’t seem to have the necessary scratch behind it.  Lee Daniels, his whacked-out style so perfect for Precious, should be there.  From there, I just hope a number of noble projects, some by Academy faves, don’t elbow out those who have done some truly outstanding work in this category this year.

-Pops Corn