The State of the Race: Best Director – Scorsese Clears the Room

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It’s unlikely that 2013, despite the slate of exceptionally good films, will equal last year’s collective box office take. Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, Life of Pi, Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained and Les Miserables were all $100 million babies before the Oscars. That’s seven out of nine that made over $100 million.

This year, so far, only two films have landed in that sweet spot. The first, is Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which has earned $114 million. And then there is Gravity, which has made $200 million in less than four weeks of release. Next in line, at least so far, is Paul Greengrass’ Captain Phillips, which has earned $70 million. It should have no trouble getting to $100 mil.

The three proven thoroughbreds are fast out of the gate in the early stages of what is shaping up to be a photo finish in several categories for Oscars 2013. Hot on their heels will be Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, Steve McQueen’s 12 years a Slave, The Coens’ Inside Llewyn Davis, Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, JC Chandor’s All is Lost. It’s a testimony to the depth of the field that dazzlers like Spike Jonze’s Her, Jean-Marc Vallée’s Dallas Buyers Club are still penciled in as longshots. None of the remaining films, though, seem poised to triumph at the box office. This has been the norm lately for the Oscar race. Last year’s financial bonanza was unusually good fortune for all involved.

With The Monuments Men and Foxcatcher moving to next year, there are only a small handful of “Oscar movies” left to be seen. Both David O. Russell’s American Hustle and John Lee Hancock’s Saving Mr. Banks seem like they could both hit $100 mil, especially Russell’s, being that it has Jennifer Lawrence in it. She’ll once again own the box office with that and Catching Fire.

But right now, since it was just announced that The Wolf of Wall Street is indeed opening in 2013, all eyes turn to Mr. Scorsese and Mr. DiCaprio, who have never made a movie together that didn’t make at least $100 mil since Gangs of New York didn’t quite get there, earning $70 mil. The DiCaprio/Scorsese hit parade so far:

Shutter Island $128,012,934
The Departed $132,384,315
The Aviator $102,610,330

Of those, only Shutter Island failed to get a Best Picture nomination, though it should have.

Is money going to make a difference this year? Probably not. Though even on the smaller scales that many of the strongest contenders will find themselves, they’re still making money. Oscar buzz does translate to extra dollars at the box office. Even the slightest hint of awards usually means the difference between someone buying a ticket or not. The Oscars are the big one, of course. But the Golden Globes, the DGA and the SAG – maybe even the Spirit Awards – can mean buzz, which means more money.

12 Years a Slave, for instance, made it into the top ten over the weekend, while playing only at 123 locations. It’s only made $3 million so far but that number is going to climb, I promise you, as the film starts collecting statues.

The Wolf of Wall Street now joins American Hustle, 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, Fruitvale Station, The Butler, Rush, Saving Mr. Banks, and The Dallas Buyers Club as the Best Picture contenders based on true stories. Many of those depicted in these films are still alive. The real Captain Phillips is on television constantly – he sells the movie entirely on his own charm.

But only The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle are about American anti-heroes rather straight up heroes, as the other films offer up. That makes them stand out, though one without the other would certainly stand out more. As it is, they will have to compete with each other in similar terrain; though their subjects are totally different, neither film is telling the story of good guys fighting the good fight.

For Scorsese, this is comfortable territory, as the director takes to mob and corruption movies like a duck to water and his fans love these movies above all others. While Scorsese is visiting what could be familiar terrain, David O. Russell is currently directing at what many define as his most ferocious in his long history. The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and now, American Hustle, he is likely to ring the bell this year at being right at the top of his game. Does that mean he’ll be in line for an Oscar nod for director? I’m sure that right now most pundits have him securely in as one of the five.

Let’s take a look right now at Best Director and how the five might start to shape up. It’s impossible to say whether Scorsese will be in or not, but one must hold his place nonetheless, being that he, along with Woody Allen and the Coens are gods among directors — routinely delivering the goods, year after year after year. Scorsese and Allen, along with the third of the 70s trio Steven Spielberg (who doesn’t have a film this year) are particularly impressive – Allen having made his best film since Crimes and Misdemeanors and Scorsese, well, what is there left to say.

The Directors Guild will once again leave the Academy to mostly fly blind with their predictions. The DGA has around 14,500 members, where the Academy’s directors branch has around 400. It tends to work much more harmoniously when the DGA announces their nominations and then the Academy doesn’t have to do as much work – they can piggy-back what the DGA has done. But last year, for the first time in as long as I could find out (going back sixty years), the Academy picked their five BEFORE the DGA announced theirs. We’re mostly in that same situation again, with only one day between the DGA’s announcement and the Academy’s ballot deadline. But since most members will have long since voted, we’re likely looking at another scenario where the expected five turn out not to be.

It ended up looking like this:

DGA’s nominees
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper, Les Miserables
Ben Affleck, Argo (the winner)

Academy’s five:
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Ang Lee, Life of Pi (winner)
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Michael Haneke, Amour
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

When I say no one was taking my warnings seriously I mean — my theory about the DGA was blown off by everyone in my field. Most said it wouldn’t matter – that the Academy and the DGA would vote the same way. They didn’t. Also, only two nominees made both lists. You have go pretty far back in Academy/DGA history to find such an odd occurrence. It hardly ever happens.

Couldn’t it just be that the Academy relies heavily on the DGA to help them decide who should get nominated? Doesn’t just the nomination itself suddenly elevate the status of any nominee over another? Of course it does.

The other possibility is that the Directors branch didn’t see fit to follow the status quo, the consensus that is built up starting, well, now, and wanted to go another way. Could it be they felt obligated to nominate Bigelow, Affleck, Tarantino, Hooper but instead went with what they liked best? I don’t know the why of it. I only know how it all turned out, which was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the fifteen years I’ve been watching the race.

That Argo won in such a weird year only added to the weirdness because it was one of the first times I’ve ever seen (well, since Driving Miss Daisy) where the directors, who usually lead the Best Picture race, were selected out of the process. That is kind of like winning the presidential election without Ohio (which Obama could have done, incidentally).

So, where does that leave us this year? How might things go? It is an equally competitive year as last, with as many great movies crowding in for attention. Mercifully, several have opted out of this year’s race which makes it a little less difficult.

Let’s first look at the films that are known quantities – those that have been seen, reviewed, and in some case, actually opened to the public.

The locks right now:

Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Alexander Payne, Nebraska

The first two will likely fill every list, much the way Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee did last year. I can’t imagine any sane person leaving off Payne so for me he in.

Next:


4. Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips (I feel sure he will be one of the mainstays in the category
5. Joel and Ethan Coen for Inside Llewyn Davis — it’s hard to gauge whether this film will hit with the big voting bodies or not. But they’re the Coens, and they made one of the best films of the year.

The next in line would be:

6. Lee Daniels, The Butler (won’t hit with the critics but perhaps with the larger voting bodies)
7. JC Chandor, All is Lost —I suspect Chandor could Benh Zeitlin his way into the Academy’s five.
8. Woody Allen, totally deserves it for Blue Jasmine but he’s had so many at bats… of course, he is being awarded at the Globes for a lifetime achievement award, which could go a long way towards pushing him towards an Academy nod. He could Michael Haneke his way into the Academy’s five.
9. Spike Jonze, Her – anything’s possible with a movie that hasn’t opened yet.
10. Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station – this young auteur will have many more opportunities for recognition – his movie might get into Best Picture, and he’ll likely be nominated for Screenplay. Director is a tougher field.

There are plenty of other names hovering on the periphery, like Jason Reitman for Labor Day, Jean-Marc Valle for Dallas Buyers Club, Richard Linklater for Before Midnight, etc. But there are only five slots. Five.

Coming up right behind them are:

1. Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street – because Scorsese. Nothing else needs to be said.
2. David O. Russell, American Hustle – homeboy is on fire.
3. John Lee Hancock, Saving Mr. Banks – who knows, right?
4. Scott Cooper, Out of the Furnace.
5. Peter Berg, Lone Survivor – well, you never know.

If I had to guess how they might divide up between DGA and Academy I might do it like this:

DGA
Steve McQueen
Alfonso Cuaron
Paul Greengrass
Alexander Payne
Martin Scorsese
David O. Russell

Then, the Academy, if they don’t choose the same names (it’s a crap shoot whether they will or not) might go:

Steve McQueen
Alfonso Cuaron
Martin Scorsese
JC Chandor
The Coens

We just don’t know anything yet. The only thing we do know is that there is a chance that the DGA and Oscar might not match up. Is that the end of the world? No, but it opens the door for a film like Argo, without a directors nomination, to win. Clearly, that matters now less than it used to.

The only thing we know for sure right now is that this prize is Steve McQueen’s to lose. The Wolf waits at the door. Any year with Scorsese in the race is a good year.

FEATURE FILM AWARD DGA’S Site

DGA | Oscar

 *film nominated/+ won Best Picture at the Oscars

2012

Steven Spielberg, Lincoln	Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Ang Lee, Life of Pi	Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Ben Affleck, Argo	David O. Russell, Silver Linings
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty	Michael Haneke Amour
Tom Hooper, Les Miserables	Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

2011

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist	Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist+
Martin Scorsese, Hugo	Martin Scorsese, Hugo*
Alexander Payne, The Descendants	Alexander Payne, The Descendants*
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris	Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris*
David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	Terrence Malick, Tree of Life*

2010

Tom Hooper The King’s Speech	Tom Hooper the King’s Speech+
David Fincher, Social Network	David Fincher, Social Network*
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan	Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan*
David O’Russell, The Fighter	David O’Russell, The Fighter*
Christopher Nolan, Inception*	The Coens, True Grit*

2009

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker	Bigelow, Hurt Locker+
Lee Daniels, Precious	Lee Daniels, Precious*
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air	Jason Reitman, Up in the Air*
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds	Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds*
Jim Cameron, Avatar	Jim Cameron, Avatar*

2008

Danny Boyle, Slumdog	Danny Boyle, Slumdog+
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon	Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon*
Gus Van Sant, Milk	Gus Van Sant, Milk*
David Fincher, Benjamin Button	David Fincher, Benjamin Button*
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight	Stephen Daldry, The Reader*

2007

Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country	Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country+
Sean Penn, Into the Wild	Jason Reitman, Juno*
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly	Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton	Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton*
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood	Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood*

2006

Stephen Frears, The Queen	Stephen Frears, The Queen*
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel	Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel*
Bill Condon, Dreamgirls	Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima*
Faris and Dayton, Little Miss Sunshine*	Paul Greengrass, United 93
Martin Scorsese, The Departed	Martin Scorsese, The Departed+

2005

Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain	Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain *
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck	George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck*
Paul Haggis, Crash	Paul Haggis, Crash+
Bennett Miller, Capote	Bennett Miller, Capote*
Steven Spielberg, Munich	Steven Spielberg, Munich *

2004

Alexander Payne for Sideways	Alexander Payne for Sideways*
Martin Scorsese for The Aviator	Martin Scorsese for The Aviator*
Taylor Hackford for Ray	Taylor Hackford for Ray*
Marc Forster for Finding Neverland*	Mike Leigh for Vera Drake
Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby	Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby+

2003

Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation	Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation*
Clint Eastwood, Mystic River	Clint Eastwood, Mystic River*
Peter Jackson, ROTK	Peter Jackson, ROTK+
Peter Weir, Master and Commander	Peter Weir, Master and Commander*
Gary Ross, Seabiscuit*	Fernando Merielles, City of God

2002

Martin Scorsese, Gangs of New York	Martin Scorsese*
Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings*	Pedro Almodovar
Roman Polanski, The Pianist	Roman Polanski*
Rob Marshall, Chicago	Rob Marshall+
Steven Daldry, The Hours	Steven Daldry*

2001

Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind	Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind+
Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings	Peter Jackson, LOTR*
Christopher Nolan, Memento	Robert Altman, Gosford Park*
Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down	Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down
Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge*	David Lynch, Mulholland Drive

2000

Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous	Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot*
Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon	Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*
Ridley Scott, Gladiator	Ridley Scott, Gladiator+
Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich	Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich *
Steven Soderbergh, Traffic	Steven Soderbergh, Traffic*

1999

Frank Darabont, The Green Mile*	Lasse Hallstrom, Cider House Rules*
Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich	Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich
Michael Mann, The Insider	Michael Mann, The Insider*
Sam Mendes, American Beauty	Sam Mendes, American Beauty+
M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense	M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense*

1998

Peter Weir, Truman Show	Peter Weir, Truman Show
Terrence Malick, Thin Red Line	Terrence Malick, Thin Red Line
John Madden, Shakes in Love	John Madden, Shakes in Love*
Steven Spielberg, SPR	Steven Spielberg, SPR
Roberto Benigni, Life is Beautiful	Roberto Benigni, Life is Beautiful

1997

James L. Brooks As Good As It Gets*	Peter Cattaneo, The Full Monty*
Steven Spielberg Amistad	Atom Egoyan, The Sweet Hereafter
Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting	Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting*
James Cameron, Titanic	James Cameron, Titanic+
Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential	Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential*

1996

Cameron Crowe, Jerry Maguire*	Milos Forman for The People vs. Larry Flynt
Joel Coen, Fargo	Joel Coen, Fargo*
Mike Leigh, Secrets & Lies	Mike Leigh, Secrets & Lies *
Anthony Minghella, The English Patient	Anthony Minghella, The English Patient+
Scott Hicks, Shine	Scott Hicks, Shine*

1995

Mike Figgis for Leaving Las Vegas	Mike Figgis for Leaving Las Vegas
Mel Gibson for Braveheart	Mel Gibson for Braveheart+
Ron Howard for Apollo 13*	Chris Noonan for Babe*
Ang Lee for Sense and Sensibility*	Tim Robbins for Dead Man Walking
Michael Radford for Il Postino	Michael Radford for Il Postino*

1994

Mike Newell for Four Weddings and a Funeral*	Woody Allen for Bullets Over Broadway
Frank Darabont for The Shawshank Redemption*	Krzysztof Kieslowski for Red
Robert Redford for Quiz Show	Robert Redford for Quiz Show*
Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction	Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction*
Robert Zemeckis for Forrest Gump	Robert Zemeckis for Forrest Gump+

1993

Andrew Davis for The Fugitive*	Robert Altman for Short Cuts
Jane Campion for The Piano	Jane Campion for The Piano*
James Ivory for The Remains Of the Day	James Ivory for The Remains Of the Day*
Martin Scorsese for The Age Of Innocence	Jim Sheridan for In the Name Of the Father*
Steven Spielberg for Schindler’s List	Steven Spielberg for Schindler’s List+

1992

Robert Altman for The Player	Robert Altman for The Player
Rob Reiner for A Few Good Men*	Martin Brest for Scent Of a Woman*
Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven	Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven+
James Ivory for Howards End	James Ivory for Howards End*
Neil Jordan for The Crying Game	Neil Jordan for The Crying Game*

1991

Barbra Streisand for The Prince Of Tides*	John Singleton for Boyz N the Hood
Oliver Stone for JFK	Oliver Stone for JFK*
Ridley Scott for Thelma & Louise	Ridley Scott for Thelma & Louise
Barry Levinson for Bugsy	Barry Levinson for Bugsy*
Jonathan Demme for The Silence Of the Lambs	Jonathan Demme for The Silence Of the Lambs+

1990

Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather Part III	Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather Part III*
Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves	Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves+
Barry Levinson for Avalon	Stephen Frears for The Grifters
Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas	Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas*
Giuseppe Tornatore for Cinema Paradiso	Barbet Schroeder for Reversal Of Fortune

1989
Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture

Born on the Fourth of July: Oliver Stone	Born on the Fourth of July: Oliver Stone
Field of Dreams: Phil Alden Robinson	Henry V: Kenneth Branagh
Crimes and Misdemeanors: Woody Allen	Crimes and Misdemeanors: Woody Allen
Dead Poets Society: Peter Weir	Dead Poets Society: Peter Weir
When Harry Met Sally…: Rob Reiner	My Left Foot: Jim Sheridan

1988

Rain Man: Barry Levinson	Rain Man: Barry Levinson+
A Fish Called Wanda: Charles Crichton	A Fish Called Wanda: Charles Crichton
Working Girl: Mike Nichols	Working Girl: Mike Nichols
Mississippi Burning: Alan Parker	Mississippi Burning: Alan Parker
Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Robert Zemeckis	The Last Temptation of Christ: Martin Scorsese

1987

The Last Emperor: Bernardo Bertolucci	The Last Emperor: Bernardo Bertolucci+
Broadcast News: James L. Brooks	Hope and Glory: John Boorman
My Life as a Dog: Lasse Hallström	My Life as a Dog: Lasse Hallström
Empire of the Sun: Steven Spielberg	Moonstruck: Norman Jewison
Fatal Attraction: Adrian Lyne	Fatal Attraction: Adrian Lyne

1986

Platoon: Oliver Stone	Platoon: Oliver Stone+
Hannah and Her Sisters: Woody Allen	Hannah and Her Sisters: Woody Allen
Children of a Lesser God: Randa Haines	The Mission: Roland Joffé
A Room with a View: James Ivory	A Room with a View: James Ivory
Stand by Me: Rob Reiner	Blue Velvet: David Lynch

1985

Out of Africa: Sydney Pollack	Out of Africa: Sydney Pollack+
The Color Purple: Steven Spielberg	Kiss of the Spider Woman: Hector Babenco
Prizzi’s Honor: John Huston	Prizzi’s Honor: John Huston
Cocoon: Ron Howard	Ran: Akira Kurosawa
Witness: Peter Weir	Witness: Peter Weir

1984

Amadeus: Milos Forman	Amadeus: Milos Forman+
Places in the Heart: Robert Benton	Broadway Danny Rose: Woody Allen
A Soldier’s Story: Norman Jewison	Places in the Heart: Robert Benton
The Killing Fields: Roland Joffé	The Killing Fields: Roland Joffé
A Passage to India: David Lean	A Passage to India: David Lean

1983

Terms of Endearment: James L. Brooks	Terms of Endearment: James L. Brooks+
Tender Mercies: Bruce Beresford	Tender Mercies: Bruce Beresford
Fanny and Alexander: Ingmar Bergman	Fanny and Alexander: Ingmar Bergman
The Big Chill: Lawrence Kasdan	Silkwood: Mike Nichols
The Right Stuff: Philip Kaufman	The Dresser: Peter Yates

1982

Gandhi: Richard Attenborough	Gandhi: Richard Attenborough+
An Officer and a Gentleman: Taylor Hackford	The Verdict: Sidney Lumet
Das Boot: Wolfgang Petersen	Das Boot: Wolfgang Petersen
Tootsie: Sydney Pollack	Tootsie: Sydney Pollack
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Steven Spielberg	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Steven Spielberg

1981

Reds: Warren Beatty	Reds: Warren Beatty
Chariots of Fire: Hugh Hudson	Chariots of Fire: Hugh Hudson+
Atlantic City: Louis Malle	Atlantic City: Louis Malle
On Golden Pond: Mark Rydell	On Golden Pond: Mark Rydell
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Steven Spielberg	Raiders of the Lost Ark: Steven Spielberg

1980

Ordinary People: Robert Redford	Ordinary People: Robert Redford+
The Elephant Man: David Lynch	The Elephant Man: David Lynch
Coal Miner’s Daughter: Michael Apted	Tess: Roman Polanski
The Stunt Man: Richard Rush	The Stunt Man: Richard Rush
Raging Bull: Martin Scorsese	Raging Bull: Martin Scorsese

1979

Kramer vs. Kramer: Robert Benton	Kramer vs. Kramer: Robert Benton+
Manhattan: Woody Allen	La cage aux folles: Edouard Molinaro
The China Syndrome: James Bridges	All That Jazz: Bob Fosse
Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola	Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola
Breaking Away: Peter Yates	Breaking Away: Peter Yates

1978

The Deer Hunter: Michael Cimino	The Deer Hunter: Michael Cimino+
An Unmarried Woman: Paul Mazursky	Interiors: Woody Allen
Coming Home: Hal Ashby	Coming Home: Hal Ashby
Heaven Can Wait: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry	Heaven Can Wait: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
Midnight Express: Alan Parker	Midnight Express: Alan Parker

1977

Annie Hall: Woody Allen	Annie Hall: Woody Allen+
Star Wars: George Lucas	Star Wars: George Lucas
The Turning Point: Herbert Ross	The Turning Point: Herbert Ross
Julia: Fred Zinnemann	Julia: Fred Zinnemann
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Steven Spielberg	Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Steven Spielberg

1976

Rocky: John G. Avildsen	Rocky: John G. Avildsen+
Taxi Driver: Martin Scorsese	Face to Face: Ingmar Bergman
Network: Sidney Lumet	Network: Sidney Lumet
All the President’s Men: Alan J. Pakula	All the President’s Men: Alan J. Pakula
Seven Beauties: Lina Wertmüller	Seven Beauties: Lina Wertmüller

1975

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Milos Forman	One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Milos Forman+
Nashville: Robert Altman	Nashville: Robert Altman
Jaws: Steven Spielberg	Amarcord: Federico Fellini
Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick	Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick
Dog Day Afternoon: Sidney Lumet	Dog Day Afternoon: Sidney Lumet

1974

The Godfather: Part II: Francis Ford Coppola	The Godfather: Part II: Francis Ford Coppola+
The Conversation: Francis Ford Coppola	A Woman Under the Influence: John Cassavetes
Lenny: Bob Fosse	Lenny: Bob Fosse
Chinatown: Roman Polanski	Chinatown: Roman Polanski
Murder on the Orient Express: Sidney Lumet	Day for Night: François Truffaut

1973

The Sting: George Roy Hill	The Sting: George Roy Hill+
Last Tango in Paris: Bernardo Bertolucci	Last Tango in Paris: Bernardo Bertolucci
The Exorcist: William Friedkin	The Exorcist: William Friedkin
American Graffiti: George Lucas	American Graffiti: George Lucas
Serpico: Sidney Lumet	Cries & Whispers: Ingmar Bergman

1972

Cabaret: Bob Fosse	Cabaret: Bob Fosse
Deliverance: John Boorman	Deliverance: John Boorman
The Godfather: Francis Ford Coppola	The Godfather: Francis Ford Coppola+
Sounder: Martin Ritt	Sleuth: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Slaughterhouse-Five: George Roy Hill	The Emigrants: Jan Troell

1971

The French Connection: William Friedkin	The French Connection: William Friedkin+
The Last Picture Show: Peter Bogdanovich	The Last Picture Show: Peter Bogdanovich
Summer of ’42: Robert Mulligan	Fiddler on the Roof: Norman Jewison
A Clockwork Orange: Stanley Kubrick	A Clockwork Orange: Stanley Kubrick
Sunday Bloody Sunday: John Schlesinger	Sunday Bloody Sunday: John Schlesinger

1970

Patton: Franklin J. Schaffner	Patton: Franklin J. Schaffner
MASH: Robert Altman	MASH: Robert Altman
Love Story: Arthur Hiller	Love Story: Arthur Hiller
Ryan’s Daughter: David Lean	Fellini Satyricon: Federico Fellini
Five Easy Pieces: Bob Rafelson	Women in Love: Ken Russell

1969

Midnight Cowboy: John Schlesinger	Midnight Cowboy: John Schlesinger
Z: Costa-Gavras	Z: Costa-Gavras
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: George Roy Hill	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: George Roy Hill
Easy Rider: Dennis Hopper	Arthur Penn, Alice’s Restaurant
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?: Sydney Pollack	They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?: Sydney Pollack
Oh! What a Lovely War: Richard Attenborough
Hello, Dolly!: Gene Kelly
The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah
Goodbye, Columbus: Larry Peerce
Medium Cool: Haskell Wexler

1968

Oliver!: Carol Reed	Oliver!: Carol Reed
2001: A Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick	2001: A Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick
Rachel, Rachel: Paul Newman	The Lion in Winter: Anthony Harvey
Funny Girl: William Wyler	The Battle of Algiers: Gillo Pontecorvo
Isabel: Paul Almond
Closely Watched Trains: Jirí Menzel
Hello, Dolly!: Gene Kelly
Rosemary’s Baby: Roman Polanski
The Odd Couple: Gene Saks
Romeo and Juliet: Franco Zeffirelli	Romeo and Juliet: Franco Zeffirelli

1967

The Graduate: Mike Nichols	The Graduate: Mike Nichols
In Cold Blood: Richard Brooks	In Cold Blood: Richard Brooks
In the Heat of the Night: Norman Jewison	In the Heat of the Night: Norman Jewison+
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Stanley Kramer	Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Stanley Kramer
Bonnie and Clyde: Arthur Penn	Bonnie and Clyde: Arthur Penn
The Dirty Dozen: Robert Aldrich
To Sir, with Love: James Clavell
Two for the Road: Stanley Donen
Cool Hand Luke: Stuart Rosenberg
Ulysses: Joseph Strick

1966

A Man for All Seasons: Fred Zinnemann	A Man for All Seasons: Fred Zinnemann+
Grand Prix: John Frankenheimer	Blow-Up: Michelangelo Antonioni
The Professionals: Richard Brooks	The Professionals: Richard Brooks
Alfie: Lewis Gilbert*
Born Free: James Hill
The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming: Norman Jewison*
A Man and a Woman: Claude Lelouch	A Man and a Woman: Claude Lelouch
Georgy Girl: Silvio Narizzano
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Mike Nichols	Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Mike Nichols*
The Sand Pebbles: Robert Wise*

1965

The Sound of Music: Robert Wise+	The Sound of Music: Robert Wise+
The Ipcress File: Sidney J. Furie	Doctor Zhivago: David Lean
The Pawnbroker: Sidney Lumet	Woman in the Dunes: Hiroshi Teshigahara
Darling: John Schlesinger	Darling: John Schlesinger
Cat Ballou: Elliot Silverstein	The Collector: William Wyler

 

1964

My Fair Lady: George Cukor	My Fair Lady: George Cukor+
The Night of the Iguana: John Huston	Zorba the Greek: Mihalis Kakogiannis
Becket: Peter Glenville	Becket: Peter Glenville
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: Stanley Kubrick	Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: Stanley Kubrick
Mary Poppins: Robert Stevenson	Mary Poppins: Robert Stevenson

1963

Tom Jones: Tony Richardson	Tom Jones: Tony Richardson
8½: Federico Fellini	8½: Federico Fellini
America, America: Elia Kazan	America, America: Elia Kazan
Lilies of the Field: Ralph Nelsonk	The Cardinal: Otto Preminger
Hud: Martin Ritt	Hud: Martin Ritt

1962

Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean	Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean+
Divorce Italian Style: Pietro Germi	Divorce Italian Style: Pietro Germi
To Kill a Mockingbird: Robert Mulligan	To Kill a Mockingbird: Robert Mulligan
The Miracle Worker: Arthur Penn	The Miracle Worker: Arthur Penn
Birdman of Alcatraz: John Frankenheimer	David and Lisa: Frank Perry
The Manchurian Candidate: John Frankenheimer
The Longest Day: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki
Freud: John Huston
Lolita: Stanley Kubrick
Long Day’s Journey Into Night: Sidney Lumet
Billy Budd: Peter Ustinov
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?: Robert Aldrich
The Music Man: Morton DaCosta
Mutiny on the Bounty: Lewis Milestone
Requiem for a Heavyweight: Ralph Nelson
A Taste of Honey: Tony Richardson

1961

West Side Story: Robert Wise	West Side Story: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins+
	La Dolce Vita: Federico Fellini
Judgment at Nuremberg: Stanley Kramer	Judgment at Nuremberg: Stanley Kramer*
The Hustler: Robert Rossen	The Hustler: Robert Rossen*
The Guns of Navarone: J. Lee Thompson	The Guns of Navarone: J. Lee Thompson*
Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Blake Edwards
One-Eyed Jacks: Marlon Brando
Pocketful of Miracles: Frank Capra
The Innocents: Jack Clayton
Summer and Smoke: Peter Glenville
The Misfits: John Huston
Splendor in the Grass: Elia Kazan
Flower Drum Song: Henry Koster
A Majority of One: Mervyn LeRoy
Hand in Hand: Philip Leacock
Fanny: Joshua Logan
El Cid: Anthony Mann
The Great Impostor: Robert Mulligan
A Raisin in the Sun: Daniel Petrie
The AbsentMinded Professor: Robert Stevenson
Romanoff and Juliet: Peter Ustinov
The Children’s Hour: William Wyler

1960

The Apartment: Billy Wilder	The Apartment: Billy Wilder
Sons and Lovers: Jack Cardiff	Sons and Lovers: Jack Cardiff
Bells Are Ringing: Vincente Minnelli	Never on Sunday: Jules Dassin
Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock	Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock
The Sundowners: Fred Zinnemann	The Sundowners: Fred Zinnemann
Elmer Gantry: Richard Brooks
Sunrise at Campobello: Vincent J. Donehue
Sink the Bismarck!: Lewis Gilbert
Can-Can: Walter Lang
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs: Delbert Mann
Home from the Hill: Vincente Minnelli
Our Man in Havana: Carol Reed
Hiroshima, mon amour: Alain Resnais
Please Don’t Eat the Daisies: Charles Walters

1959

Ben-Hur: William Wyler	Ben-Hur: William Wyler
Anatomy of a Murder: Otto Preminger	Room at the Top: Jack Clayton
The Diary of Anne Frank: George Stevens	The Diary of Anne Frank: George Stevens
Some Like It Hot: Billy Wilder	Some Like It Hot: Billy Wilder
The Nun’s Story: Fred Zinnemann	The Nun’s Story: Fred Zinnemann
The Shaggy Dog: Charles Barton
A Hole in the Head: Frank Capra
Compulsion: Richard Fleischer
The Horse Soldiers: John Ford
Rio Bravo: Howard Hawks
North by Northwest: Alfred Hitchcock
Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys!: Leo McCarey
Imitation of Life: Douglas Sirk

1958

Gigi: Vincente Minnelli	Gigi: Vincente Minnelli
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof	Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Richard Brooks
The Defiant Ones: Stanley Kramer	The Defiant Ones: Stanley Kramer
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness: Mark Robson	The Inn of the Sixth Happiness: Mark Robson
I Want to Live!: Robert Wise	I Want to Live!: Robert Wise
Damn Yankees!: George Abbott, Stanley Donen
The Brothers Karamazov: Richard Brooks
Cowboy: Delmer Daves
The Young Lions: Edward Dmytryk
The Vikings: Richard Fleischer
Vertigo: Alfred Hitchcock
The Long, Hot Summer: Martin Ritt
Teacher’s Pet: George Seaton
The Big Country: William Wyler

1957

The Bridge on the River Kwai: David Lean	The Bridge on the River Kwai: David Lean
Les Girls: George Cukor	Sayonara: Joshua Logan
12 Angry Men: Sidney Lumet	12 Angry Men: Sidney Lumet
Peyton Place: Mark Robson	Peyton Place: Mark Robson
Witness for the Prosecution: Billy Wilder	Witness for the Prosecution: Billy Wilder
Funny Face: Stanley Donen
The Great Man: José Ferrer
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison: John Huston
A Face in the Crowd: Elia Kazan
The Pride and the Passion: Stanley Kramer
Men in War: Anthony Mann
An Affair to Remember: Leo McCarey
Fear Strikes Out: Robert Mulligan
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: John Sturges
Love in the Afternoon: Billy Wilder
A Hatful of Rain: Fred Zinnemann

1956

Giant: George Stevens	Giant: George Stevens
Around the World in Eighty Days: Michael Anderson	Around the World in Eighty Days: Michael Anderson
The King and I: Walter Lang	The King and I: Walter Lang
War and Peace: King Vidor	War and Peace: King Vidor
Friendly Persuasion: William Wyler	Friendly Persuasion: William Wyler
The Teahouse of the August Moon: Daniel Mann
The Searchers: John Ford
The Trouble with Harry: Alfred Hitchcock
The Man Who Knew Too Much: Alfred Hitchcock
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit: Nunnally Johnson
Carousel: Henry King
Trapeze: Carol Reed
Alexander the Great: Robert Rossen
Meet Me in Las Vegas: Roy Rowland
The Eddy Duchin Story: George Sidney
Moby Dick: John Huston
Bus Stop: Joshua Logan
Somebody Up There Likes Me: Robert Wise

1955

Marty: Delbert Mann	Marty: Delbert Mann
East of Eden: Elia Kazan	East of Eden: Elia Kazan
Mister Roberts: John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy	Summertime: David Lean
Picnic: Joshua Logan	Picnic: Joshua Logan
Bad Day at Black Rock: John Sturges	Bad Day at Black Rock: John Sturges
The Rose Tattoo: Daniel Mann
Blackboard Jungle: Richard Brooks
The Long Gray Line: John Ford
A Man Called Peter: Henry Koster
The Bridges at Toko-Ri: Mark Robson
Love Me or Leave Me: Charles Vidor
The Seven Year Itch: Billy Wilder

1954

On the Waterfront: Elia Kazan	On the Waterfront: Elia Kazan
Rear Window: Alfred Hitchcock	Rear Window: Alfred Hitchcock
The Country Girl: George Seaton	The Country Girl: George Seaton
The High and the Mighty: William A. Wellman	The High and the Mighty: William A. Wellman
Sabrina: Billy Wilder	Sabrina: Billy Wilder
A Star Is Born: George Cukor
The Caine Mutiny: Edward Dmytryk
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: Stanley Donen
Knock on Wood: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Hell and High Water: Samuel Fuller
Dial M for Murder: Alfred Hitchcock
King of the Khyber Rifles: Henry King
The Glenn Miller Story: Anthony Mann
Three Coins in the Fountain: Jean Negulesco
Riot in Cell Block 11: Don Siegel
Executive Suite: Robert Wise

1953

From Here to Eternity: Fred Zinnemann	From Here to Eternity: Fred Zinnemann
Shane: George Stevens	Shane: George Stevens
Lili: Charles Walters	Lili: Charles Walters
Stalag 17: Billy Wilder	Stalag 17: Billy Wilder
Roman Holiday: William Wyler	Roman Holiday: William Wyler
Come Back Little Sheba: Daniel Mann
Above and Beyond: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
The Robe: Henry Koster
Call Me Madam: Walter Lang
Julius Caesar: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Titanic: Jean Negulesco
Young Bess: George Sidney

1953

The Quiet Man: John Ford	The Quiet Man: John Ford
The Greatest Show on Earth: Cecil B. DeMille	The Greatest Show on Earth: Cecil B. DeMille+
Pat and Mike: George Cukor	Moulin Rouge: John Huston
5 Fingers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz	5 Fingers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
High Noon: Fred Zinnemann	High Noon: Fred Zinnemann
I’ll See You in My Dreams: Michael Curtiz
Singin’ in the Rain: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
My Six Convicts: Hugo Fregonese
The Big Sky: Howard Hawks
Viva Zapata!: Elia Kazan
The Snows of Kilimanjaro: Henry King
Rashomon: Akira Kurosawa
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman: Albert Lewin
The Bad and the Beautiful: Vincente Minnelli
Scaramouche: George Sidney
Ivanhoe: Richard Thorpe
Hans Christian Andersen: Charles Vidor

1952

A Place in the Sun: George Stevens	A Place in the Sun: George Stevens
Strangers on a Train: Alfred Hitchcock	The African Queen: John Huston
A Streetcar Named Desire: Elia Kazan	A Streetcar Named Desire: Elia Kazan
An American in Paris: Vincente Minnelli	An American in Paris: Vincente Minnelli+
Detective Story: William Wyler	Detective Story: William Wyler
Death of a Salesman: Laslo Benedek
Cyrano de Bergerac: Michael Gordon
David and Bathsheba: Henry King
Quo Vadis: Mervyn LeRoy
Decision Before Dawn: Anatole Litvak
Show Boat: George Sidney
The Great Caruso: Richard Thorpe

1951

All About Eve: Joseph L. Mankiewicz	All About Eve: Joseph L. Mankiewicz+
The Asphalt Jungle: John Huston	Born Yesterday: George Cukor
Father’s Little Dividend: Vincente Minnelli	The Asphalt Jungle: John Huston
	The Third Man: Carol Reed
Sunset Blvd.: Billy Wilder	Sunset Blvd.: Billy Wilder

1950

All the King’s Men: Robert Rossen	All the King’s Men: Robert Rossen+
The Third Man: Carol Reed	A Letter to Three Wives: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Champion: Mark Robson	The Fallen Idol: Carol Reed
Lost Boundaries: Alfred L. Werker	Battleground: William A. Wellman
	SuThe Heiress: William Wyler

1949

A Letter to Three Wives: Joseph L. Mankiewicz	Hamlet: Laurence Olivier+
	The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: John Huston
Red River: Howard Hawks	The Search: Fred Zinnemann
The Snake Pit: Anatole Litvak	The Snake Pit: Anatole Litvak
The Search: Fred Zinnemann	Johnny Belinda: Jean Negulesco

+also won Best Picture

(best picture that didn’t match director)

2012
2011	Michel Hazanavicious, The Artist	Michel Hazanavicious, The Artist+
2010	Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech	Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech+
2009	Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker	Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker+
2008	Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire	Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire+
2007	Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country	Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country+
2006	Martin Scorsese, The Departed	Martin Scorsese, The Departed+
2005	Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain	Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain* (Crash+)
2004	Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby	Clint Eastwood, MDB+
2003	Peter Jackson, Return of the King	Peter Jackson, Return of the King+
2002	Rob Marshall, Chicago	Roman Polanski, The Pianist (Chicago)
2001	Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind	Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind+
2000	Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger	Steven Soderbergh, Traffic (Gladiator)
1999	Sam Mendes, American Beauty	Sam Mendes, American Beauty+
1998	Steven Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan	Steven Spielberg (Shakespeare in Love)
1997	Jim Cameron, Titanic	Jim Cameron, Titanic+
1996	Anthony Minghella, English Patient	Anthony Minghella, English Patient+
1995	Ron Howard, Apollo 13	Mel Gibson, Braveheart+
1994	Robert Zemeckis, Forrest Gump	Robert Zemeckis, Forrest Gump+
1993	Seven Spielberg, Schindler’s List	Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List+
1992	Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven	Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven+
1991	Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs	Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs +
1990	Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves	Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves+
1989	Oliver Stone, Born on the Fourth of July	Oliver Stone, Born on the Fourth of July (Driving Miss Daisy – director Beresford not nommed for Oscar or DGA)
1988	Barry Levinson, Rain Man	Barry Levinson, Rain Man+
1987	Bernardo Bertolucci, Last Emperor	Bernardo Bertolucci, Last Emperor+
1986	Oliver Stone, Platoon	Oliver Stone, Platoon+
1985	Steven Spielberg, Color Purple	Sidney Pollack, Out of Africa+
1984:	Milos Forman, Amadeus	Milos Forman, Amadeus+
1983:	James Brooks, Terms of Endearment	James Brooks, Terms of Endearment+
1982:	Richard Attenborough, Gandhi	Richard Attenborough, Gandhi+
1981:	Warren Beatty, Reds	Warren Beatty, Reds (Chariots of Fire)
1980:	Robert Redford, Ordinary People	Robert Redford, Ordinary People+
1979:	Robert Benton, Kramer Vs. Kramer	Robert Benton, Kramer Vs. Kramer+
1978:	Michael Cimino, Deer Hunter	Michael Cimino, Deer Hunter+
1977:	Woody Allen, Annie Hall	Woody Allen, Annie Hall+
1976:	John Avildson, Rocky	John Avildson, Rocky+
1975:	Milos Foreman, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest	Milos Foreman, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest+
1974:	Frances Coppola, Godfather II	Frances Coppola, Godfather II+
1973:	George Roy Hill, The Sting	George Roy Hill+
1972:	Frances Coppola, The Godfather	Bob Fosse, Cabaret (Godfather)
1971:	William Friedkin, The French Connection	William Friedkin, The French Connection+
1970:	Franklin J. Schaffner, Patton	Franklin J. Schaffner , Patton+
1969:	John Schlesinger, Midnight Cowboy	John Schlesinger, Midnight Cowboy+
1968:	Anthony Harvey, Lion in Winter	Carol Reed, Oliver+
1967:	Mike Nichols, The Graduate	Mike Nichols, The Graduate (In Heat of the Night)
1966:	Fred Zinneman, A Man for all Seasons	Fred Zinneman, A Man for all Seasons+
1965:	Robert Wise, The Sound of Music	Robert Wise, the Sound of Music+
1964:	George Cukor, My Fair Lady	George Cukor, My Fair Lady+
1963:	Tony Richardson, Tom Jones	Tony Richardson, Tom Jones+
1962:	David Lean, Lawrence of Arabia	David Lean, Lawrence of Arabia+
1961:	Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise, West Side Story	Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise, West Side Story+
1960:	Billy Wilder, The Apartment	Billy Wilder, The Apartment+
1959:	William Wyler, Ben Hur	William Wyler, Ben Hur+
1958:	Vincent Minnelli, Gigi	Vincent Minnelli, Gigi+
1957:	David Lean, Bridge on the River Kwai	David Lean, Bridge on the River Kwai+
1956:	George Stevens, Giant	George Stevens, Giant (Around/World in 80 Days)
1955:	Delbert Mann, Marty	Delbert Mann, Marty+
1954:	Elia Kazan, On the Waterfront	Elia Kazan, On the Waterfront+
1953:	Fred Zinnemann, From here to Eternity	Fred Zinnemann, From here to Eternity+
1952:	John Ford, The Quiet Man	John Ford, The Quiet Man (Greatest Show on Earth)
1951:	George Stevens, A Place in the Sun	George Stevens, A Place in the Sun (An American in Paris)
1950:	Joseph L. Mankiewicz, All About Eve	Joseph L. Mankiewicz, All About Eve+
1949:	Robert Rossen, All the King’s Men	Joseph L. Mankiewicz for A Letter To Three Wives (All the King’s Men)
1948:	Joseph L. Mankiewicz for A Letter To Three Wives	John Huston, Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Hamlet)
1947		Elia Kaza for Gentleman’s Agreement
1946		William Wyler for The Best Years of Our Lives
1945		Billy Wilder for The Lost Weekend
1944		Leo McCary for Going My Way
1943		Michael Curtiz for Casablanca
1942		William Wyler for Mrs. Miniver
1941		John Ford for How Green Was My Valley
1940		John Ford for The Grapes of Wrath (Rebecca)
1939		Victor Flemming, Gone with the Wind
1938		Frank Capra, You Can’t Take it With You
1937		Leo McCary, The Awful Truth (The Life of Emile Zola)
1936		Frank Capra, Mr. Deed Goes to Town (The Great Ziegfeld)
1935		John Ford, The Informer (Mutiny on the Bounty)
1934		Frank Capra, It Happened One Night
1933		Frank Lloyd, Calvalcade