2009 Oscar Best Contenders Part 3: Best Director

Best Director is always one of those difficult categories. When a powerful film is nominated for both Best Picture and Best Director (as is the case with every single nominee in both categories this year), one has to question what makes the film. Is it the film as a whole? If all the parts of the film, the actors, the cinematography, the music, the art direction, and the director all work together to create the masterpiece, does that make a film a Best Picture? If the film would not be what it is without the masterful work of the director, does that mean that the film should win for Best Director? But aren't all films this way? Isn't the director such an integral part of the film anyway that without him it could not succeed on it's own? If this is true, then perhaps the Best Director award is given to those directors who go beyond simply guiding the film to it's inevitable conclusion. Perhaps it goes to those directors who express those qualities of the Auteur or leave some mark of themselves some way upon the film. Let's examine the nominees:

Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire - This is the expected film to win in this category. Slumdog would have been completely different without Boyle at the helm. (I considered saying "nothing without," but who knows what it would have been like with someone else?) Boyle guided the story to it's conclusion masterfully, and considering he's racked up a half dozen awards already for Best Director, it's looking like there's a good chance he may add one more.

Stephen Daldry, The Reader - A very well done film from the director with the fewest notches under his belt of anyone else in this category. Daldry has only directed a handful of feature films, and this nominee is for a film largely led by the leading actress performance. A longshot candidate for the Oscar gold.

David Fincher, TCCOBB - The second most likely film to win this category. Not much to say about this film, as it is a strong contender for many of it's nominated categories. There's a chance, but I highly doubt it.

Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon - Another film largely carried by the performances of the actors within it. An unlikely winner in this category.

Gus Van Sant, Milk - A great director, an established history, and a great film. Another time and another place, maybe, but this is Boyle's year.

Conclusion: When two strong films are nominated for both Best Director and Best Picture category, the Academy tends to give one award to each film. In this case, look for Boyle to walk away with the Oscar gold for Best Director. Slumdog Millionaire depended too much on his guidance.