After a year of amazing films and performances, the nominees for the 94th Academy Awards have been announced. As usual, there are films with multiple nominations across the show like West Side Story and The Power of The Dog, but also surprising accolades for films like the animated documentary Flee or the emotional CODA. With a variety of talent, the ceremony is shaping up to be a must-watch.
But, every mind-bending film and performance is not possible without the careful crafting that the film's director does. From planning out their vision to pulling the best performance out of an actor, the director is one of the most important people in a film — and especially in the eyes of the Oscars. Best Director is one of the ceremony's most prestigious awards, honoring some of the most talented people in the industry. This year's lineup is no different. Only one out of the five nominees have never been nominated for the Best Directing category before, and many of the others are staples in Hollywood. With less than two months until the event, let's review who managed to get nominated and figure out who could take home the coveted golden statue.
Jane Campion (The Power of The Dog)
The New Zealand director makes Oscar history with this nomination. Campion is now the first female director to be nominated for Best Director twice in her career — she first earned a nomination for the 1994 period dramaThe Piano. Back almost 30 years later, Campion's psychological Western The Power of the Dog has the most nominations out of any film, spanning across 12 categories, including three acting nominations for her talented cast. Campion's direction has helped give actors their Oscars in the past, and it's likely to happen at these ceremonies as well. But will it be enough to bring home a statue for herself? It's more than likely.
Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)
An idol in the world of independent filmmaking, Paul Thomas Anderson is no stranger to Oscar nominations, or even to this category (this is now his third time up for Best Director, after nominations for There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread.) PTA's LicoricePizza is a love letter to 1970s Southern California penned by the director himself and full of talented performers like Bradley Cooper and Alana Haim. While he is more than overdue for a win of any kind, it's likely that Paul Thomas Anderson will be overshadowed by the industry titans in the category once again.
Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)
When you think of the word director, Steven Spielberg is quick to come to mind, and for good reason. His reimagining of this 1957 musical is his seventh nomination for Best Director, and makes him the first filmmaker to be nominated in the category for six straight decades. Spielberg's West Side Story was received well by critics and audiences alike, but it might just be another title to add to the ever-growing list. It's much more likely that West Side Story will garner awards for its production design or stellar performance by Ariana DeBose (up for Best Supporting Actress) than for Spielberg's directing.
Kenneth Branagh (Belfast)
A classically trained actor, Kenneth Branagh is no stranger to the Academy Awards, whether he's behind or in front of the camera. Branagh has been in the industry for over three decades, starring in and directing multiple adaptations of works by William Shakespeare. His previous Best Director nomination was for 1989's Henry V. Kenneth's Belfast is a more personal story, inspired by his adolescence in Northern Ireland at the end of the 1960s.
While Belfast and its directing has garnered praise, if the Golden Globes ceremony last month is any indicator, it may not be enough to secure Branagh with a win for directing. That being said, a win for Best Original Screenplay seems to be on the multi-hyphenate's horizon.
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)
After years of being beloved in his home country of Japan, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi has finally been recognized by The Academy. Hamaguchi has been making films since the early 2000s, stepping onto the scene in 2008 with Passion, and gaining national attention with 2014's Happy Hour. His newest film, Drive My Car, inspired by a Haruki Murakami short story, is a drama focused on the relationship between a widowed theater director and his chauffeur during a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima.
Adored by critics, Drive My Car had a limited US release and could have puzzled viewers seeing its nomination. While the film has often been named the best of the year, it doesn't seem like a front-runner, at least in the Directing category. Its presence in the Best Adapted Screenplay category should be noted, though!