Oscars

Best Director

Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby)	Taylor Hackford (Ray)	Mile Leigh (Vera Drake)	Alexander Payne (Sideways)	Martin Scorsese (The Aviator)

Should Win: Martin Scorsese Could Win: Clint Eastwood Will Win: Martin Scorsese
Up until the last minute I believed that Scorsese was about to receive his rightful reward. Seeing Eastwood win Best Director, all I could think was that I do not believe in "splitting" between this category and the Best Picture award...

This should really be a no-brainer but Hollywood politics are more tortuous than any other. Martin Scorsese not only is at his 5th nomination, but he might as well receive a career award (Raging Bull, GoodFellas, Gangs of New York, Last Temptation of Christ). Yet he might be in danger of losing again as recently DGA awarded Clint Eastwood with their recognition for the year. The DGA award itself can generate a lot of discussion, but the bottom line is - the race is far from being decided.

As for the other 3 nominees their chances are, I would consider, only very limited. Taylor Hackford's movie (Ray) has perhaps a better chance than he has as a director (and that's not a major chance either). Mike Leigh was a surprise nomination, but he is more likely to prevail in the Screenplay category. Alexander Payne may be David in a fight against two Goliath's. And while some may predict that the two Goliath's may annihilate each other, I guess they would still have each, more votes than Payne.

Current prediction: Martin Scorsese (if not now, then when?)