Golden Globe Nominees: Best Director - Motion Picture

The nominees:
RIDLEY SCOTT, AMERICAN GANGSTER
JOE WRIGHT, ATONEMENT
JULIAN SCHNABEL, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
THE COEN BROTHERS, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
TIM BURTON, SWEENEY TODD

My predictions: A mere 2/5, all the more lamentable because I predicted 6 nominees, choosing Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, David Cronenberg, and P.T. Anderson over Scott, Schnabel, and Burton.

I am thrilled for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". It so deserves its praise. "American Gangster", on the other hand, not so much. But at least "Michael Clayton" is not here. "Sweeney Todd" gets a huge boost and shoots ahead of "Hairspray" and "Once" in the musical most-likely-to-succeed race. "Eastern Promises" is not helped by another Cronenberg snub. Lumet could still bounce back for the Oscars. And for the record - "Charlie Wilson's War" did almost go all for nothing, missing only this category.

Who will win? I would not bet against The Coen Brothers.