Oscar Nominees: Best Director

My predictions: 3/5, picking Greengrass and Jonze over Payne and Scorsese
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: David O. Russell (American Hustle), Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), Alexander Payne (Nebraska), Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

So this is nothing like last year, where underdogs managed to unseat powerful locks. Instead, we get one Globe choice – Payne – and one DGA choice – Scorsese – which together knock out one of the best directing jobs of the year, Paul Greengrass for “Captain Phillips.” It’s extremely lamentable, but stings less because the films that beat it out aren’t too bad. “Nebraska” is a fun choice but wouldn’t necessarily be fine, and I suppose there are some elements of the construction of “The Wolf of Wall Street” that make Scorsese worth recognizing. The three locks were just that this year, and Russell, Cuaron, and McQueen will go head-to-head to figure out whose film is most beloved.

My current bet to win: I think Cuaron is going to continue to dominate.