Best Director
Since the five picture nominees match the five director nominees, it almost feels useless to discuss this race. What I will say is that I think Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire is a bigger “lock” in this category, since his (arguably) biggest competition (Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight) was shut out of a nomination. Which means David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Stephen Daldry (The Reader) and Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon) will have to settle with this nomination.
Final Prediction and Rank:
1. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
2. David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Gus Van Sant, Milk
4. Stephen Daldry, The Reader
5. Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Who Should Win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight