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Best Director
This year’s class of Best Directors should be more diverse than the usual, containing perhaps two black directors, and one Mexican (Cuaron), who shot his film in Spanish. With one exception, the prospects for women are not that good–again.
If you want to know more about the history and politics of the Oscars, from the beginning to the present, please consult my book, All About Oscar.
Frontrunners (in alphabetical order)
Damien Chazelle, First Man
Ryan Coogler, Black Panther
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Afonso Cuaron, Roma
Peter Farrelly, Green Book
Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansmanStrong Contenders
Marielle Heller, Can You Ever Forgive Me?Adam McKay, Vice
Steve McQueen, Widows
Jason Reitman, The Front Runner
Long Shots
Debra Granik, Leave No Trace
Josie Rourke, Mary Queen of Scots