Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood
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So far this year’s Best Director battle boasts early frontrunners who emerged from the year’s film festivals.
READ MORE: 2017 Oscar Predictions
“Manchester By the Sea”
Breaking out at Sundance was Kenneth Lonergan’s intense four-hankie family drama “Manchester by the Sea,” which is not only a frontrunner for original screenplay and actor, but director. Lonergan’s portrait of a New England family dealing with death and loss masterfully reveals information in the present and via flashbacks over a disciplined two hours and 15 minutes. Lonergan’s ensemble cast led by Casey Affleck is superb.
“La La Land”
COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT
Jeff Nichols is in the mix for his measured and refined direction of interracial marriage drama “Loving,” which critics agreed was the one surefire awards contender to emerge from Cannes this year. He’s already earning acclaim for the way in which he brings a grounded urgency to a storyline that could have been rendered as emotion-baiting melodrama. Nichols started the year strong with the well-reviewed sci-fi drama “Midnight Special,” and with respected dramas “Mud” and “Take Shelter” behind him, he may be ready to join the Oscar directors’ club.
Don’t count out director Jon Favreau for his superb delivery of “The Jungle Book,” starring a live action boy who seemed grounded in a digital universe of animated jungle animals. (Less likely to emerge in Oscar contention is Steven Spielberg’s “The BFG.”)
At Telluride, Clint Eastwood unveiled heroic drama “Sully” starring Tom Hanks as a pilot who saved 155 passengers by landing his aircraft on the Hudson River. It’s a strong story well told, and the Academy will eat it up. Damien Chazelle entered the Oscar race with “Whiplash,” winning two, and the Academy could also respond to his audacious __show business musical “La La Land,” starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as struggling creative artists.
“La La Land”
COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT
Denis Villeneuve’s gorgeously executed “Arrival” is a brainy sci-fi mind-twister in the mold of Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar.” J.A. Bayona’s vivid fantasy drama “A Monster Calls” played well at Toronto. Barry Jenkins delivers a strong second feature with “Moonlight,” which picked up raves at Telluride, Toronto and New York and could gain ground on the indie circuit with support from critics. Another indie, “20th Century Women” (A24), writer-director Mike Mills’ follow-up to “Beginners,” is building momentum out of New York.
Many of the contenders in the running for Best Director have yet to be unveiled. Perennials like Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, and Warren Beatty set a high standard —which they may or may not meet. So does Mel Gibson, who earned strong reviews in Venice for World War II movie “Hacksaw Ridge.” But is the Academy ready to reward him again?
Other names in the late-breaking mix include “The Imitation Game” nominee Morten Tyldum (“Passengers”) and two multi-hyphenates ready for their first directing nod, Ben Affleck (whose “Argo” won Best Picture) for “Live by Night,” and Denzel Washington, for his film adaptation of the Tony-winning revival of August Wilson’s “Fences.”
Remember, in order to be a frontrunner we need to have seen the film.
Frontrunners:
Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”)
Clint Eastwood (“Sully”)
Jon Favreau (“The Jungle Book”)
Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”)
Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”)
Contenders:
Ben Affleck (“Live By Night”)
J.A. Bayona (“A Monster Calls”)
Warren Beatty (“Rules Don’t Apply”)
Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”)
Ang Lee (“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”)
Mike Mills (“20th Century Women”)
Jeff Nichols (“Loving”)
Martin Scorsese (“Silence”)
Morten Tyldum (“Passengers”)
Denzel Washington (“Fences”)
Robert Zemeckis (“Allied”)
Long Shots:
Peter Berg (“Patriot’s Day”)
Tom Ford (“Nocturnal Animals”)
Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge”)
John Lee Hancock (“The Founder”)
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Check Out More Oscar Races:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Animated Feature
“Manchester By the Sea”
“La La Land”
“La La Land”