Oscar Predictions Round One: Best Director

Unlike with actors, it's a lot harder to discuss the Best Director category until all the films have been seen. So, this round of predictions will be somewhat light. With the Toronto International Film Festival currently underway and many of these films premiering for critics within the weeks to come, we'll soon have a much better idea as to who's the frontrunner. But for now...

The only person that I'd consider an official contender is Alfonso Cuarón, who'll likely be nominated based on the film's technical achievements. With each new (rave) review, Gravity climbs higher and higher in my Best Picture bracket and I think it's safe to say that Cuarón will remain in the conversation for the entire season. He could be this year's Ang Lee.

But after that, it largely becomes a guessing game. Both David O. Russell and Martin Scorsese are handling two of the biggest films of the season, but both will remain unseen for sometime. I'm placing them both high, based on name alone, but that could change once reviews start pouring in. And, for the record, I have more faith in Russell this season based on the fact that he's coming off one of last year's biggest successes, Silver Linings Playbook. The last of my two top slots belong to Steve McQueen and Jason Reitman. While both of their films have already premiered, I think it's a bit too early in the season to raise them any higher than the fourth or fifth slot... yet. I do have a feeling McQueen will be nominated, however, as 12 Years a Slave sounds like it will live up to the hype. As for Reitman, I'm a bit hesitant as I've seen a fair share of negative reviews for Labor Day, though he seems to have a solid reputation within the Academy.

After that, it becomes even harder to guess- Bennet Miller and Ron Howard could sneak in if their films are well received upon their domestic release, while Ryan Coogler and J.C. Chandor also have a chance if their respective studios help them to build buzz later in the year. I also have some faith in the Coens, Lee Daniels and Paul Greengrass, though their films seem a bit on the smaller side when compared to the massive Oscar pictures like 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle. Wrapping up the bracket- Jean-Marc Vallée, John Lee Hancock, Spike Jonze and Ridley Scott who can only rise once reviews for their films start coming in.

I'll be posting my Best Picture bracket on Sunday night!

1. Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
2. David O. Russell, American Hustle
3. Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street
4. Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
5. Jason Reitman, Labor Day
6. Bennet Miller, Foxcatcher
7. Ron Howard, Rush
8. Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station
9. J.C. Chandor, All is Lost
10. Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
11. Lee Daniels, Lee Daniels' The Butler
12. Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
13. Jean-Marc Vallée, Dallas Buyers Club
14. John Lee Hancock, Saving Mr. Banks
15. Spike Jonze, Her
16. Ridley Scott, The Counselor