Nominees to find the best director

Woodsy Allen, "Evening amount of time in Paris"Why he'll win: Along with his seventh pointing nomination and also the first in 17 years, Woodsy Allen increased being the sentimental fave for his whimsical ode for the Capital of scotland- Light -- an effort that experts say harkens his Acad-friendly comedies "Annie Hall" and "Hannah and Her Brothers and sisters." Possibly much better than his critical comeback might be the film's box office, consuming $148 million worldwide, which marks work ideal for the 76-year-old. Really, "Evening amount of time in Paris" is unquestionably the finest commercial hit in the director area, an undeniable fact which will be hard to overlook.Not: The director while using well-known NY prejudice didn't attend the Oscars because he was named director in 1978 for "Annie Hall," although he gained an unpredicted appearance within the 2002 ceremony to pitch Gotham like a spot for filming. And there's nothing the Academy finds more inexcusable when compared to a no-show champion. A geniune script Oscar seems more likely for Allen, which has nabbed numerous writing trophies inside the run-around the Oscars just one pointing prize.Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"Why he'll win: If acting nominations reflect pointing achievement, Hazanavicius should collect the trophy. He's really the only nominated helmer whose cast received multiple mentions (for actor Jean Dujardin and supporting actress Berenice Bejo). In comparison, Payne created just one, while Allen, Terrence Malick and Martin Scorsese can boast none. Additionally, "The Artist's" 10 nominations overall -- second only to "Hugo's" 11 -- prove the Frenchman's audacious black-and-white-colored quiet effort resonated well beyond the thesp branch in the Academy. Hazanavicius has nabbed director honors within the NY, Broadcast and London film crix.Not: Hazanavicius lost towards the veteran Scorsese within the Golden Globes. And since the field's only first-time nominee, the 44-year- old are too youthful and misguided by Academy voters, even if "The Artist" takes home the most effective picture prize. Ultimately, "The Artist" marks only his fourth feature film and the first ones to land round the Academy's radar. Still, "The King's Speech's" Tom Hooper changed newbie status a year ago because he bested favorite David Fincher inside the category.Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Existence"Why he'll win: Terrence Malick's prismatic existential drama, his first film in six years, is broadly seen as most likely probably the most ambitious in the five director nominees. While Hazanavicius and Scorsese needed round the birth of cinema, Malick handled the birth in the world -- an effort that found the 68-year-old former Durch professor collecting images for more than ten years and speaking to with elite scientists as one example of the big Bang which is aftermath. Once the director warmth calculates to become hotly contested area, as predicted, look for the extended-overdue Malick to learn in the election splits.Not: Since the field's only surprise nominee, Malick signifies the category's longest shot. As well as the reclusive filmmaker, who notched his only other director nomination for 1998's "The Thin Red-colored-colored Line" because he lost to "Saving Private Ryan's" Steven Spielberg, will most likely do little increase his odds. Really, Malick, who rarely gives interviews, would best Allen for least-likely-to-campaign honors.Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"Why he'll win: Every so often, your time and energy behind an intimate drama trumps what spectacle, as happened when "Big Baby's" Clint Eastwood beat "The Aviator's" Martin Scorsese for director honors. Payne's tale from the family wrought by tragedy fits the mold precisely. The 50-year-old helmer, who was simply nominated inside the category for 2004's "Sideways" (because he lost to Eastwood), remains recognized to obtain memorable performances from his thesps including Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt," Reese Witherspoon in "Election," Paul Giamatti in "Sideways." "The Descendants" is not any exception, with star George Clooney accumulating several lead actor trophies this honours season.Not: Generally, the Academy has expected its hat with a director who attracted off a film recognized with a large swath of branches, including recent individuals who win like Tom Hooper, Kathryn Bigelow, Danny Boyle and Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson. With only five nominations for "The Descendants," Payne may be overlooked for Hazanavicius and Scorsese, utilizing their 10 and 11 mentions, correspondingly.Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"Why he'll win: Scorsese embarked well beyond his rut for his first kid pic, additionally to his debut undertaking in 3-D. It seems sensible his seventh pointing nomination, which has the film's 10 additional Oscar mentions, spanning from costume to visual effects to cinematography. The 69-year-old, who was simply needed the director hardware for 2006 crime drama "The Departed," already includes a slew of helmer statuettes this honours season for his homage to Georges Melies and early cinema, including Golden Globe and National Board of Review. Even if "Hugo" doesn't take best picture honors, Scorsese is well poised to simply accept director prize.Not: Where will be the acting nominations? Formerly decade, 3 company company directors whose films are actually overlooked inside the acting groups look at win the director trophy: "Slumdog Millionaire's" Danny Boyle and "The Master in the Rings: The Return in the King's" Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson. Also, the Academy might prefer to anoint new royalty.EYE Round The Oscars: BEST PICTURE NOMINEESBest Picture Director Animated Film Documentary Language Film Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com