Very tough. I'm tempted to vote for Howard or Polanski. I liked Howard's work, but in such a lineup it isn't quite as impressive. Polanski made a good movie, but I don't think a great one. Having admired his work on films like Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby and others, The Pianist impresses mostly as being so much better than the films that came between those classics and this film. Neither man won my own awards. Since so many of you chose to vote for Howard, unfairly I think, I'll give number 2 vote to Polanski.
Edited By criddic3 on 1205300745
"Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand." -- President Joe Biden, 01/20/2021
--Hustler wrote:Ron, What did you do to Robert, Ridley, Peter and David?
Apart from the monstrosity that was Ron Howard, the 00's has been a great year for Best Director winners. Watching Ron Howard win in a category over people like Altman and Lynch and Peter Jackson and hell, even Ridley fuckin' Scott was one of the most painful Oscar-viewing experience I've ever had.
I agree Okri. In fact after seeing Crash and In the Valley of Elah, you really appreciate how much Eastwood restrains the awful excesses of Haggis' screenplay.
Interesting that someone voted for Eastwood. While I don't love Million Dollar Baby, I think Eastwood's direction raises the material up several notches.
I'd love to vote for Speilberg here, who isn't anywhere in the same category as Polanski, Scorsese, Eastwood or the Coens. But there's no denying the awful stiltedness of Sam Mendes and the just plain awfulness of Ron Howard.