​

• Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round

  • Besides producing a highly entertaining movie, this guy is one of the founders of the Dogme 95 mov​ement.  What's that, you say? That's what I said! I have great respect for this: the idea that directors agree to a set of "vows", such as shooting on location, eschewing special technical effects and other perceived 'tricks' or 'cheats'. I'm all over this -- but, given that it was founded 26 years ago and I heard about it now, bodes poorly (perhaps referring to it as a "Vow of Chastity" was some weak-tea marketing?)

• David Fincher, Mank

  • Fincher and I have a lot in common. He's 59, I'm 59. He was born on the 28th of August, I the 28th of September. He was born in Colorado, I lived there for 3 years. He wrote S3ven, I wish I wrote S3ven.​

• Lee Isaac Chung, Minari

  • Like Chloe Zhao, this is largely Lee Isaac's film. It is an original story, with humour, heartbreak ​and grit. Like Ms. Zhao, I hope LIC (is that a thing? does he LIC that? was that funny? {definitely not...spare me. I'm self-aware, if nothing else} wins at least one trophy.

• Chloe Zhao, Nomadland

  • Chloe did it all in this film (save the incredible contribution from Frances McDormand), so I don't know how this is going to go -- will she win just one of the trophies, or all of them?​

• Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

  • This is a brilliant film, with the freshness coming from a predictable topic in a Cosby-inCarcerated world and a performance from Carey Mulligan we couldn't have imagined, given what she's done previously. I don't suspect our young multi-nominated friend will win (and, Jeebus, was EVERYONE in The Crown except me?) but am rooting for this film and this fennell-fatale picks up at least one trophy! ​