• Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer

  • I have often claimed that writing is under-rated, while directing is over-rated. Christopher Nolan demonstrates here what great directing can do. This is a complicated story about science that few of us understand. But he turns it into a thriller, even though we all know the outcome. A well-deserved win is in the offing.

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• Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things

  • I've loved Yorgos' work since the quirky, funny writing in The Lobster in 2017. This is a great movie that really should win both Best Picture and Best Director, if not for the clear explanation of quantum physics and The Cold War. Hope that's not enough to make Yorgos go full Commie. Yorgos -- everyone knows you can never go full Commie, man.

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• Martin Scorses, Killers of the Flower Moon​

  • Like all of the twisted mafia lovers in this country, I am a huge Marty fan. But this was not a well directed movie. No disrespect, but it felt a little ragged to me. No statue this time.​​

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• Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall

  • If not for Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and 10 crisp minutes of Judd Hirsch, this movie would've sucked. Sorry, hefe.

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• Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest

  • I would not be at all upset (though clearly this would be a competitive upset) if Mr. Glazer won. I stand by my claim that this is the best holocaust movie to date. I realize that proximity bias is in play here. I learned about this in my 20s when my friend Smerk said "that's the best meal I've ever had" at about 20 restaurants in a row. But I think this movie will stand up, unlike my buddy's review of Sambo's Pancakes.​​