The 2013 Best Director race is the most puzzling for the category in years. The category is usually settled once the Directors Guild of America hands out their award. However this year Ben Affleck who won the esteemed prize but was not nominated for the Academy Award. It marked the sixth time that a director won the DGA but did not win the Oscar. The last time a director won the DGA without being nominated for the Oscar was in 1995 when Ron Howard won for his film "Apollo 13." Recent Oscar winners are Michel Hazanavicius, Tom Hooper, Kathryn Bigelow, Danny Boyle, and Joel and Ethan Cohen.
Amour- Michael Haneke received his first nomination for Best Director at the Academy Awards for "Amour"; he is also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Haneke's nomination came as a surprise as he became the third director to receive a Director/Picture nomination for a foreign film. Haneke won two important precursor awards including the European Film Awards and was nominated for the BAFTA. The director is not expected to win but the Academy could go for him based on nostalgia and the fact that he will most likely not be nominated again.
Beasts of the Southern Wild-Benh Zeitlin's nomination for Best Director marks his first Oscar recognition for "Beasts of the Southern Wild;" he is also nominated for Best Original Screenplay with Lucy Alibar. Zeitlin made history by becoming the seventh youngest nominee and the 16th director to be nominated for his first film. Zeitlin looks like he has very little chances of winning but he already surprised by being shortlisted.
Life of Pi-Ang Lee received his fourth nomination for his work on "Life of Pi." The director previously won in 2005 for "Brokeback Mountain" and was nominated in 2000 for "Crouching Hidden Dragon." During precursor awards, Lee took home four awards including the Las Vegas Film Critics. "Life of Pi" has won very little thus far except for technical awards. The film has been compared to "Hugo" and "Avatar" because it is the only 3D work nominated. Lee could win if the Academy recognizes the films technical achievements and sweeps every award it is nominated for. However if they decide not recognize it for Screenplay, it could repeat "Hugo" and "Avatar's" victories and simply go home with technical awards.
Lincoln-Steven Spielberg received his seventh nomination for Best Director and his 15th overall recognition. Spielberg was previously nominated for "Munich" and won for "Saving Private Ryan" and Schindler's List." Throughout awards season pundits believed the "Lincoln" director would win the DGA, the Golden Globe and the Critics' Choice. However Spielberg lost every single award and also went without a nomination at the BAFTA awards. He only took home two precursor awards at the North Texas and Iowa Film Critics. The film's greatest achievement to date was winning the Best Actor award for Daniel Day Lewis at every major award. However with no Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow, Spielberg is expected to win easily.
Silver Linings Playbook-David O. Russell received his second nomination for best director and his third overall. He is currently nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and was recognized in 2010 for Best Director for "The Fighter." Russell went unrecognized at every major award ceremony but still won the Satellite and the Academy of Australia. He also won the Detroit Film Critics and the Hollywood Film Awards. "Silver Linings Playbook" already surprised at the Oscars with eight nominations. The Academy clearly loved the film and that could be a reason to give Russell the award. Additionally he is backed by Harvey Weinstein, the Oscar mogul who helped "The King's Speech" and "The Artist" win. That alone could be the defining factor.
Prediction-Michael Haneke has the best chance because his film is prone to win at least two awards and the Oscars will probably want to recognize a legendary director. However it is ultimately a wide open race with no front runner.