5. Mortem Tyldum (The Imitation Game) – There is a pretty wide gap in quality between Tyldum's work on this and the other nominees. His film is held together only by some fine acting and the important story it tells but not by his work as a director. His work is paint-by-numbers and nothing more.
4. Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher) – Acting and atmosphere. While I can't pretend to know much about how one can get these three actors (Carell,Tatum, and Ruffalo) to be beyond what we thought possible for them, but it is quite apparent that it is Mr. Miller's handiwork at play. Also, atmosphere: this is one of those true stories that could've easily come across as a Lifetime Movie for men, but plays more like slow-build horror film.
3. Wes Anderson (The Grand Budepest Hotel) ❤️ – Anderson has spent the last twenty years refining his certain idiosyncratic style and this is the movie that shows he has perfected it. If you're not a fan, this will not be the movie to convince you, but for the initiated, this every thing you could want and more.
2. Richard Linklater (Boyhood) – Mr. Linklater had an idea more than a decade ago (about the same time I discovered him) and it was sort of an impossible one. While the film lacks the poignancy of his "Before" trilogy, it certainly justifies itself beyond being an odd little experiment. It is with the hype and adulation it's getting (even if I still prefer the aforementioned "Before" trilogy).
1. Alejandro González Iñarritu (Birdman) – Birdman is one of the most unique films I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. Not only is his film unique in story, humor, and technique but also full of a cast that he got at the top of their game.
Odds? Richard Linklater (Boyhood)
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