As the Oscars approach, it seems evident that of the 9 films involved, one of the clear front-runners for Best Picture is Ben Affleck's third directing effort, Argo. Argo is a safe choice both thematically and cinematically, neither pushing buttons the way Zero Dark Thirty has, nor employing the technical gimmicks or brazenness of a film like Life of Pi. This is not to say Argo is a bad film by any means: it's actually one of the most solid contenders of the films nominated. But one thing that may affect the film's chances this Sunday is the fact that it is rare that a movie wins Best Picture without its director also taking home the gold. And while many - including the Directors Guild of America - have deemed Affleck the best director of the year, his chances of taking home an Oscar is impossible as the Academy did not even deem him worthy of a nomination. On Affleck's behalf, this is a look at some of the most recent films that won Best Picture while their directors went home empty-handed...
8. 2005: Crash vs. Ang Lee & Brokeback Mountain
In the most recent example, Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain had been dominating the awards circuit prior to the Oscars. His story of the forbidden love between two gay men was audacious and moving. And while Lee was already known and respected for his other films like the magical Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Paul Haggis was just the guy who made Walker, Texas Ranger. So when Crash was announced as the Best Picture winner, the world was shocked. Though both films tackle social issues, Brokeback added a personal flair to the struggles, injecting moments of real pain and tragedy. Crash, on the other hand, was trite in its best moments and overbearing or manipulative in others, offering no worthwhile provocation of thought or emotional resonance a superior film like Do The Right Thing has to offer. Honestly, the invisible cape scene? A movie with
that scene in it won Best Picture.