Oscars 2019: Who Should Win Every Award (And Who Actually Will)

4. Directing

Vice Christian Bale
Annapurna

Nominees: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma), Adam McKay (Vice), Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite), Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman), Pawel Pawlikowski (Cold War)

Who Should Win

Alfonso Cuarón

Alfonso Cuarón is a master of his craft. Whether you want astonishing technical feats, or searing emotional storytelling, he can do it all, and does so yet again in Roma, which is one of his most personal works to date. Cuarón's Roma is stunning on both counts, and it's the way in which he's created something at once epic and intimate, mixing indelible imagery with performances of amazing authenticity, that he deserves the director gong.

Who Will Win

Alfonso Cuarón

Cuarón has won a number of awards so far, including the DGA prize. That one should prove most important, because not since 2013 have the two differed, and on that occasion the snub of Ben Affleck was so egregious Argo ended up winning Best Picture. Before that, you've got to go back to 2003, and overall it's only happened seven times since 1948. Cuarón is very well liked and respected, and a past winner for Gravity. Roma is clearly popular too, since it leads the way in number of nominations. The potential spoiler is a split with Best Picture and Director, which could see Spike Lee get a win many feel he's long overdue, but as it stands it's difficult to see this not going to Cuarón.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.