2. Kathryn Bigelow, Director
There wasn't a stronger female lead last year than Jessica Chastain's Maya from Zero Dark Thirty, so who better to bring us another kickass lady than the creative force behind that film? The unfortunate woman who used to have to have sex with James Cameron has proved she can do intimate moments (The Hurt Locker), tense action (ZDT), and over-the-top comic book sensationalism (Point Break). She's overly qualified and perfect for the part. The only problem is that she'd never, ever do it. As my #1 choice director proves, you don't do a genre piece after winning a Best Director Oscar until you've fallen down for a few years straight.