The Nominees

Stephen Frears deserves to win. His body of work is as singular and impressive as Scorsese's. Only the fact that he's not an American stops critics from wondering why he hasn't been recognized... "My Beautiful Laundrette"... "sammy and rosie get laid"... "prick up your ears"... "liam"... "dangerous liasons'... "dirty pretty things"... quite an impressive list.

Scorsese definately deserves to win Best Director. I mean, "The Departed" is not his absolute best film (see "Raging Bull" for his best), but I think this is the Academy's chance to make up for the mistake of not awarding him an Oscar for "Goodfellas" back in 1990. Honestly, though, when looking back at some of the past films Scorsese has made- "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "Mean Streets," "Goodfellas," "The Age of Innocence," "After Hours," for some examples- you can't help but think that he should alread have two or three Oscars on his mantle. I'm actually kind of hoping that "Letters from Iwo Jima" takes Best Picture, but if the Academy finally gives its greatest director his long overdue credit, that'll still be the big news of the night. If he DOESN'T win, it'll be one of the biggest upsets, and disappointments, at the Oscars in years!

i have a mean streak in me that hopes Scorsese doesn't win and Paul Greengrass takes home the directors' prize. even Scorsese, the incurable movie buff, realizes that DEPARTED isn't his best film, and UNITED 93--which won the biggest number of critic association best film prizes and is on the most 10-best lists--actually is the film of the year. Scorsese still has some great movies in him. he has that fire in his belly...i look forward to his "great" streak, just like Eastwood has had in his 60s and 70s.

Come on folks... "The Departed" was a jumbled up, gratuitously violent, mess of a movie, basically nothing but a rip-off of the far superior Chinese film that preceeded it. Scorsese's "Goodfellas" and even "Casino" were FAR SUPERIOR films, and just because he wasn't honored by an oscar for those films in the past, DOESN'T MEAN he should win this year!!! "Letters from Iwo Jima" and even "Babel" were FAR AND AWAY better movies than "The Departed".

Now now for the best yet not posted will be Clint Eastwood, why not take a film and show us both points of view. Even the enemy has feelings or are we the real enemy in this wonderful film! Are we not moved by both points of view and to take on such a project makes its a very derserving Oscar Win. But then again I would not be surprised at all if Little miss sunshine takes home the Oscar. Gl all great films this year we the watchers all thank you for that.

Judi Dench won an Oscar for 5 minutes of film. She does not deserves anything else, not even being nominated.

Judi Dench can out act anyone in 5 minutes of film and deserves to win. She is brilliant.

Ditsy Chicks should not make comments about our President.They could not do any better if in office!!They are not so "clean" themselves.As with most of the actors,that is what they would do if in the office of President,act.I am so thankful actors know their place which is definitely not running this country!!!

while i do agree that United 93 was a masterfully crafted film....it wasnt nominated for best picture which means it has about a 1 in 10000 chance of winning best director, the nomination is enough for Paul Greengrass. Scorsese deserves to win, basically because he is @#$% in Martin Scorsese! come on people, do u realize just who the hell we're talkin about, i admit the departed wasn't his best film....it was a damn good one, that sits just fine alongside his other classics, scorsese "in my opinion" has never made a downright bad film....u can argue that he hasnt necessarily always made "great" films but never one that made u want to shut the damn movie off.....scorsese is a master, a @#$% in genius who shouldve won long ago....he's our last link to film's golden age of the 70's and 80's besides spielberg.....eastwood made his best films in the 90's and 2000's.....he shouldve won long ago....and if winning for a lesser film makes up for not winning for greater films then so be it....go back and look at the years he lost....1980, robert redford won for ordinary people....not a raging bull but that film was very potent and it hits u somewhere that most films dont, even to this day....1990 kevin costner won for dances with wolves....lets be honest here people....goodfellas was great but did u really think he was goin to win over a 3 hour epic, scorsese wasnt robbed, he just lost to a better director for "that year" for "that film" it happens....2002, roman polanski won for the pianist, now i was a tad upset about this until i watched the pianist sometime after the awards....damn! since when has a quiet, personal and moody film been so compelling....not since the pianist! adrian brody deserved the best actor award as well....actually that film's quiet little sweep that year has me contemplating how close the pianist was to winning best picture over chicago....i think 50 to 100 votes actually! now to 2004....im conflicted because i feel scorsese was cheated a bit the aviator was monumental and epic, but million dollar baby was the exact opposite, quiet and small.....u just dont see movies like that anymore....dont tell me the last 30 minutes of that film your heart wasnt on the floor....scorsese deserved it, but eastwood won it plain and simple, i also think that race came down to a few votes....this year is different....eastwood's film doesnt have the box office to match the departed's so i think scorsese pretty much is goin to win in a landslide....he deserves it, he should win, he will win...plain and simple.....its about time.....

Come on now people, just because a person was "robbed" in the past, doesn't make it right to give them an award in a year where there is better work. It's never been right in the past, it isn't irght now. Look at how many fine artists have never won for their work. If sentiment is that high, give them an award for their body of work. I personally never saw what all the fuss over Robert Altman was about, but if he made the best picture, I would have been fine with him winning an award.