Why Does a Film Often Get Nominated for Best Picture but Miss Best Director?

One memorable moment at the 1994 Oscars is still often quoted: When Billy Crystal, serving as host, quipped, "Is this picture directing itself?" This was in response to the film Prince of Tides winning Best Picture while Barbra Streisand, its director, was not nominated for Best Director. This scenario is not merely possible; it is a certainty given the rules and biases surrounding Academy Awards nominations.

Understanding the Academy’s Nomination Rules

The Academy Awards have ten nominees for Best Picture and five for Best Director each year. While films are often judged as a whole, highlighting the overall quality and impact, the Best Director category is more focused on the director's individual contribution. This means that just because a film is nominated for Best Picture, it does not guarantee a nomination in the Best Director category.

Director’s Branch and Their Biases

The Director’s Branch, which consists exclusively of directors, tends to have biases against actors taking on directing roles, especially when it’s their first time. As a result, when an actor-director is nominated for Best Director, it is usually after they have already proven their mettle. Examples include directors like Woody Allen and Clint Eastwood, whose multiple directorial successes have made their transitions to acting and directing smoother and more widely accepted.

A notable instance is when Bradley Cooper, an established actor, was nominated for Best Director for his first-time efforts in directing A Star is Born. However, the other nominees, such as Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, and Chen Kaige, had already demonstrated their prowess in the director’s chair, which likely influenced the Academy’s nominations.

Directing and Best Picture: Different but Linked

While there is a strong link between a film being nominated for Best Picture and the director’s performance, it is not a direct correlation. As Todd Gardiner pointed out, Best Picture and Best Director are separate categories with different criteria. A film can be nominating for Best Picture for reasons other than the quality of the director's work.

For example, Kathryn Bigelow’s direction of the action thriller Point Break (1991) is a prime case where the director’s skill compensated for a subpar script. While the screenplay was only average, Bigelow's solid action-film directing elevated the film beyond its script, making it a better-than-expected end product.

Academy Awards and What “Best” Means

Academy Awards are not always solely based on the notion of “best.” Sometimes, the less obvious choice wins, much like Robert De Niro's performance in Raging Bull, which was undoubtedly a standout, even though it was not the most critically acclaimed role of the year. In the 1980 Academy Awards, Paul Newman won for The Color of Money, despite James Woods or Bob Hoskins giving equally challenging and interesting performances in Salvador and Mona Lisa. Newman's win was seen as a nod to his career-long contributions to the film industry.

Conclusion

The preference for certain nominees in the Best Director category over a film that is nominated for Best Picture is a multifaceted issue. It reflects biases, the evolving nature of the industry, and the criteria set by the Academy. Understanding these dynamics helps in recognizing why some films may be nominated for Best Picture yet miss out on a Best Director nomination.