FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: BEST DIRECTOR

Former horror maestro DAVID CRONENBERG established his dramatic range in 2005 with A History of Violence, but with the riveting Russian-mobster thriller Eastern Promises, he cemented it. Casting Naomi Watts alongside his Violence lead Viggo Mortensen, Cronenberg evoked a strong female point of view without sacrificing his uniquely grisly sensibility.

See Dave Karger's predicted Oscar nominations for Best Director