2021 Academy Awards Director Series

Nominee: Lee Isaac Chung
Picture for Nomination: Minari
Age: 42
From: United States
Filmography: I Have Seen My Last Born (2015), Abigail Harm (2012), Lucky Life (2010), Munyurangabo (2007)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Minari
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Minari

Nominee: Emerald Fennell
Picture for Nomination: Promising Young Woman
Age: 35
From: England
Filmography: This is her directorial debut.

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is her first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Promising Young Woman
2021 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Promising Young Woman

Nominee: David Fincher
Picture for Nomination: Mank
Age: 58
From: United States
Filmography: Gone Girl (2014), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Social Network (2010), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), The Game (1997), Se7en (1995), Alien 3 (1992)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2011 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for The Social Network
2009 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Mank
2021 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Mank
2015 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Gone Girl
2012 Directors Guilds of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2011 Directors Guilds of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Social Network
2011 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for The Social Network
2011 Golden Globes Best Director for The Social Network
2009 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Nominee: Thomas Vinterberg
Picture for Nomination: Another Round
Age: 51
From: Denmark
Filmography: The Command (2018), The Commune (2016), Far from the Madding Crowd (2015), The Hunt (2012), Submarino (2010), When a Man Comes Home (2007), Dear Wendy (2005), It's All About Love (2003), The Celebration (1998), The Biggest Heroes (1996), Sneblind (1990)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Another Round

Nominee: Chloé Zhao
Picture for Nomination: Nomadland
Age: 38
From: China
Filmography: The Rider (2017), Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is her first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Nomadland
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for Nomadland
2021 Golden Globes Best Director for Nomadland

Conclusion:
16 April 2021
Who Will Win Likely: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Who May Be Alternate: Lee Isaac Chung for Minari

5 April 2021
Who Will Win Likely: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Who May Be Alternate: Lee Isaac Chung for Minari

21 March 2021
Who Will Win Likely: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Who May Be Alternate: Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman

Who Should Win: Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman
Who Got Snubbed: Regina King for One Night in Miami..., Aaron Sorkin for The Trial of the Chicago 7
Personal Favorite: Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman
Who Wins? Chloé Zhao for Nomadland

失蹤罪 Gone Girl (2014)

電影名稱：失蹤罪 Gone Girl
產地：美國 USA
上映日期：2 October 2014
觀看日期：6 October 2014
片長：149 Minutes
導演：David Fincher
演出：Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon

影評：
控制慾強的人會對身邊的人事物非常著緊，他們非常敏感，懂得觀察變化並分析對他們產生的影響，然後使用早前計劃好的方法，減輕甚至消除所有負面的影響。在他們身邊往往都至少有一個任勞任怨的人，遷就及服從他們的說話，以為協助他們解決問題便會獲得好感，當然這個邏輯不是經常正確的。在世上大部分的情侶關係，總有一方是擁有較強控制慾(不一定是女性)，但當我們遇上擁有過強控制慾的人後，便可能會像電影中的男主角一樣，經歷如此不可思議的遭遇。Nick Dunne(Ben Affleck飾)在結婚五週年早上發現妻子Amy(Rosamund Pike飾)失蹤，案件因為Amy的名氣而受到媒體廣泛報導。經過探長Rhonda Boney(Kim Dickens飾)初步調查後，發現Nick的房屋內有如兇殺案現場，配合他的出軌行為、財務狀況、Amy正在懷孕及他在公眾的古怪行徑(如記者會上在我失蹤Amy的相片旁微笑後逃跑)等證據，令他成為第一嫌疑犯。真相卻不像大眾的想像，Amy根本沒有被殺害，她並處心積累設計及製造不同的證據，讓世人以為Nick已將她殺死，之後他便會被控訴，並預計他會受不住輿論壓力而自殺。不過Nick並沒有自殺，反而聘請律師Tanner Bolt(Tyler Perry飾)幫他脫罪。他們找到Amy以前的男朋友Tommy(Scoot McNairy飾)，得知她曾經誣告他強姦罪；而另一位前男友Desi(Neil Patrick Harris飾)則不肯透露詳情，原來他將向他求救的Amy收藏於佈滿監視鏡頭的湖邊小屋內。Nick和妹妹Margo(Carrie Coon飾)商量對策，最後Nick在電視節目向Amy道歉，使她設計陷害Desi，並回到Nick的身邊。Boney針對Amy對案件描述的漏洞作出質詢，卻換來其他FBI同僚的阻止。最後Amy向Nick坦白自己是因為他在電視節目的表現而回心轉意，並以人工受孕的方式懷孕，Nick不願意相信事實，但沒有辦法可證明Amy的罪名，最後他因為責任而繼續和Amy走在一起，向傳媒發放Amy懷孕的消息。

Ben Affleck是一個很成功的演藝圈工作者，他對電影、政治及社會議題的熱情非常濃厚，擁有著不錯的外表，憑著自己的名氣，在社會上作出不少的貢獻；他除了演員的身份外，還會導演及編劇，當中的代表作品有Gone Baby Gone、The Town及Argo。他在電影中的演出非常好，甚至超越他的前作Argo；他的角色比較忠直，因而被世人懷疑是殺人犯，他很準確地掌握這一要點，令整齣電影如此有節奏地講故事，並突顯女主角的雙面性格。我認為他是去年奧斯卡的遺珠。他的下一部推介是The Accountant，故事有點偵探的劇情，相信會吸引不少愛看劇情片的觀眾。Rosamund Pike是一名英國演員，曾經參演James Bond系列電影，但電影的演出經驗原來只有十多年左右，當中的作品有Pride and Prejudice、An Education及Johnny English Reborn。她是電影的演出簡直是眼前一亮，由於她在演出此電影前的名氣不大，所以很多觀眾對她的演出歎為觀止，的確她很形神俱備地代入Amy Dunne這個女子的生活，此演出也足以證明她是一位很出色的演員，我很期待看她之後的作品。她的下一部推介是HHHH，這是講述二戰時期的電影，很可能會在明年頒獎季度看見這作品的踪影。Carrie Coon是舞台劇演員出身，她五年後才開始電視劇的參演，而這電影更是她的處女作。她的演出受到很影評人的讚賞，認為她是一個很亮眼的配角，不過很抱歉地我並沒有任何類近的想法，我覺得作為一名新人，她的演出確很不錯，這全賴她之前演出經驗，但我認為她的演出並不算是非常出色，反而同戲的Kim Dickens在演出上比她更好，我想主要是電影的人氣及角色的影響力令她得到注目。她的下一部推介是The Keeping Hours，這是一部有關離異夫婦重新結合的故事，暫時未知道其他演員的陣容，這齣電影對首次成為女主角的她非常重要，希望她會有好的演出。

電影的預告片是非常引人入勝，因為它只交代故事的前端，讓我們想知道究竟真相是甚麼，坦言未看過原著的我當初也是因為預告片而觀看這電影，想得知男主角如何殺害女主角。我相信很多觀眾也沒有看過原著，所以預告片成功製造懸念讓觀眾感到好奇。電影的故事情節令人出乎意料，而演員也做得很好，幾乎主要的角色都發揮得不俗。電影的效果也配合劇情的需要及發展，適當地襯托出故事帶給觀眾理性認知的反差及刺激，特別是剪接、攝影及配樂方面。控制慾強的人表面上凡事都只會想著自己，但其實他們得到的只是令自己滿足的生活，及盡能力保護自己免受傷害；我們在面對這些人的態度可以有不同的選擇，我始終覺得採用中庸之道較為實際，不太遷就亦不太反抗，這樣對大家的發展都有幫助。

評分：
故事：49/50
演員：32/35
效果：12/15
總分：93/100

2011 Academy Awards Director Series

Nominee: Darren Aronofsky
Picture for Nomination: Black Swan
Age: 41
From: United States
Filmography: The Wrestler (2008), The Fountain (2006), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Pi (1998)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2011 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Black Swan
2011 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Black Swan
2011 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Black Swan

Nominee: Ethan Coen
Picture for Nomination: True Grit
Age: 53
From: United States
Filmography: A Serious Man (2009), Burn After Reading (2008), To Each His Own Cinema (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), Paris, Je T'aime (2006), The Ladykillers (2004), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Big Lebowski (1998), Fargo (1996), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Barton Fink (1991), Miller's Crossing (1990), Raising Arizona (1987), Blood Simple (1984)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2008 Best Achievement in Directing for No Country for Old Men

Achievements in Directing:
2008 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for No Country for Old Men
2008 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for No Country for Old Men
2008 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for No Country for Old Men

Nominee: Joel Coen
Picture for Nomination: True Grit
Age: 56
From: United States
Filmography: A Serious Man (2009), Burn After Reading (2008), To Each His Own Cinema (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), Paris, Je T'aime (2006), The Ladykillers (2004), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Big Lebowski (1998), Fargo (1996), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Barton Fink (1991), Miller's Crossing (1990), Raising Arizona (1987), Blood Simple (1984)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2008 Best Achievement in Directing for No Country for Old Men
1997 Best Director Nomination for Fargo

Achievements in Directing:
2008 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for No Country for Old Men
2008 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for No Country for Old Men
2008 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for No Country for Old Men
2001 Cannes Film Festival Best Director for The Man Who Wasn't There
1997 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Fargo
1997 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for Fargo
1997 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Fargo
1996 Cannes Film Festival Best Director for Fargo
1991 Cannes Film Festival Best Director for Barton Fink

Nominee: David Fincher
Picture for Nomination: The Social Network
Age: 48
Filmography: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), The Game (1997), Se7en (1995), Alien 3 (1992)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2009 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievements in Directing:
2011 Directors Guilds of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Social Network
2011 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for The Social Network
2011 Golden Globes Best Director for The Social Network
2009 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Nominee: Tom Hooper
Picture for Nomination: The King's Speech
Age: 38
From: England
Filmography: The Damned United (2009), Red Dust (2004)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2011 Directors Guilds of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for The King's Speech
2011 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for The King's Speech
2011 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for The King's Speech

Nominee: David O. Russell
Picture for Nomination: The Fighter
Age: 52
From: United States
Filmography: I Heart Huckabees (2004), Three Kings (1999), Flirting with Disaster (1996), Spanking the Monkey (1994)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2011 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Fighter
2011 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for The Fighter

Conclusion:
Who Wins? Tom Hooper for The King's Speech

The Best Director Series 2009

今次第二個提名系列─Director系列，就同大家講下入圍既導演。當我出完提名之後，我諗住會全部都係外國導演，點知萬綠叢中一點紅，都有一位本地導演，仲要係女性添，真係要快d介紹各路人馬。

第一位：許鞍華 《天水圍的日與夜》
呢位曾經三奪金像獎導演獎座既女導演，由八十年代初至今經歷廿載，仍致力拍好香港電影，努力尋找不同類型既題材，給予觀眾次次不同既視覺享受。今屆香港金像獎臨近在即，許鞍華又再次憑天水圍電影系列有份角逐最佳導演既殊榮，可見佢導演功夫真係唔簡單。講番今次呢部《天水圍的日與夜》，其實為已經帶左第三個最佳導演小金人俾佢，佢優勝既地方係佢刻意唔搵大cast演員，以營造親切和新鮮感，當中既主要演員都有番咁上下演技，佢都算係execute得幾好。
可惜既係，套戲另外既演員唔係咁自然，出現呢d情況，佢可能覺得無問題，但係如果同外國導演比較起來，呢part真係令佢遜色好多，兼且部戲既連貫性欠順暢，身為導演一定責無旁貸。

第二位： David Fincher 《The Curious Case of Banjamin Button》呢部戲可算係佢從導演工作以來，為佢帶來最多名氣既一部。佢八五年擠身導演行列，在十五年間都有差唔多二十部既作品，當然只係得呢一部可以令佢增加知名度。套電影本身拍得好，加上題材新穎，cast都算大，自然就吸引到觀眾入場。佢真係可以話居功至上，首先部戲既flow十分好，完完全全將主角既一生寫晒出來，另外套戲加入左好多好好睇既元素，令部戲奇幻得恰當。
唔好既地方都冇乜，不過我覺得套戲既形式拍出黎好似《Titanic》咁，以倒敘既方式演繹，呢個其實真係導演既問題，不過睇起上黎都唔算太差。

第三位： Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan 《Slumdog Millionaire》Danny Boyle相信大家都認，不過原本佢係拍電視劇，直至近七八年先真正轉行做電影導演，我相信上次個小金人對佢黎講真係意義重大。而第二位我提及既女導演，原本係做開選角，唯獨呢套戲同Danny Boyle一齊做導演，但係佢就被一眾頒獎禮忽視，所以我先提下佢。老實講，一部蜚聲國際既電影，差唔多全部角色都唔係主流既英國、美國人，都真得做得幾成功，尤其是故事中每一個情節既真實感，真係超出一般既想像。
呢套戲既成功其實大多歸功於題材，雖然導演們既功勞亦不可抹殺，但大家有冇諗到過譽左呢部戲同埋兩位導演呢？

第四位：Stephen Daldry 《The Reader》導演歷史得五套電影係手既Stephen Daldry，已經三度角逐Academy Awards既最佳導演，實力無庸置疑，而《The Hours》已經令佢聲名大噪。今次論到《The Reader》，佢一樣以出色既導演功架呈現觀眾，雖然故事唔係太複雜，但佢在處理演員同埋拍攝情節方面都幾好，真係達到大師級既水準。
可惜呢位導演唔係好識避重就輕，把好睇細緻既放晒在前面，而後面就欠奉吸引力。同時，部戲有好多兒童不宜既地方，我自己覺得有少少過左條道德線，因為真係有d情慾部分可以刪除。

第五位： James Cameron 《Avatar》

《Titanic》導演James Cameron再次執導演筒，上演一場虛擬世界既領土之戰，在現實生活中，佢亦與前妻Kathryn Bigelow上演金像導演之戰，雖然最後輸左，但仍無損佢在電影圈高崇既導演地位，全因兩部令全球矚目既電影。今次《Avatar》，佢挑戰電影特效既極根，結果俾佢在危機中成功突破，獲得一致影評人同埋觀眾既讚賞。
但係我唔係好鍾意呢d太賣弄科技既電影，不過佢既導演功夫真係值得我俾提名佢，可惜人喜好問題。

Honourable Mentions：
1.John Patrick Shanley 《Doubt》
佢唔算係一個全職導演，佢主要係寫劇本，呢部係佢導既第二部戲，亦係佢在1990既《Joe Versus the Volcano》之後既導演之作。套戲其實幾好，cast太強，整體值得一推。
2.Clint Eastwood 《Changeling》
佢差唔多成個娛圈生涯都致力演出同埋導演，在佢決定息影之後，就全心導戲，呢部戲又真係幾得，不過有d位唔完善，希望佢日後有更多更好既導演工作。