Directing a motion picture requires true grit, a beautiful mind and all that jazz. This titanic act is no brief encounter for the artist; it consumes the best years of their lives—it doesn’t just happen one night. Upon a successful campaign, their precious work pays off at the Oscars in La La Land, where the sting of the spotlight and the heat of the night are offset by the cool arrival of moonlight. Though the awful truth is that the Best Director category has generally been a country for old men, thankfully some working girls and women have had us under the influence in more recent years. For this Showdown, round up your top ten favorite films nominated for the lord of the wins: the Academy Award for Best Director. Good night, and good luck on the verdict.

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