Best Director: Iñárritu vs. Linklater

Two great directors embarked on the most audacious, wildly inventive experiments of their careers, and the results were marvelous. Linklater seemed to be the surefire winner for Boyhood until Iñárritu pulled off a surprise win at the Directors Guild of America for Birdman. That prize is usually a good indicator of subsequent Oscar gold. With the race heating up, could this be the third year straight where the Picture and Directing categories are split? It very well could be.