Good things come to those who wait

Paul Greengrass has won the Bafta for best director for United 93, but I still predict a different outcome at the Oscars in two weeks time.

Martin Scorsese is the overwhelming favourite to win the Best Director award at the Academy Awards for his gangster epic The Departed, and is priced by Ladbrokes at 1/4, ahead of Greengrass at 6/1.

This has much to do with the fact that Scorsese, despite being nominated six times, has never won an Oscar for direction. He joins an illustrious crowd including Fellini, Hitchcock, Bergman, Kubrick and Welles that have failed to win Oscars, but having been snubbed for the likes of Raging Bull and Goodfellas, there is a feeling amongst Hollywood commentators and bloggers that this will finally be Scorsese’s year.

The Departed is an excellent film and highly entertaining, but it is not Scorsese’s by a long shot and perhaps not even the best amongst the candidates (United 93 gets this one in my book). However, the Academy’s determination to give Marty the gong will probably count against Greengrass following up his success at the Baftas. Why else would he be nominated for The Aviator and Gangs of New York, both critical and commerical flops in recent years?

Perhaps it is unfair that Marty will probably win due to what is essentially a sympathy vote, but for his challenging, entertaining and pioneering films that have been snubbed, he deserves it this time.