Right now, it's hard to argue that the thriller "Argo" is the frontrunner to win the Best Picture trophy at the Academy Awards on February 24. The film has hit (almost) all of the marks required for a Best Picture winner. It's a crowd pleaser. It's grossed more than $100 million at the box office. It's won Best Picture at the Broadcast Film Critics Awards, the Golden Globes, the Producers Guild Awards, and it won Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In a normal year, "Argo" would be considered nothing short of a lock to win it all in the end. But when the Oscar nominations were announced in January, "Argo" missed one crucial mark in its quest: A Best Director nomination. When Ben Affleck missed out on a Directing nod for "Argo," film journalists swiftly deemed it one of the most shocking snubs the category has seen since Ron Howard missed out on a nomination for "Apollo 13" back in 1996. With Affleck and "Zero Dark Thirty" director Kathryn Bigelow being out of the race, there is a hole in the category. Who will win Best Director now?

Michael Haneke for "Amour"
For him: One of the most acclaimed art house auteurs of the last decade, Academy voters may want to reward his unique vision. "Amour" is the most critically lauded film in this group.
Against him: Critically lauded doesn't always earn you gold, especially when your film is a foreign language downer. No foreign language film has ever won the Best Directing prize.

Benh Zeitlin for "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
For him: The Academy lovers first timers. Sam Mendes, Kevin Costner and James L. Brooks all won Best Director their first time at the bat. This imaginative film scored some unexpected nominations, including here, demonstrating a love for the film.

Against him: Very little buzz. No one expected Zeitlin to be nominated in this category, as he hasn't been nominated elsewhere. The buzz is more with star and Best Actress nominee Quvenzhane Wallis.

Ang Lee for "Life of Pi"
For him: Like with "Beasts," "Life of Pi" accumulated a higher nomination count than anticipated. The stunning 3D look surely stunned voters, and there are some that feel Lee is owed one after the "Crash" over "Brokeback Mountain" mishap of 2006.
Against him: While "Brokeback" may have lost Best Picture, Lee walked away with the Directing trophy. That wasn't long ago at all, and Oscar voters tend to share the wealth. "Pi" also doesn't have a lot of steam in the top category.

Steven Spielberg for "Lincoln"
For him: The bearded wonder delivers one of his best films yet about the most beloved President in American history. This kind of film is right up the Academy's ally. If "Argo" is the frontrunner in the Best Picture race, "Lincoln" is the spoiler.
Against him: Like Lee, Spielberg is a previous winner. Actually, he can lay claim to two Best Director victories.

David O. Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook"
For him: The once loathed director scored his second straight nomination for this touching comedy about a courtship between two damaged, mentally ill people. No director would have approached this material like Russell would have, and that's going to earn a lot of respect.
Against him: Keyword is comedy. That genre doesn't do too well at the Oscars, particularly this category.