Nominees for best director

Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"Why he'll win: With his seventh directing nomination and his first in 17 years, Woody Allen became the sentimental fave for his whimsical ode to the City of Light -- an effort that critics say harkens his Acad-friendly comedies "Annie Hall" and "Hannah and Her Sisters." Perhaps more impressive than his critical comeback is the film's box office, taking in $148 million worldwide, which marks a career best for the 76-year-old. In fact, "Midnight in Paris" is by far the biggest commercial hit of the director field, a fact that will be hard to overlook.Maybe not: The director with the well-known NY bias didn't attend the Oscars when he was named director in 1978 for "Annie Hall," although he made a surprise appearance at the 2002 ceremony to pitch Gotham as a location for filming. And there's nothing the Academy finds more inexcusable than a no-show winner. An original screenplay Oscar seems more likely for Allen, who has nabbed a number of writing trophies in the run-up to the Oscars but only one directing prize.Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"Why he'll win: If acting nominations reflect directing achievement, Hazanavicius should take home the trophy. He is the only nominated helmer whose cast garnered multiple mentions (for actor Jean Dujardin and supporting actress Berenice Bejo). By contrast, Payne generated just one, while Allen, Terrence Malick and Martin Scorsese can boast none. Furthermore, "The Artist's" 10 nominations overall -- second only to "Hugo's" 11 -- prove that the Frenchman's audacious black-and-white silent effort resonated well beyond the thesp branch of the Academy. Hazanavicius has already nabbed director honors from the NY, Broadcast and London film crix.Maybe not: Hazanavicius lost out to the veteran Scorsese at the Golden Globes. And as the field's only first-time nominee, the 44-year- old may be deemed too young and unproven by Academy voters, even if "The Artist" takes home the best picture prize. After all, "The Artist" marks only his fourth feature film and the first to land on the Academy's radar. Still, "The King's Speech's" Tom Hooper overcame newbie status last year when he bested favorite David Fincher in the category.Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"Why he'll win: Terrence Malick's prismatic existential drama, his first film in six years, is widely seen as the most ambitious of the five director nominees. While Hazanavicius and Scorsese took on the birth of cinema, Malick tackled the birth of the universe -- an effort that found the 68-year-old former MIT professor collecting images for more than a decade and consulting with elite scientists to depict the Big Bang and its aftermath. If the director heat turns out to be a hotly contested field, as predicted, look for the long-overdue Malick to benefit from any vote splits.Maybe not: As the field's only surprise nominee, Malick represents the category's longest shot. And the reclusive filmmaker, who notched his only other director nomination for 1998's "The Thin Red Line" when he lost to "Saving Private Ryan's" Steven Spielberg, will likely do little increase his odds. In fact, Malick, who rarely gives interviews, would best Allen for least-likely-to-campaign honors.Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"Why he'll win: Occasionally, the effort behind an intimate drama trumps that of a spectacle, as happened when "Million Dollar Baby's" Clint Eastwood beat "The Aviator's" Martin Scorsese for director honors. Payne's tale of a family wrought by tragedy fits the mold precisely. The 50-year-old helmer, who was nominated in the category for 2004's "Sideways" (when he lost to Eastwood), has been hailed for getting memorable performances from his thesps including Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt," Reese Witherspoon in "Election," Paul Giamatti in "Sideways." "The Descendants" is no exception, with star George Clooney racking up several lead actor trophies this awards season.Maybe not: More often than not, the Academy has tipped its hat to a director who pulled off a film recognized by a wide swath of branches, including recent winners like Tom Hooper, Kathryn Bigelow, Danny Boyle and Peter Jackson. With just five nominations for "The Descendants," Payne may be overlooked in favor of Hazanavicius and Scorsese, with their 10 and 11 mentions, respectively.Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"Why he'll win: Scorsese ventured well beyond his comfort zone for his first kid pic, as well as his debut undertaking in 3-D. The result is his seventh directing nomination, which accompanies the film's 10 additional Oscar mentions, spanning from costume to visual effects to cinematography. The 69-year-old, who was took the director hardware for 2006 crime drama "The Departed," already boasts a slew of helmer statuettes this awards season for his homage to Georges Melies and early cinema, including Golden Globe and National Board of Review. Even if "Hugo" fails to take best picture honors, Scorsese is well poised to take the director prize.Maybe not: Where are the acting nominations? In the past decade, only two directors whose films have been overlooked in the acting categories have gone on to win the director trophy: "Slumdog Millionaire's" Danny Boyle and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King's" Peter Jackson. Also, the Academy might prefer to anoint new royalty.EYE ON THE OSCARS: BEST PICTURE NOMINEESBest Picture | Director | Animated Film | Documentary | Foreign Language Film Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Temple, Roach join 'Girls Evening Out'

LONDON -- Juno Temple has became a member of Alexandra Roach within the cast of "Women Evening Out," which HanWay Films is shopping to purchasers at Berlin in a few days. The romantic fairytale, that is created by Ecosse Films, is anticpated to be directed by Michael Hoffman ("Gambit," "The Final Station"), from the script by Trevor P Silva. Story, inspired by true occasions, is placed on V.E. Day in 1945, in which the British princesses Elizabeth (Roach) and Margaret (Temple) are permitted from Buckingham Structure for just one evening to participate in the festivities from the finish of World war 2. Temple will replace Dakota Fanning, who had been formerly introduced for that role of Princess Margaret. Roach was lately seen playing the youthful Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," and it has just finished filming "Anna Karenina." Temple can next be observed in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Dark night Increases." Lionsgate U.K. has taken privileges for "Women Evening Out" in Blighty. Production around the project is anticipated to start within the fall. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Animated Goon Movie No Longer Happening?

Giamatti says the money ran outSad news for all those looking forward to David Fincher's CG slapstick supernatural noir: it looks very much as if The Goon is no longer happening. Fincher always said "adult animation" was a hard sell...Not to be confused with Seann William Scott's hockey movie (which is still just about playing in cinemas), this Goon, based on the comics by Eric Powell, has been in development for some time, and has been a regular fixture at the last few Comic Cons. It was to be the story of the titular mob enforcer, his short-arse sidekick Frankie (short for Francesca), and the villainous Priest with his army of the undead. Blur Studios were animating, Clancy Brown and Paul Giamatti were on board for the voices, and the test footage was looking awesome.Last we heard about this time last year, Fincher was hopeful that a studio would shortly step in and stump up the necessary $50m. "Hopefully this is the year that people go 'Wait a minute! We don't all have to be trying to imitate Pixar!'" he said.Optimistic. Speaking yesterday at Sundance (where he's promoting John Dies At The End, which Clancy Brown is also in), Paul Giamatti opined "I have no idea what the hell happened. I asked and no one knows. I guess they just ran out of money."Eric Powell though, has taken to Twitter to insist that, as far as he's aware, there's still hope. "Last I spoke with Fincher and Blur, they were gearing up for more meetings to try and find financing for the film," he said (although he didn't say how recent those meetings were). "It's not dead until Fincher and Blur come to me and say they are done."Reports of The Goon's death, etc? Watch this space...

Exclusive: Captain Americas Sebastian Stan Heads to Not so long ago

Sebastian Stan Another mysterious guy is visiting Not so long ago. Sebastian Stan, who lately starred opposite Chris Evans in Captain America, will guest-star within an approaching episode from the ABC story book series, TVGuide.com has learned solely. Particulars on his role are scarce, but Stan's episode is slated for late March or early April. Once Upon a Time's Lana Parrilla: Why the Evil Full grew to become so evil Stan, whose TV credits include Nobleman and Gossip Girl, joins a lengthy listing of guest stars to go to Once, including True Blood's Kristin Bauer, Falling Skies' Jessy Schram, Lost's Alan Dale, Buffy's Emma Caufield and Covert Affairs' Eion Bailey, who had been just introduced like a mysterious author who endeavors to Storybrooke. Approaching guest stars include Lost alum Emilie p Ravin and Dollhouse's Amy Acker. Not so long ago airs Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.

New Bruce Springsteen Album Out March 6

First Launched: The month of the month of january 19, 2012 11:12 AM EST Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Bruce Springsteen works inside the Clearwater Benefit Concert Praising Pete Seegers 90th Birthday at Madison Square Garden on May 3, 2009 in NY CityBruce Springsteens new album, Wrecking Ball, will probably be out March 6, and hes just released a completely new single, We Take Proper proper care of Our Personal. Despite the fact that song is musically upbeat, it references Americas current struggles with lyrics like, Wheres the promise, from sea to shining sea? The announcement is created Thursday morning round the rockers website. Other tunes round the 11-track album include Dying to My Hometown, 'This Depression and straightforward Money. Wrecking Ball is Springsteens 17th album as well as the first since the dying of E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons a year ago. Springsteen as well as the band are due to continue tour this year, nevertheless it hasnt been revealed who may a part of for Clemons. Copyright 2012 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emily Maynard Is the Newest Bachelorette

Emily Maynard Emily Maynard will look for another shot at love on ABC's next edition of The Bachelorette, according to US Weekly. The 25-year-old single mom first appeared on Brad Womak's season of The Bachelor. Although the two got engaged in the finale, the relationship was strained by the time "After the Final Rose" aired. The eventually announced their split in June. Bachelor Host: Brad and Emily have a tough road ahead, but want to make it work "Little red flags would come up in our relationship," she told Chris Harrison during a televised interview post-split. "I came to a point where I said, 'I have to be honest with myself and with this relationship,' and I realized that maybe my want for it to work out - I wanted to be married, and I wanted to have more children, and I wanted that with him - maybe overshadowed the actual reality of the relationship." Chris Harrison: Brad feels stupid and ashamed over losing Emily Season 8 of The Bachelorette will also see a change in location as filming will take place in Charlotte, N.C., where Maynard and daughter Ricky live. ABC declined to comment. Do you think Emily will make a good Bachelorette?

Jon Hamm Announces Mad Males Season 5 Premiere Date

Mad Males, Jon Hamm Mad Males Season 5 finally includes a premiere date! That's, if you think maybe star Jon Hamm. The actor, 40, introduced Friday throughout comic Doug Benson's podcast, Doug Loves Movies, the AMC drama would return on March 25. The network couldn't read the airdate. Jon Hamm signs on for 3 more many years of Mad Males However the date is sensible as it is a Sunday (Mad Men's longtime home) and comes per week following the Walking Dead's season finale. Mad Males has not broadcast new episodes since October 2010, due simply to extended discussions for Seasons 5 and 6 between series creator Matthew Weiner and AMC. Hamm, who won a Golden Globe award for his performance in 2008, directed the growing season 5 premiere. Isn't it time for Mad Men's return?