Fans and critics alike praise these directors for their superior work in visual storytelling. But the Academy is the ultimate decision maker what determines whether or not their work is good enough for the ultimate recognition. These are the top five directors that have been burned out of an Oscar.
5. Darren Aronofsky
Carefully crafted, Darren Aronofsky’s work such as “Requiem for a Dream,” “The Wrestler” and “Black Swan” have all been artfully tasteful and psychologically compelling. Only directing a handful of films in the past 16 years, Aronofsky has put only his best work out there. But for the Academy, his best is just not good enough.
4. Christopher Nolan
Known for his ingenuity in groundbreaking storytelling and thinking outside of the box, director Christopher Nolan has been known for works such as “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “The Prestige” and “Inception.” Although “Inception” was recognized for its visuals and sound, neither Nolan’s writing or directing has ever been deemed worthy of an Oscar for any of his films.
3. Tim Burton
This quirky character’s filmography is all too well known. Though he has had his hit and misses and is known for using Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp in way too many of his films, nobody can deny the extra hard work that director Tim Burton has put into anything that he has ever directed, written or produced. His fan base and box office numbers speak for themselves. Burton is loved by millions but not by the Academy.
2. Hayao Miyazaki
Whether he is actually retiring this year or not, director and writer Hayao Miyazaki has never ended on a bad note. Miyazaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and director of timeless animated films such as “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” “Spirited Away” (his only work so far to receive one oscar in one category), and most recent “The Wind Rises.” Perhaps it is his medium of 2D animation that dissuades the academy from choosing him as a top candidate for an award whenever one of his film’s rolls around. But the magic of Miyazaki’s films can never be captured by live action cinematics. At least Disney gets it.
1. Martin Scorsese
Though this director does have one Oscar under his belt, he also does have only ONE Oscar under his belt. It was an ongoing joke in the movie community that Martin Scorsese was always cheated out of an Oscar. His filmography is a long one that includes greats such as “Taxi Driver,” “Gangs of New York,” and “Hugo.” So far his only recorded Oscar in history is in 2007, for his film “The Departed.” The Golden Globes is a little more gracious with their showering of adornment for Scorsese’s work, even awarding him the coveted Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012 for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. The Academy? Not so much loving from their end.