The Best Director Contenders were:

ANG LEE (Brokeback Mountain)
Lee's helmed the critical darling of the year and just won the DGA which is consider the harbinger for the best director Oscar
Winning the DGA award also makes Lee a front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar - See Best Picture above

PAUL HAGGIS (Crash)
Having penned last year's best picture winner and directing the frontrunner for best picture this year, Haggis could spring a surprise on current favourite, Ang Lee (above) which might indicate where best picture will head at the end of the evening

GEORGE CLOONEY (Good Night and Good Luck)
Clooney is Hollywood's renaissance "man of the year" and Actors who make up the majority voting block in the Academy might want to reward "one of their own"

STEPHEN SPIELBERG (Munich)
Spielberg and Munich were almost written off by pundicts earlier on in the season and the strength of his enduring influence could be felt when the film did very well on nomination morning with five big nominations including this category. He could cruise to victory on a wild card

BENNETT MILLER (Capote)
His surprise nomination by the DGA evolved into his first nomination for the director's prize. He could be dark horse in this race

WINNER: ANG LEE (Brokeback Mountain)