quote:Originally posted by Animalman: If that's your opinion, ok. I don't agree with it.
For starters, Martin Scorcese was also nominated for best director. Scorcese is more famous, has produced more over the last decade and a half than Polanski, and, in my opinion, is a better director. I'm sure he's also a bit more popular considering he isn't a fugitive convict.
Oh, and Gangs of New York grossed more than the Pianist did, as it was a more commercialized film.
The fact that Academy voters are based in the US and hardly venture outside it's borders for work actually helps Polanski. Many of these people are art directors, grips, technicians, and so forth. Working with big directors in Hollywood tend to sour them on voting for those guys because some directors (many told stories of Oliver Stone) just rub them the wrong way due to personalities, working environments, etc.
Also, it is a bit en vouge to give the kudos to people like Polanski and Kubrick who sit off to the side for years and only do the occasional film.
