"Notably absent from this year's nominees for Best Director were Bigelow, Tarantino, Hooper and Affleck."

Here is the surprise category:

Achievement in Directing

"Amour" Michael Haneke
"Beasts of the Southern Wild" Benh Zeitlin
"Life of Pi" Ang Lee
"Lincoln" Steven Spielberg
"Silver Linings Playbook" David O. Russell