The one place the Academy did shake things up this year was in the best director nominees, including Greta Gerwig, only the fifth woman the be nominated ever, and Jordan Peele, the fifth black director to be nominated. In fact, aside from Paul Thomas Anderson, all of this year's best director nominees are first-timers to the category, but Gerwig is most deserving of this honor. Lady Bird was also her first time directing a feature film, and the product — a sensitive, funny, dramatic film with deeply real characters — speaks volumes about her massive talent.