Oscar-nomics: Best Art Direction Predictions

 

While I am starting to second guess my thoughts on both Costume and Makeup, I am pretty confident in my choice for Best Art Direction. There are several things going for it, which I will go into when I talk about said films. The list overall, is pretty strong, definitely one of my favorites. Many are quick to say Tinker, Tailor was robbed, and I do think it deserves to be here. However, since my favorite made it in over it, I am willing to overlook it this one time. Here are the nominations:

The Artist: Laurence Bennett and Robert Gould

This is an obvious choice for a nomination, its got everything going for it. Pitch perfect period piece, a very well loved film and a best picture frontrunner. I did enjoy this film's art direction, it along with the costume an cinematography, gives us a vibrant picture of Hollywood during the silent era. As great as the art direction is, I don't think even being the frontrunner can help it topple the sure bet in this category.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows pt. 2: Stuart Craig and Stephanie McMillan

Fantasy films do often see some love in this category, musicals too. Pan's Labyrinth, LOTR Return of the King, Alice in Wonderland, all past winners and each carrying a fantastical tone with each of them. While this is a deserving nominee, its only the saga's 3rd nomination, which means the wizard community hasn't had much love in this category (at least not as much as it could/should've). I don't think this will end the winless streak the HP crew have been facing, at least not compared to another film nominated in this category.

Hugo: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo

Yet another film that will come up... nah just kidding this is your winner. A fantasy film with glorious Art Direction (one of my personal favorites) and a film that is obviously loved by the Academy. I had a feeling this would be a tech. and craft favorite, and I think that is how it will pan out. I am second guessing its chances in Costume, but for now this is the sure fire thing I believe it will win this category for sure.

Midnight in Paris:  Anne Seibel and Hélène Dubreuil 

A fantastic choice in my opinion, I was worried it wasn't going to make it. Honestly, this would probably be my favorite surprise of the year. Like I said in my review of the film, I am a sucker for 1920's, design and style. This is a perfect rendition of said period and it swerves effortlessly from then and now, which for it being Paris is no small feet. That being said, if there were to be an upset, it won't be from this film, more than likely the Artist cause it stands a better chance at a sweep than Paris does.

War Horse: Rick Carter and Lee Sandales 

Another respectable choice, period war drama with production designs as grandiose as its score and cinematography. The fact that it is a Best Picture nominee is meaningless, considering all but Harry Potter carries one, and I don't think this has what it takes to take it down. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that War Horse isn't as strong a contender in as many categories as I had originally thought. War films rarely win this category, so I am saying this is a sure no for this film. 

Winner: Hugo

Runner-Up: The Artist

Should Win: Hugo

Should've been Nominated: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Oscar-nomics: Best Visual Effects Predictions

Still working on the design here, bare with me

  





VS.

Now, I have to be honest, I don't really care for visual effects. That isn't to say I hate them, but I am more of a story enthusiast and if that is done well, then the visual effects can and should be used to help enhance the film around it. That is why while I have my prediction, and at this point I think its a bankable one, I am having a sneaking suspicion one film, equally deserving mind you, might upset here. Before I go into that, however, let us take a look at the nominees (by the way, no Tree of Life? What the f*#! academy?):

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows pt. 2: Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler, and John Richardson
This is the third nomination of the HP team, a sign that the academy likes the bunch, but isn't in love since the other 5 weren't nominated. Still, its nice to see them make it in, given the final film is quite arguably their most ambitious in terms of effects and such, with the Battle of Hogwarts looking as amazing as it did. That being said, the only true chance I see it winning would be out of respect for it being the last HP film, which I just can't see happening.

Hugo: Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann, and Alex Henning
This is a dark horse in this category, and is deserving of the win if it gets the gold statue. Its visual effects really enhanced the film in a way that it wasn't over the top, like one of the nominees I will mention later. Whether its the nightlife of Paris, a visual showcase of the legendary Georges Melies, or the intricate dream sequences, one involving a train falling off its tracks. While I don't generally care for the effects, I will say that I enjoyed the special effects in this film. There is also a clear love for the film, as its 11 nominations show, and its the sole Best Picture nomination (which is understandable if you look at the other nominations, minus the previous one of course). Don't be surprised if we see this film winning come Oscar night, but for now I see it just coming up short.

Real Steel: Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Danny Gordon Taylor, and Swen Gillberg
I have a really big problem with this nomination. I don't think this doesn't belong in the category, it clearly uses mo-cap technology aptly for its robot fighting scenes (if not a tad clunky). The fact is, it took out a category that only did a beautiful showcase of the creation of the freaking universe. I feel this film robbed the Tree of Life of its deserving nomination, argh. That being said, it wasn't a terribly well liked film, more liked than some others, but not enough for it to merit Oscar attention. Also, it didn't really get that much of an audience so I felt the film would disappear, and it clearly didn't. That being said, I doubt it has any chance of winning here, so the nom is the award (ugh).

Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White, and Daniel Barrett
There is so much going for this film to win that I am betting on this one to take it. Its visual mo-cap of the actors playing apes was very well done, it reminded me of the visual effects done on the aliens in Avatar. Its visual effects are seemless, anchored only more so by a strong performance by Andy Serkis. This film is also on a Visual Effects hot streak, so it is the strong frontrunner. While I am predicting it to win, it should be noted that this is the films only nomination, so I think its not as in a strong 1st as I had thought. Hugo could very well take it out in the end, but for now I am banking on those damn dirty apes.

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon: Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew E. Butler, and John Frazier
A Hollywood blockbuster with sense-destructive visuals and sound designs. It was a lock since its debut, and with little competition as it has in previous years (or apparently little competition since the creation of the universe with beauty and style is considered "unworthy"), a nomination seemed more and more likely. However, I can count the ways this film won't win, but I will stick with the traditional, "The Academy hates Transformers." It was a terrible film, but it is hard to discredit its sound and visuals so those, like many Bay films, will get the nomination and not win, and I don't see this film changing this trend.

Will Win: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Runner-up: Hugo

Should win: Hugo or Rise of the Planet of the Apes (I'm not picky)
Should've Been Nominated: Tree of Life

Oscar-nomics: Best Makeup Predictions

 
Here we have yet another more is more category, as I've noted in the Best Costume Design Predictions. If you look at past winners in this category, it has often gone to the movie in which the Makeup has been quite distinguishable (Rick Baker, creator of many werewolves and such, has the most of these bad boys). This year, while there is a film whose makeup art is rather noticeable, there is a chance that we could see some competition to this theory. But first, here are the nominations:

Albert Nobbs: Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnson, and Matthew W. Mungle
While there is some impressive work on the transgender makeup and other makeup details, I think this is probably the weak link in the mix. I think this film is still in the mix, but don't count on this one to make a run against its other competitors.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows pt.2: Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight, and Lisa Tomblin
This maybe your winner.  While there is some makeup designs we have seen in previous Harry Potter films, that still doesn't detract from the impressive designs the makeup team has delivered. Personally I think this one will win, because not only is it impressive, but the makeup designs is arguably the most noticeable of the bunch. Plus, with this being the last of a much beloved series that has so far been rudely unrewarded, this maybe the perfect time, even though it'd be an oddball category to do so. However, there is talk of a different option that could overtake it.

The Iron Lady: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland
While most of the work seen in this film is subtle, there is something to be said about aging makeup. Its not as easy as one would think, but aging makeup is quite difficult in having the arduous task of keeping the makeup changes throughout the film subtle, but noticeable at the same time. This maybe why J. Edgar missed out, for its aging makeup was not as subtle as it should've been. That being said, this is being touted as the winner, but I am not truly feeling it. Last year, we had the same competition of age makeup vs extremely noticeable makeup with Barney's Version vs. the Wolfman, with the latter's noticeable makeup taking out the subtle aging makeup. Could this year be a change of pace. I am sticking with the noticeable makeup but don't be surprised if the Iron Lady takes it.

We shall see...

Will Win: Harry Potter
Runner-up: The Iron Lady

Should win: Harry Potter
Should've been nominated: Hugo