86th Academy Awards Predictions Pt. 2

The Technical Portion of the Oscars

Best Cinematography

Gravity-Emmanuel Lubezki

Inside Llewyn Davis-Bruno Delbonnel

Nebraska-Phedon Papamichael

Prisoners-Roger Deakins

The Grandmaster-Philippe Le Sourd

Who Will Win: Bruno Delbonnel-Inside Llewyn Davis

Filling in for regular Coen Brothers cinematographer Roger Deakins, Bruno Delbonnel brings a unique visual look to the film with its use of filters and soft focus to enhance much of the film’s interiors as it represents the journey of the film’s protagonist.

Who Should Win: Emmanuel Lubezki-Gravity

There is no cinematographer working today that deserves as much praise as Chivo has gained throughout the years in his work with Alfonso Cuaron and Terrence Malick. Chivo’s work in this film isn’t just unique for its lighting but also the naturalism he presents in the idea of what a world would look like in outer space as it’s truly some of the most innovative work in the field of photography.

Dark Horse: Philippe Le Sourd-The Grandmaster

Philippe Le Sourd’s work in Wong Kar-Wai’s film certainly lives up to many of the gorgeous visuals that is expected in Kar-Wai’s films. Much of it features some unique ideas of interior lighting and exterior visuals that are just rich with colors. It’s definitely the long-shot due to the fact that not many people have seen the film in its proper form.

Best Film Editing

12 Years a Slave-Joe Walker

American Hustle-Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy, & Crispin Struthers

Gravity-Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger

Captain Phillips-Christopher Rouse

Dallas Buyers Club-Martin Pensa & John Mac McMurphy

Who Will/Should Win: Christopher Rouse-Captain Phillips

Christopher Rouse’s editing is definitely one of the highlights of the film in the way it creates suspense and not devolve into the typical forms of chaotic-based action-film editing. The sense of terror that is prevalent in the film has Rouse taking on ideas of cutting to showcase the air of suspense and drama that plays out as it’s definitely some amazing work in that field.

Dark Horse: Martin Pensa & John Mac McMurphy-Dallas Buyers Club

While Martin Pensa and John Mac McMurphy do some excellent work in playing to the chaos of Martin Woodruff’s life before he discovers that he’s stricken with AIDS along with some moments in the drama. It’s very unlikely that this film will win as it’s going up against films that have manage to do more with its emphasis on editing.

Best Production Design

12 Years a Slave-Adam Stockhausen (production designer) & Alice Baker (set decorator)

American Hustle-Judy Becker (production designer) & Heather Loeffler (set decorator)

Gravity-Andy Nicholson (production designer), Rosie Goodwin & Joanne Woollard (set decorators)

The Great Gatsby-Catherine Martin (production designer) & Beverley Dunn (set decorator)

Her-K.K. Barrett (production designer) & Gene Serdena (set decorator)

Who Will/Should Win: Adam Stockhausen & Alice Baker-12 Years a Slave

The set pieces in this film set in the mid-19th Century before the American Civil War showcase a world that is rich in detail over not just how slaves lived in that time but also conditions of those surroundings. The contrast of the homes their masters lived in as well as the place Solomon lived in as a slave makes the film into a grand period piece that is just more about recapturing a moment in time.

Dark Horse: Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, & Joanne Woollard-Gravity

The designs of the space stations, shuttles, and such is excellent though it does take a back seat to the film’s visual effects and cinematography. While its set design team does manage to put great detail into the look of those space stations, it’s likely that it won’t win since it’s going up against a lot of period films.

Best Costume Design

American Hustle-Michael Wilkinson

The Great Gatsby-Catherine Martin

12 Years a Slave-Patricia Norris

The Grandmaster-William Chang

The Invisible Woman-Michael O'Connor

Who Will Win: Catherine Martin-The Great Gatsby

Catherine Martin is known for creating lavish costumes as her work in The Great Gatsby is no exception in the way she created the dresses the women wear as well as the suits that are worn by the men. The attention to detail is grand as it adds to the sense of decadence in the film.

Who Should Win/Dark Horse: William Chang-The Grandmaster

Chang’s work in The Grandmaster in the costume design is another film that is a period piece where the costumes not only play to the visual texture of the film. It also plays to the characters in the moments they are in the film as it spans from the late 1930s to the 1950s. Much of it would showcase some of the melancholia that the characters would endure in the film’s third act. Yet, it’s the long shot of the nominees due to the fact that it’s not as lavish as the other films.

Best Hair & Makeup Design

Dallas Buyers Club-Adruitha Lee & Robin Mathews

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa-Steve Prouty

The Lone Ranger-Joel Harlow & Gloria Pasqua Casny

Who Will/Should Win: Adruitha Lee & Robin Matthews-Dallas Buyers Club

The makeup work in the film enhances not just the look of two of the film’s major characters but also play into the struggle they face as they’re stricken with AIDS. Especially as Matthew McConaughey has to put on a different hair and mustache while Jared Leto has to wear layers of makeup as this transsexual drag queen.

Dark Horse: Steve Prouty-Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Steve Prouty’s work in making Johnny Knoxville as an old man definitely deserves some recognition as it’s likely that it’s proud to be the dark horse of the category because no one is willing to take it seriously.

Best Sound Mixing

Gravity-Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, & Chris Munro

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug-Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, & Tony Johnson

Captain Phillips-Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, & Chris Munro

Inside Llewyn Davis-Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff, & Peter F. Kurland

Lone Survivor-Andy Koyama, Beau Borders, & David Brownlow

Who Will/Should Win: Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, & Chris Munro-Gravity

The sound mixing in the film is truly astonishing not just for the layers of sound but how they’re intertwined to play into the sense of chaos that Sandra Bullock’s character has to deal with. Especially in the way the debris that she and George Clooney have to deal with in how they sound flying onto outer space as it’s truly sound design at its finest.

Dark Horse: Andy Koyama, Beau Borders, & David Brownlow-Lone Survivor

The action-war film definitely has the kind of sound work that is expected in these kind of films. Even as it’s a film about survival and such though it’s very unlikely that it will go up against the other films it’s nominated against.

Best Sound Editing

All Is Lost-Steve Boeddeker & Richard Hymns

Captain Phillips-Oliver Tarney

Gravity-Glenn Freemantle

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug-Brent Burge

Lone Survivor-Wylie Stateman

Who Will/Should Win: Glenn Freemantle-Gravity

Glenn Freemantle’s work in putting layers of sound to create something cohesive such as the scene where Bullock talks to a man that she doesn’t know is a key aspect of the film’s sound editing. Even as it helps play into the texture of sounds that would blend with one another in some of the film’s intense moments.

Dark Horse: Steve Boeddeker & Richard Hymns-All is Lost

A film that largely takes place in the sea, the sound editing in this film is definitely unique and quite amazing that it’s the only nomination the film received. Yet, it’s definitely the long-shot since it’s going against films with a higher-profile.

Best Visual Effects

Gravity-Timothy Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, & Neil Corbould

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug-Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, & Eric Reynolds

Iron Man 3-Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, & Daniel Sudick

The Lone Ranger-Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams, & John Frazier

Star Trek Into Darkness-Roger Guyett, Pat Tubach, Ben Grossmann, & Burt Dalton

Who Will/Should Win: Timothy Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, and Neil Corbould-Gravity

The visual effects work in this film to create an idea of life in outer space is astronomical in not just its realism but also in how outer space itself is a world that is just terrifying. The look of Earth and the way satellite debris is able to destroy things just goes to show why being an astronaut might not be a good idea.

Dark Horse: Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, & Daniel Sudick-Iron Man 3

While the visual effects in the third Iron Man are spectacular, it doesn’t really do anything though the team should get credit for adding some grit into the visual effects. Especially in the way the real Mandarin looks as well as some of the stuff that Iron Man does for the film.

Best Original Film Score

The Book Thief-John Williams

Gravity-Steven Price

Her-William Butler & Owen Pallett

Saving Mr. Banks-Thomas Newman

Philomena-Alexandre Desplat

Who Will Win: Steven Price-Gravity

Steven Price is new to the category as his score is a mixture of orchestral bombast and soothing ambient-based cuts definitely plays to the theme out of outer space. Especially as it goes into the element of suspense and terror in its orchestral arrangements and ambient for the dramatic moments.

Who Should Win: William Butler & Owen Pallett-Her

The score from Arcade Fire’s William Butler and Owen Pallett is very unconventional as it plays to some of the film’s melancholia with its emphasis on a low-key score ranging from folk to somber piano pieces. Especially as it also has a take on ambient music which included an original track from Arcade Fire for the film.

Dark Horse: John Williams-The Book Thief

There’s no question in how brilliant John Williams is as his score is another of his orchestral-based score that emphasizes on drama and suspense. It has a lot of the typical arrangements that Williams is known for though he’s the long-shot this time around since it’s the only nomination this film has received.

Best Original Song

Despicable Me 2-Pharrell Williams-Happy

Frozen-Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez-Let It Go

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom-Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Brian Burton-Ordinary Love

Her-Karen O & Spike Jonze-The Moon Song

What Will Win: Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez-Let It Go from Frozen

The song is definitely one of the most inspirational and heartfelt songs that is created for the film as it’s sung by Idina Menzel who puts a lot of the anguish of her character in the song. Even as it plays to a snow princess just trying to sort herself out as it’s the kind of song that wins these kinds of awards but one that actually earns it.

What Should Win: Karen O & Spike Jonze-The Moon Song from Her

The song is a truly simple yet beautiful track as it was a just an acoustic ballad sung as a lullaby of sorts though it’s really a love song between a man and his operating system. It’s really one of the most unconventional love songs but one that is just lovely to listen to.

Dark Horse: Pharrell Williams-Happy from Despicable Me 2

Pharrell Williams is a superb songwriter in the form of pop, hip-hop, and R&B as he creates a very upbeat song that definitely fits in the tone with the film. It’s a song that is catchy and simple though it’s the long shot in the category.

Part 1

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