87th Academy Award Nominations Pt. 2

The Technical Categories

Best Cinematography

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Emmanuel Lubezki

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Robert Yeoman

Ida – Łukasz Żal & Ryszard Lenczewski

Mr. Turner – Dick Pope

Unbroken – Roger Deakins

Who Will/Should Win: Emmanuel Lubezki-Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

The winner of last year’s cinematography Oscar for Gravity in Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki was something that was considered long overdue as there is no cinematography that is better than Chivo at this moment. For his work in Birdman, Chivo creates something that is filled with dazzling schemes as well as lots of intricate camera movements to capture the energy of the film. It’s once again a mark of innovation from the cinematographer who definitely keeps pushing the ideas of what could be done in the art of photography.

Dark Horse: Lukasz Zal & Ryszard Lenczewski-Ida

The photography that Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski did in Ida definitely recalls a lot of the visual styles that Sven Nykvist did in his collaboration with Ingmar Bergman in the early 1960s. It’s got a sense of beauty in its look as it plays into a certain period in time of a world that is changing as well as displaying a sense of loss. It’s definitely got what it takes to win but it’s going against names that are far more prestigious in the art of photography.

Best Film Editing

American Sniper – Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach

Boyhood – Sandra Adair

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Barney Pilling

The Imitation Game – William Goldenberg

Whiplash – Tom Cross

Who Will Win: Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach-American Sniper

Films about war require certain techniques in the art of editing as Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach do provide something that plays into that air of suspense and the sense of unknowing. While it is a drama about the works of a sniper and life at home, it’s clear that Cox and Roach know how to maintain something that plays into that tension and what a man tries to do in his line of work while not bringing it at home.

Who Should Win/Dark Horse: Tom Cross-Whiplash

Tom Cross’ editing is among the highlights of the film as it plays like a jazz record in terms of its frenetic energy as well as slowing things down for the dramatic moments. Especially as it plays to the tension and demands of the film as it is quite scary but also enthralling for the way the music is played. It’s the kind of editing that should win but it’s the long shot due to the fact that it’s going against more well-known films.

Best Art Direction

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration)

The Imitation Game – Maria Djurkovic (Production Design); Tatiana Macdonald (Set Decoration)

Interstellar – Nathan Crowley (Production Design); Gary Fettis (Set Decoration)

Into the Woods – Dennis Gassner (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration)

Mr. Turner – Suzie Davies (Production Design); Charlotte Watts (Set Decoration)

Who Will/Should Win: Adam Stockhausen & Anna Pinnock-The Grand Budapest Hotel

One of the key elements about Wes Anderson’s films is the art direction and how it looks as the work in The Grand Budapest Hotel is just astonishing. From the way the hotel looks as well as the design of the countries, pastry boxes, and all sorts of things. There is no question that Adam Stockhausen and his team went all out and more as it’s the work that should win.

Dark Horse: Nathan Crowley and Gary Fettis-Interstellar

While the design of the space station and other places in the film are brilliant as does the other aspects in the film. It’s not very likely to win as the Oscars often don’t give award to sci-fi films or its set designs which is a real shame as the work Nathan Crowley and his team do is fantastic.

Best Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Milena Canonero

Inherent Vice – Mark Bridges

Into the Woods – Colleen Atwood

Maleficent – Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive

Mr. Turner – Jacqueline Durran

Who Will Win: Colleen Atwood-Into the Woods

Musicals tend to be known for lavish designs in costumes as this one was no exception as it plays to all sorts of ideas in fairy tales and what the characters would wear. Colleen Atwood is among one of the finest costume designers as she knows how characters should be dressed as the clothes often display personality as a win for her is very likely.

Who Should Win: Milena Canonero-The Grand Budapest Hotel

Milena Canonero is already a three-time Oscar winner as her work with Wes Anderson in this film definitely shows why she is among one of the best costume designers ever. The attention to detail in the look of the costumes add to the film’s dazzling look as she is a master in the art of costume designs.

Dark Horse: Mark Bridges-Inherent Vice

Mark Bridges work in Inherent Vice is amazing for the way it creates a look that plays into a transition of the 1960s to the 1970s. Yet, films based on those periods of time usually don’t win despite the work that Bridges does which is really good since it adds a lot to the film’s look and its characters.

Best Hair/Makeup

Foxcatcher – Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier

Guardians of the Galaxy – Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White

Who Will/Should Win: Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White-Guardians of the Galaxy

Makeup work in sci-fi blockbusters definitely don’t get a lot of consideration yet the work that Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White did in this film definitely adds something new to the genre. Even in the designs of the many characters in the film in terms of it hair or the kind of makeup they would have to wear to play these aliens. The work is definitely surprising into how much it brings to the film and what the actors could do with that makeup as it’s got more reasons to win.

Dark Horse: Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard-Foxcatcher

Though there wasn’t much makeup work in the film other than the look of the John duPont character from the look of his nose. It still adds certain layers to the character and how troubled he is as it should be commended. Yet, going up against some very serious competition as it’s a total long-shot.

Best Visual Effects

Captain America: The Winter Soldier – Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist

Guardians of the Galaxy – Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould

Interstellar – Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher

X-Men: Days of Future Past – Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie and Cameron Waldbauer

Who Will/Should Win: Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett, and Erik Winquist-Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

There’s no question that the people who design the look of the apes and their movements have not only gotten better in terms of the look and feel of those characters. It’s also in how much it manages to display something that furthers the art of motion-capture as it brings in a lot of layers to the design of the apes as something much more. It’s the work that is put in the film that should be commended as the visual effects team are just getting better at what they do.

Dark Horse: Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick-Captain America: The Winter Soldier

There’s no question that the work in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is solid in terms of action sequences and set pieces. It’s just that it sort of pales in comparison to the other films that is in the running. Especially as the team doesn’t really do anything new though it’s work that manages to get the job done.

Best Sound Editing

American Sniper – Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Martin Hernández and Aaron Glascock

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Brent Burge and Jason Canovas

Interstellar – Richard King

Unbroken – Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro

Who Will/Should Win: Richard King-Interstellar

Richard King’s work in the sound editing is amazing for the way it creates combines many sounds to play into the sense of the unknown that is outer space. It is also among the elements in the world of sound that is quite astronomical to play into something where it feels otherworldly. It’s definitely has a lot of ambitions and layers as it is among one of the film’s key highlights

Dark Horse: Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCirstofaro-Unbroken

The sound editing in Unbroken plays into different time periods of the life of Louis Zamperini from being an Olympian to surviving being a POW in World War II. Much of it has a lot of elements that is expected in bio-pics yet it’s going up against other genre-based films that are known for more daring works in the art of sound editing.

Best Sound Mixing

American Sniper – John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga

Interstellar – Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker and Mark Weingarten

Unbroken – Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and David Lee

Whiplash – Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley

Who Will Win: Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker, & Mark Weingarten-Interstellar

The work in Interstellar in terms of sound design and sound mixing is very exquisite as it maintains that air of mystique in the world that is outer space. Even as it features some unique mixing in the sound effects and how things are inside a space station while there’s no sound in outer space. Even in the machines and such that help play into a futuristic world where there is this idea that there might not be a future.

Who Should Win/Dark Horse: Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, and Thomas Curley-Whiplash

The sound work in Whiplash is among the many highlights of the film for the way it captures music when it’s being played or how it sounds. Even in the way drums are heard inside or outside of a studio. It is truly some of the finest sound mixing that’s been created yet it’s the long-shot in the category due to the fact that it’s going up against more mainstream films.

(End of Pt. 2) - Pt. 1 - (Pt. 3)

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