Where did we leave off? I think we’d gotten through Screenplay. Now we’re on to the more important categories. Just kidding. How can you tell a true Oscar watcher from a fair weather one? The true Oscar watcher really cares about who will win Sound Effects Editing.
Best Editing
Frost/Nixon
The Dark Knight
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
On the 15th the Ace Eddies will announce their winner for this year’s big prize. Two days later the Oscar ballots will be turned in. It’s probable that the editors will have chosen the same film that will win the Oscar. I think Slumdog Millionaire will win this. And if not Slumdog it will probably be The Dark Knight.
Best Cinematography
Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
Claudio Miranda, Benjamin Button
Wally Pfister, The Dark Knight
Chris Menges, Roger Deakins, The Reader
Tom Stern, Changeling
I think this is down to The Reader vs. Slumdog Millionaire vs. Benjamin Button — The Dark Knight has a shot here as well but knowing the Academy, probably not The Dark Knight. Again, I think Slumdog wins here but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Button OR The Reader and in fact, this is one I can’t decide on.
Best Art Direction
Benjamin Button
Revolutionary Road
Changeling
Duchess
The Dark Knight
This is probably down to Changeling and The Duchess vs. Benjamin Button — if you figure the piling on factor — everyone and their brother ragging on the movie continually and without fail — it could end up not winning a single Oscar. This should be a slam dunk for the movie.
Best Sound Mixing
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I have a feeling that sound and sound mixing will be down to Wall-E versus The Dark Knight. In the end, I think Dark Knight will take these two awards, especially if you follow the rule that the loudest movie wins. But don’t count out a Slumdog sweep. If Slumdog wins here it could signal a clean sweep (except for song).
Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Wanted
Iron Man
Wall-E
If they split it, Wall-E could take this, while Dark Knight takes mixing, but I think Dark Knight takes both.
Best Costume Design
Benjamin Button
Australia
Milk
Revolutionary Road
The Duchess
This should be a Button win, but taking into consideration all of the negative stuff, it could swing towards The Duchess or Australia.
Best Original Score
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Alexandre Desplat, Benjamin Button
Thomas Newman, Wall-E
James Newton Howard, Defiance
Danny Elfman, Milk
I love all of these scores. But given the popularity of Slumdog, this seems to be the film to beat in this category. Wall-E would be my next best guess.
Best Foreign Language Film
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)
The Class (France)
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Revanche (Austria)
Departures (Japan)
Waltz with Bashir for the big win. What people don’t realize is that the voters have to have seen all five of these films to vote so often that means that the most buzzed film doesn’t win because those who have been voting for it haven’t seen the other nominees. So keep an open mind for this category.
Best Documentary Feature
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
The same voting rules apply here; those giving Man on Wire all of their prizes haven’t necessarily seen all of these other nominees. So any film can win. Still, it’s tough to bet against Man on Wire.
Best Animated Feature
Wall-E
Kung Fu Panda
Bolt
If Wall-E doesn’t win here what is there left to say.
Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Watch it be Iron Man. Love for that movie could propel it to this win. Benjamin Button probably deserves it, though.
Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
I have no idea but I’d guess Button gets this one.
Best Song
“Down to Earth” by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Wall-E
O Saya, Slumdog Millionaire
Jaiho, Slumdog Millionaire*
The Slumdog songs will likely cancel themselves out – and that, coupled with the Peter Gabriel factor and the love for Wall-E (though can someone explain to me how this song qualified and Bruce Springsteen’s didn’t?) will give Gabriel his first Oscar. On the other hand, if voters can ever decide between the two Slumdog songs, one could win.
I’m skipping the pesky shorts for now.