Craftian Prophecies

The “For Your Consideration” ads are officially abound. But if you want to be a real Oscarite insider you’ll call them FYCs from now on… or not. So, it's officially on.

I’m almost finished with my super early predictions. I’ve got the tech awards here – or “Craft Awards”, as you know from my thoughts on the subject last year. This year is shaping up interestingly. I think the techs will be a little easier. There is more traditional Oscar-fodder. Last year there was a dearth of period and fantasy work leaving films like The Devil Wears Prada and The Queen to pick up Costume nominations. Even if a film like Elizabeth: The Golden Age flops with every critic (which it did) it should still get some love from the craftsy people.

This time last year I managed to correctly predict an average of 2 ½ future nominees correctly in these categories.

Without further ado…


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1. ATONEMENT
2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
3. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (This 1,2,3 is beginning to look familiar)
4. SWEENEY TODD
5. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
6. LUST, CAUTION (4,5, and 6 will be critic proof in a few of these categories)
7. THE KITE RUNNER
8. AMERICAN GANGSTER
9. CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
10. LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
Other Contenders: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, I’m Not There, Into the Wild, Youth Without Youth, 3:10 to Yuma

BEST EDITING
1. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
2. AMERICAN GANGSTER
3. ATONEMENT
4. CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
5. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
6. THE KITE RUNNER
7. MICHAEL CLAYTON
8. I’M NOT THERE
9. INTO THE WILD
10. SWEENEY TODD
Other Contenders: Lions for Lambs, Youth Without Youth, Love in the Time of Cholera, 3:10 to Yuma, In the Valley of Elah

BEST ART DIRECTION
1. SWEENEY TODD
2. ATONEMENT
3. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
4. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
5. LUST, CAUTION
6. LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
7. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
8. 300
9. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
10. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
Other Contenders: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 3:10 to Yuma, Hairspray, Beowulf, Stardust

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
1. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
2. SWEENEY TODD
3. LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
4. ATONEMENT
5. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
6. CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
7. LUST, CAUTION
8. HAIRSPRAY
9. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
10. GOYA’S GHOSTS
Other Contenders: 3:10 to Yuma, Becoming Jane, Stardust, Leatherheads, 300

BEST MAKEUP
1. STARDUST
2. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
3. 300
4. SWEENEY TODD
5. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
6. HAIRSPRAY
7. LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
8. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
9. EASTERN PROMISES
10. ATONEMENT
Other Contenders: There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Spider-Man 3

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
1. BEOWULF
2. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
3. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
4. TRANSFORMERS
5. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
6. 300
7. SPIDER-MAN 3
8. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
9. ATONEMENT
10. STARDUST

BEST SOUND MIXING
1. SWEENEY TODD
2. TRANSFORMERS
3. ATONEMENT
4. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
5. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
6. BEOWULF
7. HAIRSPRAY
8. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
9. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
10. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Other Contenders: American Gangster, 3:10 to Yuma, Into the Wild, The Kite Runner, Lust, Caution

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
1. RATATOUILLE
2. BEOWULF
3. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
4. TRANSFORMERS
5. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
6. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
7. 300
8. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
9. ATONEMENT
10. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
Other Contenders: Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Sweeney Todd, Into the Wild, 3:10 to Yuma

I’ll try to be back sooner than later with a brief look at the “Other kinds of movies” categories and music.