Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Production Design
Showing posts with label Best Art Direction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Art Direction. Show all posts
Monday, March 6, 2023
Monday, January 16, 2023
Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Production Design
Previous winners: Mank, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Black Panther, The Shape of Water, La La Land, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Grand Budapest Hotel
My winner: Coming soon!
The facts: This is the ninth nomination for Haigh, who won twice, for “Bugsy” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” This is the fifth nomination for Major, who won for “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.” This is the fourth nomination for Stockhausen, who won for “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” This is the third nomination for Vermette, who was previously cited for “The Young Victoria” and “Arrival.” This is the second nomination for Vieau, who won for “The Shape of Water,” and also for DeAngelo, who was previously nominated for “Bridge of Spies.” At the Art Directors Guild Awards, “Nightmare Alley” and “Dune” took home prizes, while “Dune” won an award at the Set Decorators Society of America Awards. “Dune” won the BAFTA.
Who should win: I’d choose “Nightmare Alley.”
Who will win: While this could go to “Nightmare Alley,” I think Dune will ultimately triumph.
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
AFT Awards: Best Production Design
Runners-up:
Wendy
Mank
Alice Junior
Ema
The Trial of the Chicago 7
The winner:
Sylvie's Love (Mayne Berke) made its city setting come alive with the passion of its two romantic partners from one location to the next.
Other nominees:
I'm Your Woman (Gae S. Buckley) – my interview with Gae
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Mark Ricker) –my interview with Mark
News of the World (David Crank) – my interview with David
Promising Young Woman (Michael Perry)
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Production Design
Previous winners: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Black Panther, The Shape of Water, La La Land, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Great Gatsby
My winner: Coming soon!
The facts: O’Hara won in 2010 for “Alice in Wonderland” and was nominated in 1986 for “The Color of Money.” Burt won in 2008 for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Pascale contended in 2005 for “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Crowley was previously nominated for “First Man,” “Dunkirk,” “Interstellar,” “The Dark Knight,” and “The Prestige,” making this the fourth time a Christopher Nolan film has earned him a spot here. Lucas was also nominated for “First Man.” At both the Art Directors Guild Awards and Set Decorates Society of America Awards, “Mank” defeated “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “News of the World” in the period film category, while “Tenet” won the fantasy prize. I had the opportunity to speak with three of the artisans nominated in this category – Ricker, Burt, and Crank – so make sure to click through to read those pieces.
Who should win: I’d vote for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World,” or “Mank.”
Who will win: This feels like a likely win for Mank though it could also be “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design
Last year’s nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Parasite
This year’s locks: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank
Very likely: News of the World
Possible: The Personal History of David Copperfield, Promising Young Woman, Tenet, The Midnight Sky, Mulan, Emma, One Night in Miami
Unlikely: I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The Prom, Da 5 Bloods, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nomadland
The rundown: I had the pleasure of speaking with the people responsible for the three projects I’m predicting as most likely to be nominated: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank, and News of the World - you can read those interviews here, here, and here. I’m also pulling for One Night in Miami (that interview here), but I’m not sure it’s going to be able to make the cut. I do think that The Personal History of David Copperfield is a serious contender, even though it missed out on an Art Directors Guild bid, as is Promising Young Woman, which didn’t, and could be the rare contemporary film to score here. I’m not so sure that Tenet will do as well as others seem to think it will, and there are a slew of technical achievements, like The Midnight Sky (interview here), Mulan, Emma, The Prom, and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, that might do well here if they can oust the films that will likely show up in the major categories, like Da 5 Bloods, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Nomadland. I’m Thinking of Ending Things would surely deserve a place here, but its inclusion would be a welcome surprise at this point.
For your consideration: I was wowed by all of the sets and scenery for I’m Your Woman, an Amazon release that doesn’t seem to be garnering much attention. Read that very worthwhile interview here.
Forecasted winner: Maybe Mank? I’m not sure.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Production Design
The competition: The Irishman (Bob Shaw and Regina Graves), Jojo Rabbit (Ra Vincent and Nora Sopková), 1917 (Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh), Parasite (Lee Ha-jun and Cho Won-woo)
Previous winners: Black Panther, The Shape of Water, La La Land, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Great Gatsby, Lincoln
My winner: Ms. Purple
The facts: Vincent was nominated in 2012 for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” Gassner won in 1991 for “Bugsy” and has also been nominated for “Barton Fink,” “Road to Perdition,” “The Golden Compass,” “Into the Woods,” and “Blade Runner 2049.” Sandales contended in 2011 for “War Horse.” Haigh also won in 1991 for “Bugsy” and was nominated for “Barton Fink,” “Forrest Gump,” “Road to Perdition,” “Dreamgirls,” “True Grit,” and “Hail, Caesar!” At the Art Directors Guild Awards, “Parasite” won the contemporary feature film prize, while “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” defeated the other three nominees in this race in the period feature film category.
Who should win: “Parasite” is my favorite of this bunch.
Who will win: Though I’d love for “Parasite” to take it, I think Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will prevail.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
AFT Awards: Best Art Direction
This is the eighth category of the 13th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.
Runners-up:
1917, Jojo Rabbit, Judy and Punch, The Irishman, The Last Black Man in San Francisco
The winner:
Ms. Purple was a gorgeously-colored look at Los Angeles that framed its main character’s isolation in a mesmerizing way.
Other nominees:
The Beach Bum
Joker
Invisible Life
Parasite
Monday, January 13, 2020
Oscar Nominees: Best Production Design
My predictions: 3/5
My ballot: Come back later this week!
The nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Parasite
My two alternates were nominated here instead of my fourth and fifth picks. This represents the only category in which “Joker” could have been and was expected by many to be nominated and wasn’t, but it’s a very visually striking set of films that did get nominated. Parasite is a particularly exciting inclusion, joining Jojo Rabbit and the three films tied for the second most nominations: 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Irishman.
My current bet to win: I’m not sure. Maybe 1917?
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design
This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Monday, January 13th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories.
Last year’s nominees: Black Panther, The Favourite, First Man, Mary Poppins Returns, Roma
This year’s locks: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Very likely: The Irishman, 1917
Possible: Joker, Little Women, Jojo Rabbit, Parasite, Aladdin, Ford v Ferrari, Rocketman, Downton Abbey, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Unlikely: Cats
The rundown: One of the reference points for this category is the Art Directors Guild, which has three separate major categories – period, fantasy, and contemporary. All of the period nominees - 1917, Ford v Ferrari, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Irishman - could easily be nominated. Among the fantasy list, Aladdin is the one that stands the best chance, and Parasite or A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood are the contemporary honorees likeliest to translate to the Oscar list. Don’t count out The Lion King from the animated list also. From those not cited by the ADG, Little Women is likeliest to show up, along with other options like Rocketman or Downton Abbey. I think the ship has sailed for Cats, but it’s always possible.
One possible crazy scenario: It’s not that crazy, but Portrait of a Lady on Fire could benefit from a swell of support to honor its beautiful sets.
Forecasted winner: It depends on who gets nominated, but I think Once Upon a Time in Hollywood triumphs here.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
AFT Awards: Best Art Direction
This is the eighth category of the 12th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.
Runners-up:
The Old Man and the Gun, American Animals, Bohemian Rhapsody, Black Panther, Annihilation, Disobedience, First Man, Roma
The winner:
If Beale Street Could Talk (Mark Friedberg and Kris Moran) illustrated a beautiful world quietly bursting with color.
Other nominees:
The Favourite (Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton)
Colette (Michael Carlin, Lisa Chugg and Nora Talmaier)
The Death of Stalin (Cristina Casali and Charlotte Dirickx)
Mary Poppins Returns (John Myhre and Gordon Sim)
Monday, February 11, 2019
Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Production Design
The competition: Black Panther (Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart), The Favourite (Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton), First Man (Nathan Crowley and Kathy Lucas), Mary Poppins Returns (John Myhre and Gordon Sim), Roma (Eugene Caballero and Bárbara Enrı́quez)
Previous winners: The Shape of Water, La La Land, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Great Gatsby, Lincoln, Hugo
My winner: Announcing shortly after the Oscars!
The facts: Hart was nominated in 1997 for “L.A. Confidential” and 1998 for “Pleasantville.” This is the fourth nomination for Crowley and his first for a film not directed by Christopher Nolan after bids for “The Prestige,” “The Dark Knight,” “Interstellar,” and “Dunkirk.” Myhre has five previous nominations, including wins for “Chicago” in 2002 and “Memoirs of a Geisha” in 2005. Sim also shares that win for “Chicago” in addition to a nomination for “Nine.” Caballero won in 2006 for “Pan’s Labyrinth,” his only previous bid. This is the first nomination for all other nominees. All five of these films were nominated by the Art Directors Guild, where “Black Panther” triumphed in the fantasy category and “The Favourite” took the period award in addition to the BAFTA. Eight times in the past decade, this award went to a Best Picture nominee, which neither “First Man” nor “Mary Poppins Returns” are.
Who should win: These films are all visually astounding in completely different ways. “Roma” is starkly portrayed, which helps its effectiveness, while “First Man” is enhanced so that its scenery feels real. “Mary Poppins Returns” is colorful and vibrant. “The Favourite” is striking and vivid, though I’d probably choose “Black Panther” for its creation of a stunning nation.
Who will win: It might be either “Black Panther” or “Mary Poppins Returns,” but I think that the energy and enthusiasm for The Favourite will lead to its victory.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Oscar Nominees: Best Production Design
My predictions: 5/5
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: Black Panther, The Favourite, First Man, Mary Poppins Returns, Roma
I didn’t even realize that I got a perfect score in this category. There’s no denying that these five films are wonderful to look at, though I wish there would have been room for “If Beale Street Could Talk.” The Favourite and Roma both tied for the total nominations haul, while Black Panther underperformed a bit considerable its technical potential. First Man and Mary Poppins Returns both did fine but definitely didn’t reach expectations. I’m very happy with this list.
My current bet to win: My guess is The Favourite over “Mary Poppins Returns.”
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design
This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 22nd. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories.
Last year’s nominees: Beauty and the Beast, Blade Runner 2049, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, The Shape of Water
My choices: Coming in February!
This year’s locks: Mary Poppins Returns, Roma, The Favourite
Very likely: First Man
Possible: Black Panther, If Beale Street Could Talk, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, A Star is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, A Quiet Place
Unlikely: Annihilation, Bohemian Rhapsody, Welcome to Marwen
The rundown: One of the reference points for this category is the Art Directors Guild, which has three separate categories – period, fantasy, and contemporary. The strongest contenders from each of those lists are Roma, The Favourite, and First Man, Mary Poppins Returns, Black Panther, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and A Star is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, and A Quiet Place. Less likely to translate to Oscar are Bohemian Rhapsody and Welcome to Marwen. In terms of other contenders, watch out for If Beale Street Could Talk, which I still hope might place here and in other races despite egregious guild snubs, and Annihilation, which has its passionate fans.
One possible crazy scenario: A beautiful-looking film whose absence from awards season I can’t comprehend, Colette, receives a well-deserved mention.
Forecasted winner: I think that the colors and wonder of Mary Poppins Returns propel it to victory.
Friday, March 9, 2018
AFT Awards: Best Art Direction
This is the eighth category of the 11th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.
Runners-up:
Beauty and the Beast, Call Me By Your Name, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, In Between, Land of Mine, Logan, Mudbound, Phantom Thread, Song to Song, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Sweet Virginia, The Greatest Showman, The Space Between Us, The Zookeeper's Wife, Their Finest, Wonder Wheel, Wonderstruck
The winner:
The Shape of Water (Paul D. Austerberry, Shane Vieau and Jeffrey A. Melvin) invented its own magical universe that came to life most visually in each scene with deliberate colors and mesmerizing backdrops.
Other nominees:
Blade Runner 2049 (Dennis Gassner and Alessandra Querzola)
The Florida Project (Stephonik Youth and Kurt Thoresen)
Battle of the Sexes (Judy Becker, Matthew Flood Ferguson and Alexander Wei)
Downsizing (Stefania Cella, Patricia Larman, Jørgen Stangebye Larsen, Karen Manthey, Karl J. Martin, Doug J. Meerdink, Odetta Stoddard and Kimberley Zaharko)
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Oscar Nominees: Best Production Design
My predictions: 4/5, picking “Phantom Thread” over “Darkest Hour”
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: Beauty and the Beast, Blade Runner 2049, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, The Shape of Water
I did okay here despite not having seen two of the nominees. I guess “Darkest Hour” makes more sense than “Phantom Thread,” but both looked pretty great. Joining our two technical achievements we have the two most-nominated films, which showed up in pretty much every eligible category. More once I’ve seen all the nominees!
My current bet to win: I think it will be The Shape of Water but I don’t say that with any confidence.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design
This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 23rd. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.
Last year’s nominees: Arrival, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Hail Caesar, La La Land, Passengers
This year’s locks: The Shape of Water, Dunkirk
Very likely: Blade Runner 2049, Beauty and the Beast
Possible: Phantom Thread, Darkest Hour, Murder on the Orient Express, The Post, Mudbound, Wonderstruck, Wonder Woman
Unlikely: Wonder Wheel
The rundown: I’ve been continuing to refer to this category as Best Art Direction even though I now see that it was officially changed five years ago, so I’m now getting on board with that. The Art Directors Guild has three categories – period, fantasy, and contemporary – and that gets boiled down to just one here. The only nominee I’m predicting without an ADG bid is Phantom Thread, though Mudbound and Wonderstruck also weren’t cited. The Shape of Water and Dunkirk are locks here just like they are in many other categories, and Blade Runner 2049 and Beauty and the Beast seem almost as likely. Darkest Hour is a strong possibility, as is Murder on the Orient Express, with The Post also having a decent shot. This category may well offer a surprise or two.
One possible crazy scenario: It was nominated in the contemporary category by the ADG, but Downsizing has done so poorly on the awards circuit that a bid for its creative art direction seems so unlikely.
Forecasted winner: This feels like an easy place to reward The Shape of Water.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
AFT Awards: Best Art Direction
This is the eighth category of the 10th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.
Runners-up:
A Bigger Splash, Arrival, Doctor Strange, Equals, Hail, Caesar!, Hell or High Water, Star Trek Beyond
The winner:
La La Land (Austin Gong, Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, David Wasco) made an energetic, lively musical come to life with unforgettable, eye-popping colors and vivid, whimsical scenery.
Other nominees:
20th Century Women (Aimee Athnos, Chris Jones, Traci Spadorcia, Neil Wyzanowski)
High-Rise (Heather Greenlees, Nigel Pollock, Paki Smith, Mark Tildesley, Frank Walsh)
American Honey (Kelly McGehee, Lance Mitchell, Graham Wichman)
Moonlight (Mabel Barba, Hannah Beachler, Regina McLarney)
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Art Direction
The competition: Arrival (Patrice Vermette and Paul Hotte), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Stuart Craig and Anna Pinnock), Hail, Caesar! (Jess Gonchor and Nancy Haigh), La La Land (David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco), Passengers (Guy Hendrix Dyas and Gene Serdena)
Previous winners: Mad Max: Fury Road, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Great Gatsby, Lincoln, Hugo, Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
My winner: To be announced soon!
The facts: This is Craig’s eleventh nomination, and he has prevailed three times, most recently in 1996. This is Haigh’s seventh nomination, and she won in 1991. This is Pinnock’s sixth nomination, and she won in 2014. This is the second nomination for Vermette, Gonchor, Hendrix Dyas, and Serdena. “Passengers” and “La La Land” took home ADG Awards in separate categories, with the former beating the other three nominees here.
Who should win: I’m sad to say that I didn’t see two of these films - “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and “Passengers - because I underestimated their Oscar chances when they were in theaters, only to see both earn two nominations. I’m fond of “La La Land” and its purposeful colors over the rest here.
Who will win: I think that contemporary musical decorations will trump the sci-fi/period pieces and La La Land will take the win.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Oscar Nominees: Best Art Direction
My predictions: 2/5, picking only “Arrival” and “La La Land”
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: Arrival, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Hail Caesar, La La Land, Passengers
I’m not sure what to make of this list, but there are also three nominees here I haven’t seen. I expected “Hail, Caesar!” to show up in Best Costume Design instead, and I underestimated both “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and “Passengers,” both of which scored two nominations but not for Best Visual Effects. Both “Arrival” and “La La Land” dominated here as well as other categories, and I’m satisfied with my prediction for the latter, which some thought wouldn’t make the cut here.
My current bet to win: I think it will be La La Land.
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