SPECIAL TO THE FAC: FOREIGN,
CINEMATOGRAPHY, EDITING 9 DAYS OUT
Continuing to look at “below
the line” Oscar categories and the state of the Oscar race in each of them as we
get closer and closer to nomination morning.
The Oscar predictors utilized for this analysis:
Scott Feinberg (The Hollywood
Reporter
Sasha Stone (Awards Daily)
Kris Tapley (Incontention/Hit
Fix)
Brad Brevet, Rope of Silicon
Film Experience
Film Misery
Awards Circuit
BEST FOREIGN FILM
1)
A Separation
2)
Where do We Go
Now
3)
In Darkness
4)
Le Havre
5)
Pina
Other possibles:
6)
Happy Happy
7)
Footnote
8)
Miss Bala
9)
Monsieur Lazhar
10)
Flowers of War
Others: Once Upon a Time in
Anatolia, Superclassico, Postcard, Declaration of War, A Simple Life, and
Colors of the Mountain
Comment: A Separation is the
only absolute lock in this category and is the odds on favorite to win the
Oscar. As I have said, it should also
be a contender for Best Original Screenplay (and maybe it will get one of those
five nods, the odds are better today than they were a month ago, #occupyoscar). The LA film critics awarded it Best Screenplay
at their soiree last night. Of course,
Oscar ballots for the nomination process were due yesterday, I believe.
After A Separation 2 thru 4
are likely, but not 100% definite by any means.
Pina could well get the fifth slot, but so could ANY of the next 6 films
or even Anatolia…
And then there is the
possibility that Footnote bumps out Where Do We Go Now and all five films that
get nominated played at TFF #38…it’s not likely…but it could happen.
Also, the level of success of
“Telluride” films in this category is likely to raise the number of total Oscar
noms from this year’s fest. I have been
saying, almost since the Tuesday after the close of the festival that TFF #38
would produce in the neighborhood of 20-24 nominees this year. This category may pump that number up by a
couple….we’ll see Jan. 24
EDITING
1)
The Artist
2)
War Horse
3)
Hugo
4)
Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo
5)
Moneyball
Also in play:
6)
Drive
7)
The Descendants
8)
Extremely Loud
9)
The Tree of Life
10)
The Ides of March
Other possibles: The Help,
Tinker Tailor, J. Edgar, Contagion, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Midnight in
Paris, Warrior
Comment: Conventional wisdom holds (and the history of
the Oscars tends to prove) that it is very difficult to win Best Picture
without a nomination in this category.
That’s why there was some interweb scuttlebutt this week about Fox
Searchlight pushing hard for The Descendants in this category and also in
Cinematography. You can see from the
above list that the “push” looks likes it has had at least some success.
I was talking to a friend of
mine this week who is an Academy member and an editor and he said that the best
editing happens in a film where you don’t notice it. He also said that Descendants had, in fact,
been very well edited…so…
Personally, my guess is that
if there is a departure from these five listed at the top, it would be Drive.
The A.C.E. announces its
nominees for its Guild award on Monday…that might provide some clarity.
You also have to wonder if
the War Horse swoon continues here.
Again, Monday’s guild announcement will be enlightening.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
1)
The Tree of Life
2)
Hugo
3)
War Horse
4)
The Artist
5)
The Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo
Others with a shot (heh heh):
6)
Drive
7)
Harry Potter/Deathly
Hallows
8)
Tinker Tailor
9)
The Descendants
10)
Extremely Loud
Outside shots (again, heh
heh): Moneyball, Melancholia, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Jane Eyre, J.
Edgar, and A Dangerous Method.
Comment: The list is a tad
behind events as some of my prognosticators haven’t updated in light of the
guild announcement from the ASC earlier this week that left War Horse off the
list (and if it can’t get some love in this category, where is it going to come
from?) The ASC nominated: Tinker Tailor
Soldier Spy instead. Will that be how it
comes down on Oscar announcement day?
Probably.
Coming Sunday….Documentary,
Art Direction and Costumes…
Follow me on Twitter @Gort2
