I’m starting off this year with music, sets, costumes, lighting. The things that make a movie come to life, aurally and visually.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Don’t Look Up
Dune
Encanto
Parallel Mothers
The Power of the Dog
So I kind of think Hans Zimmer will win for Dune, which would make this his first Oscar since The Lion King, believe it or not. Which is of course another reason I can’t believe they kicked this category off the broadcast. These are big names! I suppose Encanto being a musical phenom could make that movie stand a chance as well.
Winner: Dune
Alternate: Encanto
Dark Horse: The Power of the Dog
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Be Alive,” King Richard
“Dos Oruguitas,” Encanto
“Down to Joy,” Belfast
“No Time to Die,” No Time to Die
“Somehow You Do,” Four Good Days
This category is overshadowed by the fact that the song that should be here and would win in a walk is so obviously “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” the biggest Disney hit since “A Whole New World,” (seriously!) and Disney didn’t even submit the song as a contender. Yeah. I once thought that would make Encanto’s other song win by default as a reward for Lin-Manuel Miranda but everyone seems totally indifferent to what’s nominated here and the whole thing may just default instead to the Bond song in the end. Which, I’m pretty sure no one remembers at all, but it would make Billie Eilish an Oscar winner, so.
Winner: “No Time to Die”
Alternate: “Dos Oruguitas”
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Dune
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Again, Dune is likely to prevail here, as the set design was some of the most memorable and it won the guild and BAFTA awards. Nightmare Alley could sneak in somewhere, but I think Dune is strong enough to sweep most of these craft categories.
Winner: Dune
Alternate: Nightmare Alley
Dark Horse: West Side Story
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Cruella
Cyrano
Dune
Nightmare Alley
West Side Story
This category pisses me off, as you know, because it’s likely to be Cruella, and it appears the only reason this one wasn’t kicked off the show like the others is because a Disney movie is in contention to win this. Is it really more important than production design? Than score? No? Didn’t think so. Fuck ABC.
Winner: Cruella
Alternate: Nightmare Alley
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Dune
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Dune won the ASC and BAFTA and stands poised to make a near clean sweep of the techs, minus costumes. I thought Power of the Dog might have a shot here, but with the movie having cratered with the guilds so much, it’s hard to see how this one doesn’t go to Dune as well.
Winner: Dune
Alternate: The Power of the Dog
Dark Horse: West Side Story (should have gotten more attention for its cinematography)
