Tech Support: Final predictions for Best Makeup, Score, Song, Production Design and Visual Effects

Which films look set to dominate the crafts categories?

<p>&quot;Les Mis&eacute;rables&quot;</p>

"Les Misérables"

Credit: Universal Pictures

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So here we go. After several months of previewing the contenders, it’s time to predict the nominees for the 85th Annual Academy Awards in the crafts categories.

Today, I'll analyze Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects. Tomorrow, I'll turn to Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

Let's dig in...

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING (Tech Support Analysis)

Soon-to-be Best Picture nominees “Les Misérables” and especially “Lincoln” had to meticulously recreate the 19th Century in painstaking detail. I expect them to be in the final three, especially given the aging in “Les Mis” and the transformative work in “Lincoln.”

The plentiful makeup in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” would seem most likely to complete the trio, especially considering both “Lord of the Rings” movies to make the bake-off lists made the final cut. Creating dwarves, elves and hobbits, to say nothing of battle wounds, required considerable work. But there is a lot more CGI this time around, and this category normally has a notable omission.

Given the potential for surprises, none of the finalists making it would floor me, from “Hitchock”’s recreation of Old Hollywood to “Looper”’s transformation of one actor to another and “Snow White and the Huntsman”’s beauty makeup and battle wounds.

Most likely, however, the giddily outlandish work of Rick Baker on “Men in Black 3” will find a home. That's what I expect, anyway, so God dammit, I’ll predict it!

Final Predictions:
“Les Misérables”
“Lincoln”
“Men in Black 3”
(alt. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”)

BEST MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE (Tech Support Analysis)

A few weeks ago, I said I felt John Williams (“Lincoln”) was locked in this category with Alexandre Desplat (“Argo”), Mychael Danna (“Life of Pi”) and Dario Marianelli (“Anna Karenina”) looking good. I still feel that way. Williams is Williams, scoring the likely nominations leader. Enough said. While Desplat could suffer from drawing split attention, Danna could encounter some newbie shyness and Marianelli must battle the divisive nature of his film, I feel the three of them will each score a nomination due to some combination of support for their films. Each have noticeable scores with exotic elements, precursor attention and respect for the composers.

I’m guessing Desplat gets pulled along with “Zero Dark Thirty” to become a double-nominee for his subtle but suspense-building work on Kathryn Bigelow’s feature. Remember “The Hurt Locker”’s somewhat surprising nomination here. I also feel a double nomination for Desplat is inevitable one of these years, so why not this one?

I’ll admit, however, that this prediction is somewhat of a cop-out given that I can’t decide which of the integral scores by yet-to-be-nominated composers such as Jonny Greenwood (“The Master”), Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klinek (“Cloud Atlas”) or Benh Zeitlin & Dan Romer (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) has the best chance. The precursors have sent very mixed messages on these films, and it’s difficult for newcomers to break into this category.

I should add that given Thomas Newman’s history in pulling some surprising nominations, I wouldn’t dismiss “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”

Final Predictions:
“Anna Karenina”
“Argo”
“Life of Pi”
“Lincoln”
“Zero Dark Thirty”
(alt. “The Master”)

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  • Default-avatar

    RichardZ

    I think Skyfall has a good chance for production design.

    January 8, 2013 at 2:09PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    JLPatt

    I can't understand Desplat getting nominated for "Zero Dark Thirty." I loved the movie but that score was completely unmemorable.

    Then again, the same can be said for "The Hurt Locker"...

    January 8, 2013 at 6:15PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      Evan Ha- I liked Desplat's ZDT score, but felt that way about Argo.

      January 8, 2013 at 9:22PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    murphy

    I'm surprised that you don't think "Argo" or "Prometheus" have a shot in the production design category. I wouldn't be surprised to see one or both of them push out "The Hobbit" and "Django Unchained."

    Your picks for score are probably right on the money, though I wish there was room for Alan Silvestri's rousing "Avengers" score or Marc Streitenfeld for "Prometheus." Both scores are far more memorable and supporting of the their films than Williams subdued score for "Lincoln."

    Lastly, I honestly hope "The Dark Knight Rises" doesn't score a VFX nomination. I'd much rather see "Snow White." Not a great movie, but I thought the effects, particularly on the dwarves and the sequence in the Enchanted Forest were nothing short of spectacular.

    January 9, 2013 at 1:02AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Gerard_talkback_profile

    Gerard Kennedy

    Just to add re: Production Design, I was "this" close to mentioning "Skyfall" yesterday given the respect for the film, and the reputation of Dennis Gassner. I felt contemporary bias would do him in. I still feel that way, though the BAFTA nomination certainly gives me pause.

    I just can't see "Prometheus" in Production Design or really anywhere outside of Visual Effects. Just a hunch -- Scott's films have been very hit-and-miss with Oscar and this doesn't strike me as a hit.

    January 9, 2013 at 10:44AM EST Reply to Comment
2012-2013 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
UPDATED: FEB 25, 2013

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