Further Thoughts on the Oscars - The Technicals

We've been through the major categories, but let's see what's happening in the tech categories. Once I've had a chance to get in as many of the shorts (I've seen several, but not enough to shape an opinion), we'll discuss the shorts categories.

Best Art Direction

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

I have the feeling that Benjamin Button is going to take a lot of these categories, since it seems less likely to win in the majors. However, it is also possible that those who are pissed off at The Dark Knight snubs in the majors might use these tech categories to make public their outrage, giving Nolan's team some awards. So, much of the techs are going to be a battle between these two films.

Your winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Hedge your bets: The Dark Knight

Best Cinematography

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

This one is admittedly a much tougher call than Art Direction, only because Slumdog is a competitor here and has won previous awards. Not to mention that Wally Pfister's work on The Dark Knight - especially those amazing IMAX scenes - is also worthy of consideration. If your Oscar pool includes this category, I'm telling you now, don't blame me.

Your winner: Slumdog Millionaire
Hedge your bets: The Dark Knight

Best Costume Design

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Milk is a bit of a breakthrough in this category. Generally costuming the 70's is a death sentence for your awards consideration. Not so for Danny Glickers subtle 70's work. However, I don't think it can win. Period glamor is nearly always the winner here, and there's really only one entry that fits that bill.

Your winner: The Duchess
Hedge your bets: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Generally speaking, this matches up with the Best Picture winner - unless there is a really well-edited action movie in the mix that can steal some of the thunder. So that makes this one a tough call as well.

The editing on Slumdog is part of what gives the movie its zip; so that certainly makes a strong case. But, The Dark Knight could be the one that comes through and I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

Your winner: The Dark Knight
Hedge your bets: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Make-Up

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

I was pleasantly surprised that Benjamin Button made the cut for nomination. Why, you ask? Well, the make-up branch of the academy has a tendency to poo-poo any make-up work that is enhanced with CGI effects - and the make-up in Benjamin Button uses a lot of CGI. However, the two combine so smoothly and wonderfully that the results are the best age make-up that has graced the big screen.

So, now that it's nominated, it will likely win. That said, it's competitors are both very well-done.

Your winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Hedge your bets: The Dark Knight

Best Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL*E

The music branch certainly threw some surprises our way and they've offered up a unique mix of scores for the offering. I personally don't see how they'll resist the opportunity to reward A.R. Rahman, who is India's top composer. I think they'll find the internationalization angle all-too-exciting.

That said, they've also been protectionist at times and slow to welcome new composers into the fold. If the Academy should get isolationist, this will go to Desplat. And yes, I know Desplat is French, but he's been composing in the states long enough to have been taken into the fold.

Your winner: Slumdog Millionaire
Hedge your bets: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Song
"Down to Earth", from WALL*E
"Jai Ho", from Slumdog Millionaire
"O Saya", from Slumdog Millionaire

Unless the producers of the ceremony can somehow figure out how to make Bollywood numbers boring (and I wouldn't put it past them), the music performances should be a lot of fun this year.

This category may have sprung the biggest surprise of the year. Bruce Springsteen's song from The Wrestler was already the expected winner. Without that competition, Jai Ho should be the winner. However, with only three choices, the Slumdog selections could split, giving the trophy to Peter Gabriel's entry.

Your winner: Jai Ho, from Slumdog Millionaire
Hedge your bets: Down to Earth, from WALL*E

Best Sound Editing

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL*E
Wanted

Despite the pleasant inclusion of Iron Man, I just don't see how any of the entries here can topple The Dark Knight. When you pair its wonderful technical credits with its lack of inclusion in Best Director and Best Picture you end up with the clear winner in the sound categories.

Your winner: The Dark Knight
Hedge your bets: Iron Man

Best Sound Mixing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL*E
Wanted

I, like a lot of folks, are hard-pressed to really explain the differences between the two sound categories. In fact, I'd say the vast majority of the Academy would also be hard-pressed to explain the difference to you. My proof? The same film pretty much always wins both.

Your winner: The Dark Knight
Hedge your bets: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

This is another good race. I could conceivably see Iron Man sneaking through. But I still have the feeling that those on the tech side are going to go for The Dark Knight where they can. Then again, Benjamin Button was a great use of effects in a subtle way.

Your winner: The Dark Knight
Hedge your bets: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button