Only a few categories to go in our long march towards Sunday’s ceremony… which I will actually be on an airplane for, which is pretty upsetting. We all have to make sacrifices to see Hamilton though, right?
Anyway, today we’re looking at the technical things that makes movies gorgeous- the Cinematography, Visual Effects, Production Design, Hair, Costumes, and Editing.
| Cinematography Sicario Mad Max: Fury Road Carol The Revenant The Hateful Eight |
Editing Star Wars: The Force Awakens Mad Max: Fury Road The Big Short The Revenant Spotlight |
Let’s not even waste time discussing Cinematography, because I’m sure if I looked it up the Vegas odds on Lubezki winning for the The Revenant would be somewhere along the lines of 1/50. Sicario and Mad Max were stunning in their own way, and I would be pleased with either winning, but the camera work was the best thing about The Revenant, and if I had to pick one award for it to win, it would be Cinematography.
As for editing? This one I’m handing over to Mad Max : Fury Road. It was practical effects, layered with incredible CGI, clinging to a frantic pace that kept me reeling even after the credits rolled. The Big Short, with its strange storytelling style and fourth wall cuts, would be my second pick.
| Production Design The Danish Girl Mad Max: Fury Road Bridge of Spies The Revenant The Martian |
Visual Effects Star Wars: The Force Awakens Mad Max: Fury Road Ex Machina The Revenant The Martian |
Production Design refers to the sets within a movie, and I don’t think you can get more stunning with your production than Mad Max : Fury Road. The Revenant was beautiful but the shots were more about the locations and nature than created pieces. The Danish Girl had some breathtaking interiors, but is a very long shot. And Bridge of Spies and The Martian are deserving nominees, but I don’t think they have what it takes to really compete with Miller’s vision.
I’m sure you can guess what my pick is for Visual Effects. Oh, that’s right – Mad Max : Fury Road. Though I must point out how absolutely stacked this category is this year. So many fabulous sci-fi films! Star Wars could very easily pick up a win here, as could Ex Machina with its insanely constructed AI. While the bear scene in The Revenant was good, I don’t think that single moment is enough to beat out all of the incredible work done in its fellow nominees.
| Costume Design Cinderella Mad Max: Fury Road Carol The Revenant The Danish Girl |
Makeup and Hair Styling The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant |
For the Costumes category, I’m thinking Mad Max : Fury Road, yet again. (Have you guessed yet that I really, really liked that movie?) Cinderella is right on its heels- a surprisingly charming film with some stunning garments. The costume category is often a strange one, choosing films that do not win, or are not even nominated for other categories. I wouldn’t be at all shocked with the fairy tale picking it up over mountains of leather and bullet bandoleers. Carol s also not a bad pick, though standard 1950’s outfits don’t seem outrageously special to me in comparison to the other two.
Finally, we come to Makeup and Hair Styling. 100 Year Old Man is one of the very few films I have not seen, so I regrettably cannot comment much on it. The Revenant had some incredible post bear-maul makeup, and I would give this to them in any other year… but sorry boys and girls, Mad Max : Fury Road is the love of my life. Immortan Joe, the Warboys, Furiosa’s war paint, the stark contrast of the wives and the badass biker ladies? Yes.
The Laurenest 