Makeup and Hairstyling
A Different Man
Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal Jurado
Emilia Pérez
Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini
Nosferatu
David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne Stokes-Munton
The Substance
Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli
Wicked
Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth
Who will win: “The Substance”
Who should win: “The Substance”
Upset: “Wicked” or “Nosferatu”
Lowdown: If The Academy overall really doesn’t like “The Substance,” “Wicked” could take this in a hot minute.
Music (Original Score)
The Brutalist
Daniel Blumberg
Conclave
Volker Bertelmann
Emilia Pérez
Clément Ducol and Camille
Wicked
John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
The Wild Robot
Kris Bowers
Who will win: Daniel Blumberg, “The Brutalist”
Who should win: Kris Bowers, “The Wild Robot”
Upset: Volker Bertelmann, “Conclave”
Lowdown: Still don’t understand why Bowers isn’t a slam dunk here, but Blumberg’s BAFTA win likely signals an Oscar win as well. The sister organizations have lined up nine out of the last 10 years.
Music (Original Song)
El Mal
from Emilia Pérez; Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; Lyric by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard
The Journey
from The Six Triple Eight; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
Like A Bird
from Sing Sing; Music and Lyric by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada
Mi Camino
from Emilia Pérez; Music and Lyric by Camille and Clément Ducol
Never Too Late
from Elton John: Never Too Late; Music and Lyric by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin
Who will win: “El Mal”
Who should win: None of them, burn this category to the ground
Upset: “Never Too Late” or “The Journey”
Lowdown: Heavens. This category and the Music Branch need a massive overhaul moving forward. “El Mal” is probably the winner, but this could be where Warren gets her first “real” Oscar (oh, and don’t think this will stop her going forward from all the games she plays). And don’t think AMPAS won’t reward John with a third win in this category either. He probably has even more friends and fans among the membership.
Production Design
The Brutalist
Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia
Conclave
Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter
Dune: Part Two
Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
Nosferatu
Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová
Wicked
Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Who will win: “Wicked”
Who should win: “Wicked,” “Nosferatu” or “The Brutalist”
Upset: “Nosferatu” or “The Brutalist”
Lowdown: You know it was an incredible year for Production Design when “Blitz,” “The Substance,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Queer,” “Civil War,” or “A Complete Unknown” don’t come close to landing a nomination. Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales should easily take this one.
Live Action Short Film
A Lien
Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
Anuja
Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai
I’m Not a Robot
Victoria Warmerdam and Trent
The Last Ranger
Cindy Lee and Darwin Shaw
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek
Who will win: “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”
Who should win: “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”
Upset: “A Lien” or “I’m Not a Robot”
Lowdown: Based on a real event in Croatia in 1993, there is something horrifyingly contemporary about “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent.” Even more disturbing than the almost everyday horrors ICE inflicts that are depicted in “A Lien.” If the voting pool is looking for something less…serious, then “I’m Not A Robot” could surprise. Actually, we’re probably making a terrible prediction that “Silent” can win, but we can’t imagine the basic “Robot” actually taking it…which it probably will.
Sound
A Complete Unknown
Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco
Dune: Part Two
Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill
Emilia Pérez
Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz and Niels Barletta
Wicked
Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John Marquis
The Wild Robot
Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo and Leff Lefferts
Who will win: “Dune: Part Two”
Who should win: “Dune: Part Two” or “Wicked”
Upset: “Wicked”
Lowdown: The first “Dune” won this category, something tells us the second one will too.
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan
Better Man
Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter Stubbs
Dune: Part Two
Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney Burke
Wicked
Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould
Who will win: “Dune: Part Two”
Who should win: “Better Man” or “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
Upset: None
Lowdown: “Dune: Part Two” has this in the bag. Easiest win of the night.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
A Complete Unknown
Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks
Conclave
Screenplay by Peter Straughan
Emilia Pérez
Screenplay by Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi
Nickel Boys
Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing
Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield
Who will win: Peter Straughan, “Conclave”
Who should win: Peter Straughan, “Conclave”
Upset: RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, “Nickel Boys” or James Mangold and Jay Cocks, “A Complete Unknown”
Lowdown: Best Picture could be won or lost here, pt. 1. “Conclave” needs this to win.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Anora
Written by Sean Baker
The Brutalist
Written by Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain
Written by Jesse Eisenberg
September 5
Written by Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David
The Substance
Written by Coralie Fargeat
Who will win: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Who should win: Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”
Upset: Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”
Lowdown: Best Picture could be won or lost here, pt. 2. If “Anora” is on track to take Best Picture, it will likely win this category. If not, Eisenberg, who won BAFTA in an “upset,” could deservedly capture this crown instead.
Directing
Anora
Sean Baker
The Brutalist
Brady Corbet
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold
Emilia Pérez
Jacques Audiard
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat
Who will win: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Who should win: Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”
Upset: Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
Lowdown: The longtime indie filmmaker has won DGA. Corbet won BAFTA. We expect Baker to pull it out, but we’d scream for joy if Fargeat pulled off a miracle upset.
Best Picture
Anora
Alex Coco, Samantha Quan and Sean Baker, Producers
The Brutalist
Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim and Brady Corbet, Producers
A Complete Unknown
Fred Berger, James Mangold and Alex Heineman, Producers
Conclave
Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell and Michael A. Jackman, Producers
Dune: Part Two
Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe and Denis Villeneuve, Producers
Emilia Pérez
Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard, Producers
I’m Still Here
Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira, Producers
Nickel Boys
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Joslyn Barnes, Producers
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat and Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner, Producers
Wicked
Marc Platt, Producer
Who will win: “Anora”
Who should win: “The Substance,” “The Brutalist”
Upset: “Conclave”
Lowdown: At least there will be some drama at the end of the evening.
The 97th Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday, March 2 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET live on ABC and Hulu. Look for complete coverage on The Playlist.
