12 Days of Oscar: Day 11 - Technical Categories

The technical categories, visual effects, sound mixing, sound editing and production design are crucial to an effective film.  They are a base without which the film would seem uneven and at worst the meaning could be lost.  However, these areas are often overlooked as "side categories".  These artists spend countless thankless hours of obscurity honing the craft that makes Affleck, Lee and Spielberg look so good.  So here are the technical categories.

VISUAL EFFECTS Nominees

• "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White
• "Life of Pi" Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott
• "Marvel's The Avengers" Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
• "Prometheus" Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill
• "Snow White and the Huntsman" Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Corbould and Michael Dawson

Each of these films has incredible visual moments.   The Avenger's may have been the most effect heavy film and the Hobbit is always first rate.  However, The Life of Pi was the most visually stunning film since Avatar and in many ways was a purer and more realistic film.

My Favorite:  Life of Pi

My Oscar Prediction: Life of Pi

SOUND EDITING Nominees

• "Argo" Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
• "Django Unchained" Wylie Stateman
• "Life of Pi" Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
• "Skyfall" Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers
• "Zero Dark Thirty" Paul N.J. Ottosson

Everyone of these films is a marvel of sound engineering.  I am liking 007.

My Favorite:  Skyfall

My Oscar Prediction: Skyfall

SOUND MIXING Nominees

• "Argo" John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Jose Antonio Garcia
• "Les Misérables" Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
• "Life of Pi" Ron Bartlett, D.M. Hemphill and Drew Kunin
• "Lincoln" Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ronald Judkins
• "Skyfall" Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson

Les Miserables made the mixing category despite missing the editing category for a reason.  Regardless, I still like editing and mixing to go hand in hand this year.

My Favorite:  Skyfall

My Oscar Prediction:  Skyfall

PRODUCTION DESIGN Nominees

• "Anna Karenina" Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
• "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" Production Design: Dan Hennah; Set Decoration: Ra Vincent and Simon Bright
• "Les Misérables" Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Anna Lynch-Robinson
• "Life of Pi" Production Design: David Gropman; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
• "Lincoln" Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

The sets and props for each of these films were meticulously and amazingly crafted.  In my mind one stands above the rest.  

My Favorite:  Anna Karenina

My Oscar Prediction:  Lincoln


FILM EDITING NOMINEES

"Argo" - William Goldenberg

"Life of Pi" - Tim Sqyres

"Lincoln" - Michael Kahn

"Silver Linings Playbook" - Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers

"Zero Dark Thirty" - Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg

I am no expert in film editing, but according to most film editors you don't have to be.  If you are aware of the editing, if the film is too long or confusing, then the editor hasn't done their job.  This is a vast overstatement as directors and producers often take an active role in the editing process.  Given complete control, the editors are experts and artists of the craft.

Argo, Lincoln, Life of Pi, and Silver Linings Playbook all flowed seamlessly without note. I saw each of these films twice and they all stood up to repetition.  I believe the last hour of Zero Dark Thirty was among the most compelling of the year.  However, the rest of ZDT really dragged for me. I was not concerned with the controversy, just the length.  As much as I love cinema and lose myself in it, I checked my watch several times during the first hour and a half of the movie.
I do believe that the Academy will award William Goldenberg one way or the other and this is a good place for the Academy to recognize ZDT where it may not have previously been recognized.

My Favorite - Argo

My Oscar Prediction - Zero Dark Thirty