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

12 Days of Oscar Nominees - Oscar Countdown

With 12 days left and 24 categories to cover, lets get started with what every film begins with... a screenplay.  These two categories are never overlooked by the actors and directors, but often overlooked by the public.  Dialogue, or even the lack of it, must be spelled out in the screenplay in order to convey the film's original message.  Let's look at the two screenplay categories.

Adapted Screenplay

The Nominees

Argo - Chris Terrio

Beasts of the Southern Wild - Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin

Life of Pi - David McGee

Lincoln - Tony Kushner

Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell

Each of these adaptations demonstrates its own strength and weight.  

Argo moves through the rapidly unfolding events using a massive cast.  Yet, it is able to stay focused on the the predicament of the "house guests" of the Canadian Embassy and the ongoing effort to deliver them.  It is dialogue heavy but the words are not wasted and the script delivers palpable tension to a story that we are aware of the climax.

Beasts of the Southern Wild uses both spoken and narrated dialogue to create the picture of a very different world within our own country where folks learn to band together and survival is of the utmost importance, even while discovering our power in the humility brought on by nature.

Life of Pi uses narration throughout its film to tell a story of faith and survival.  This film was perhaps most daunting a piece to adapt. Dialogue was sparse and first person narration becomes the medium through which the story is masterfully told.

Lincoln, like Argo, is dialogue heavy.  This 19th century "West Wing" could have just as easily been called "13" or "The Amendment".  Internal dialogue is sparse but the character of Lincoln shines through in his storytelling and passion.

Silver Linings Playbook is balanced between internal and verbal dialogue.  This movie uses drama, philosophy and humor as each of its characters grow without really "overcoming" their mental health issues.  The dialogue is brilliant with special emphasis paid to each disorder and how it effects the "looking glass" of the character.

I still believe the Academy will recognize the storytelling prowess of Kushner, but my pick has changed.

My Favorite: Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell

My Oscar Prediction: Lincoln - Tony Kushner.

Original Screenplay

The Nominees

Amour - Michael Haneke

Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

Flight - John Gatins

Moonrise Kingdom - Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola

Zero Dark Thirty - Mark Boal

Amour was sparse on actual dialogue and rife with internal dialogue.  This made the picture more of a director's vehicle, but the dialogue that was written was powerful.

Django Unchained - Dialogue rich and bustling with wit, charm and brutality, Tarantino's script successfully fuses humor with one of the darkest times in our nation's history.  A mesmerizing work of art.

Flight - The subject matter is what made this movie.  Other than the lines John Goodman delivered and the trial testimony... the dialogue, both internal and external was not memorable.  

Moonrise Kingdom - A chorus of dialogue, narration and situation in this race to come of age story.  A brilliant yarn.

Zero Dark Thirty - The visuals and blocking in the last 90 minutes of the film made it compelling.  The screenplay was not my favorite and didn't have that "I'm mad as hell" moment.

My Favorite:  Django Unchained

My Oscar Prediction: Django Unchained

BAFTA Picks

I love the BAFTA awards.  As someone who is primarily of English and Irish ancestry, I do my best to put aside the imperialist history for a moment and recognize the pomp, dry wit and refined taste that is in my English genetics.  I think about my short time staying in the East End, Dancing in the West End and consuming scotch in every crowded pub along the way.

So as the curtain opens at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, I will be just as riveted as the British and European film lovers.  However, this is the one awards show where I will claim no special knowledge of the will of BAFTA voters apart from this... they recently have tended to predict the Oscars in major film categories.  The awards show will appear on BBC America several hours after the awards finish in England so if you love the spontaneous "winners" go media free until you tune in.

That being said, there was some controversy with regard to the film "Argo" this year.  Some felt it implied in a very short part of the film that the British were unsympathetic to the plight of the escaped American Embassy employees who escaped and were seeking safety inside an embassy.  Based on the quote it seemed that only the Canadians were willing to take them .  It was later shown that this was not historically accurate.  However, the film did not go into detail but mainly stated where the Americans had been before the Canadian Embassy.  However, it remains to be seen whether the "slight" will make a difference to BAFTA voters or not.  At least it adds a bit of intrigue!

Here are my picks (not predictions but my favorites (or favourites as the case may be;)

Best film



"Argo" - Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney


"Les Misérables" - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh


"Life of Pi" - Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark


"Lincoln" - Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy


"Zero Dark Thirty" - Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow, Megan Ellison



My Pick: Argo

British film



"Anna Karenina" - Joe Wright, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster, Tom Stoppard


"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" - John Madden, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Ol Parker


"Les Misérables" - Tom Hooper, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh, William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer


"Seven Psychopaths" - Martin Mcdonagh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin


"Skyfall" - Sam Mendes, Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan



This category is a tough one.  I adored 3 (Anna Karenina, Les Miserables and Seven Psychopaths) and liked the other two... but each for completely different reasons.  I am going with the most mesmerizing art direction I have seen all year.

My pick: Anna Karenina

Film Not In The English Language 



"Amour" - Michael Haneke, Margaret Ménégoz
"Headhunters" - Morten Tyldum, Marianne Gray, Asle Vatn


"The Hunt" - Thomas Vinterberg, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Morten Kaufmann


"Rust and Bone" - Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux


'Untouchable" - Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache, Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun



Amour is likely to get the nod here, but I preferred "Rust and Bone" and "Untouchable".  

My Pick:  "Rust and Bone" 

Documentary



"The Imposter" - Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis
"Marley" - Kevin Macdonald, Steve Bing, Charles Steel


"McCullin" - David Morris, Jacqui Morris


"Searching For Sugar Man" - Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn


"West of Memphis" - Amy Berg



I loved "Searching for Sugarman" although "West of Memphis" is a weightier subject.

My Pick: Searching for Sugarman

Animated film



"Brave" - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman


"Frankenweenie" - Tim Burton

"Paranorman" - Sam Fell, Chris Butler



My favorite will be 3rd in this race behind "Brave" and "Frankenweenie".

My Pick:  Paranorman

Director



"Amour" - Michael Haneke


"Argo" - Ben Affleck


"Django Unchained" - Quentin Tarantino


"Life of Pi" - Ang Lee


"Zero Dark Thirty" - Kathryn Bigelow

I am going to predict BAFTA may shake this category up a bit from the previous awards shows and take Ang Lee or Hanaeke.  My pick remains the same however.

My Pick:  Argo - Ben Affleck

Original screenplay



"Amour" - Michael Haneke


"Django Unchained" - Quentin Tarantino


"The Master" - Paul Thomas Anderson


"Moonrise Kingdom" - Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola


"Zero Dark Thirty" -` Mark Boal



No clue where the Brits will go with this one.

My Pick: Django Unchained

Adapted screenplay



"Argo" - Chris Terrio 


"Beasts of the Southern Wild" - Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin


"Life of Pi" - David Magee


"Lincoln" - Tony Kushner


"Silver Linings Playbook" - David O. Russell



My Pick: Lincoln - Tony Kushner

Leading Actor



Ben Affleck - "Argo"


Bradley Cooper - "Silver Linings Playbook"


Daniel Day-Lewis - "Lincoln"


Hugh Jackman - "Les Misérables"


Joaquin Phoenix - "The Master"



He has a head of steam and no one can stop him now.

My Pick:  Daniel Day-lewis

Leading Actress



Emmanuelle Riva - "Amour"


Helen Mirren - "Hitchcock"


Jennifer Lawrence - "Silver Linings Playbook"


Jessica Chastain - "Zero Dark Thirty"


Marion Cotillard - "Rust and Bone"



There may be some excitement as Marion Cotillard is adored, Emmanuelle Riva will get more serious consideration in Europe and then the favorites Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain are still there.

My Pick: Jennifer Lawrence

Supporting Actor



Alan Arkin - "Argo"


Christoph Waltz - "Django Unchained"


Javier Bardem - "Skyfall"


Philip Seymour Hoffman - "The Master"


Tommy Lee Jones - "Lincoln"



Tommy Lee Jones or Alan Arkin may be the favorites here, but I preferred The bearded dentist turned bounty hunter.

My Pick: Cristoph Waltz for Django Unchained.

Supporting Actress



Amy Adams - "The Master"


Anne Hathaway - "Les Misérables"


Helen Hunt - "The Sessions"


Judi Dench - "Skyfall"


Sally Field - "Lincoln"
 


My Pick: (Everyone's Pick) Anne Hathaway

Original Music



"Anna Karenina" - Dario Marianelli


"Argo" - Alexandre Desplat


"Life of Pi" - Mychael Danna


"Lincoln" - John Williams


"Skyfall" - Thomas Newman



Again no clue so I am going with my favorite.

My Pick: Anna Karenina

Cinematography



"Anna Karenina" - Seamus Mcgarvey


"Les Misérables" - Danny Cohen


"Life of Pi" - Claudio Miranda


"Lincoln" - Janusz Kaminski


"Skyfall" - Roger Deakins



This should be a no brainer.

My Pick - "Life of Pi"

Editing 



"Argo" - William Goldenberg


"Django Unchained" - Fred Raskin


"Life of Pi" - Tim Squyres
"Skyfall" - Stuart Baird


"Zero Dark Thirty" - Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg



Zero Dark Thirty may win a consolation prize here but it was an hour and a half too long. 

My Pick:  Argo

Production Design



"Anna Karenina" - Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer


"Les Misérables" - Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson
"Life of Pi" - David Gropman, Anna Pinnock


"Lincoln" - Rick Carter, Jim Erickson


"Skyfall" - Dennis Gassner, Anna Pinnock

All of these were brilliant in the production design area.  Probably a "Les Mis" category for the BAFTAs.

My Pick - "Anna Karenina"

Costume Design



"Anna Karenina" - Jacqueline Durran


"Great Expectations" - Beatrix Aruna Pasztor


"Les Misérables" - Paco Delgado


"Lincoln" - Joanna Johnston


"Snow White and the Huntsman" - Colleen Atwood



Again, should be a no brainer.

My Pick:  Anna Karenina

Make Up & Hair



"Anna Karenina" - Ivana Primorac


"Hitchcock" - Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel, Howard Berger


"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" - Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater


"Les Misérables" - Lisa Westcott


"Lincoln" - Lois Burwell, Kay Georgiou



My pick is based on the abundance of prosthetics, yet Hitchcock could pull an Iron Lady here.

My Pick:  The Hobbit

Sound



"Django Unchained" - Mark Ulano, Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, Wylie Stateman


"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" - Tony Johnson, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Brent Burge, Chris Ward


"Les Misérables" - Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst


"Life of Pi" - Drew Kunin, Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton, Ron Bartlett, D. M. Hemphill


"Skyfall" - Stuart Wilson, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Per Hallberg, Karen Baker Landers



Crapshoot

My Pick:  Skyfall

Special Visual Effects



"The Dark Knight Rises" - Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Peter Bebb, Andrew Lockley


"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White


"Life of Pi" - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer


"Marvel Avengers Assemble" - Nominees TBC


"Prometheus" - Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth



I think this one comes down to the comic books.

My Pick:  The Dark Knight Rises

The Ee Rising Star Award (Voted For By The Public) 



Elizabeth Olsen


Andrea Riseborough


Suraj Sharma


Juno Temple


Alicia Vikander

They are brilliant, but only one is so exquisite I can not wait to see her do a modern film.

My Pick:  Alicia Vikander

Argo Poised for Far Go

Regardless of the 1995 Apollo 13 comparison's Argo should be the prohibitive favorite for the Best Picture Oscar after Affleck score's the Director's Guild of America's top prize.

Braveheart won the Best Picture Oscar in 1995 despite a near sweep of awards for Ron Howard and Apollo 13.  Like Affleck this year, Howard was not nominated in the Best Director Oscar category that year.

Although Apollo 13 swept the guild awards, a fairly reliable bellwether, it did not have the critical acclaim that Argo has garnered.

Argo has won the Critics Choice, Golden Globe, New York Film Critics and National Board of Review film award.  It has also swept the guilds.  Pair that with Director wins for Argo for all of the major critical and guild awards and Argo has a head of steam that would be hard to overcome.

Lincoln is a fine film made great by its historical weight, screenplay and the performance of its lead actor.  It may well be a classic film.  It is just not the best film this year.  That distinction belongs to Argo.