FBC Oscar Coverage, Part IX: Predicting The Winners (Part 4)

We’re less than two weeks away from the Oscars. It’s movie’s biggest night! Are you pumped? GET PUMPED. FUCKING DO IT.

Next week, we’ll cover who will win for Best Director and Best Picture. But there are tons more categories for the Oscars! Let’s get my predictions on what hasn’t been covered yet!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: There were a lot of great animated films last year, and while I’m rooting for (and will be howling if it wins) for the amazing Wolfwalkers, I got the sneaking suspicion that Soul will be taking home the hardware.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Again, a lot of great docs, and a lot of wonderful ones didn’t even get nominated. I think Time, the harrowing story about a woman trying to get her husband out of prison, will touch enough hearts to get the win.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Erik Messerschmidt made Mank look absolutely wonderful.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Giving this one to Bina Daigeler, who made sure all the characters in Mulan had amazing things to wear. Check that film out if you haven’t… it’s gorgeous.

BEST FILM EDITING: A couple of really great choices here if you’re an editing wonk (which I am). I’m torn here because Sound Of Metal should probably win, but I’m gonna give it to Alan Baumgarten for his work on The Trial Of The Chicago 7.

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING: I’m a bald dude who’s never worn makeup, so I’m pretty much an expert in this category. I’m leaning towards the team who put together Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, & Jamika Wilson.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Crank up another win for Ma Rainey; I see Mark Ricker, Karen O’Hara, and Diana Stoughton taking home trophies.

BEST SCORE: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are becoming some of the best composers in film, and I see them (along with Jon Batiste) getting recognized for their amazing work on Soul.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG: Not only is he nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his work in One Night In Miami, but Leslie Odom Jr. (along with Sam Ashworth) also wrote “Speak Now” for the film. Odom won’t win the acting Oscar, but he’s not going home empty-handed.

BEST SOUND: For a movie about a heavy metal drummer losing his hearing, Sound Of Metal is doing amazing things with sound. Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh for the win.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: To go into a mini-rant, Tenet is my least favorite Christopher Nolan film, and it’s not even close. It’s muddled and messy and feels like a cool art house experiment gone terribly awry. And yet, it’s cool as fuck, mostly due to some amazing visual effects. Expect Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher to be recognized on Oscar night.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE: Thomas Vittenburg is nominated for Best Director for Another Round, and I think his film, from Denmark, is gonna be winning this won pretty easily.

BEST SHORTS (ANIMATED AND DOCUMENTARY): Not gonna lie; haven’t seen any of these, so we’re just guessing. Give If Anything Happens, I Love You the prize for Animated (because I like the title) and A Love Song For Latasha for Documentary (same reason).