#yet another classy move from the armstrong family | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

randomrichards · 5 years

Text

OSCAR 2019 PREDICTIONS PART 2: THE TECHNICAL AWARDS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

· COLD WAR

· THE FAVOURITE

· NEVER LOOK AWAY

· ROMA

· A STAR IS BORN

Who Will Win?

It can be no one else but Alfonso Cuaron and his magnum opus. With assistance from cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, Cuaron has grown to become a master of the long take in films like Children of Men and Gravity. For Roma, Cuaron makes his debut as Director of Photography.

Cuaron’s camera keeps a distant eye as it observes the everyday lives of housekeeper Cleo (Talitza Aparicio) and the middle-class family she cares for. And yet the camera wants to stay close to them as it follows them through their lives. Somehow, Cuaron finds a way to balance these traits while keeping the audience engaged.

The strength of black and white cinematography is how it can manipulate light to create abstract imagery. Cuaron uses light to showcase Mexico’s beauty in all its forms. Whether it’s the warm sunny skies or the neon lights of the city, this Mexican city always feels warm and inviting. There are even moments when Cuaron uses black and white imagery to further the storytelling. The perfect example is the New Year’s Eve sequence. Like Cleo, we watch what we think are sparks of fireworks behind black trees. Then we realize they’re embers from a forest fire. Cut to the family racing to put out the bright white flames.

There’s pure beauty in every scene.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

· THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

· BLACK PANTHER

· THE FAVOURITE

· MARY POPPINS RETURNS

· MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

Who Will Win?

I imagine this will be a battle between Ruth E. Carter and Sandy Powell.

Since School Daze, Carter has been a frequent collaborator with Spike Lee while designing costumes for black filmmakers like John Singleton, Ava Duvarney and even Keenan Ivory Wayans. She also has experience designing for geek culture through Joss Whedon’s Serenity. Now she brings that experience in Black Panther.

Carter seizes on this opportunity to honour her African heritage in all its forms. She not only draws inspiration from multiple African tribes like the Suri, the Tuareg and the Dogon but uses their styles to contrast Wakanda’s tribe (respectively The River Tribe, the Merchant Tribe and the Jorabi Tribe). She provides further contrast through different colours and patterns, from T’challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) black and royal purple to the all-female royal guard’s red.

The film is a cosplayer’s dream come true.

Carter faces strong competition in Powell, who is nominated for two films; The Favourite and Mary Poppins Returns. The question is which one? It’s a hard choice. As I’ve said before, the academy loves period piece, which would make the Favourite…the favourite. But it also loves colourful costumes, which defines Mary Poppins Returns.

It’s hard to choose, because the awards are less predictably than usual. So, I’m going to say its between Black Panther and the Favourite.

BEST FILM EDITING:

· BLACKKKLANSMAN

· BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

· THE FAVOURITE

· GREEN BOOK

· VICE

Who Will Win?

The award will go to Vice thanks to its bold creativity. Hank Corwin makes a lot of daring choices with his editing style, accompanying Adam McKay’s unorthodox storytelling with a fast-paced approach. When the narrator discusses how Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell) handles politics like a butterfly knife, we cut to a closeup of a hand doing butterfly knife tricks before cutting someone’s face. It also leads to some comedic moments. The film plays a fake epilogue when Cheney (Christian Bale) quits politics in the 90s, making it seem like they had a happy ending. But as the credits roll, you hear a phone ring and cut to George W Bush (Sam Rockwell) convincing Cheney to be his Veep. Unfortunately, the editing can come off as uneven as the story structure, even distracting. Despite all this, it remains the front runner

If there’s a dark horse who could beat Vice, it’s Bohemian Rhapsody. This award seems to favour music movies, giving awards to Chicago and Whiplash. Plus, the academy will enjoy the structured cutting to moments of Freddy Mercury’s lives. But I feel scenes are cut too short, never giving the audience time to process the scenes.

The one I think should win is BlackkKlansman. Spike Lee has a unique style to his filmmaking and frequent collaborator Barry Alexander Brown uses that style to create a unique visual experience for moviegoers. One moment where the editing shines is in the opening scene of Dr. Kennebrew Beauregard (Alec Baldwin) shooting a KKK recruitment video. Brown’s editing undercuts his racist rant with quick cuts of him flubbing his lines in between his rant. What results is a combination of a Jack Donaghy’s (also Baldwin) disastrous shooting of a commercial in 30 Rock and Ron Burgundy’s vocal warm ups.

Again, I think this award will go to Vice.

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLE:

· BORDER

· MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

· VICE

Who Will Win?

What other film could it be than Vice? When we first scene him in the role of Dick Cheney, you see no sign of Christian Bale through the makeup. You would think you were seeing the real Cheney.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

· BLACK PANTHER

· THE FAVOURITE

· FIRST MAN

· MARY POPPINS RETURNS

· ROMA

Who Will Win?

This will Be another battle between Black Panther and The Favourite.

For Black Panther, Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart blend futuristic technology with African culture to create the environments of Wakanda. We witness a world that holds on to its traditions while looking ahead. The result is a unique metropolis you’d like to vacation.

In contrast, The Favourite combines realism and extravagance to deglamorize the monarchy. On the surface, you a classy environment of detailed paintings, tapestries and walls full of books. But look past the dark halls and Fiona Crombie and Alice Fenton reminds you that while the Aristocrats betting on duck races, the servants are sleeping on the floors.

It could go either way, but it looks like the odds are in favour of the Favourite.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:

· AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

· CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

· FIRST MAN

· READY PLAYER ONE

· SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Who Will Win?

If it were up to me, this award would go to First Man. The effects in this film’s flight scenes leave all Superhero movies in the dust with their mind-blowing realism and it did so with little CGI. Director Justin Hurwitz could have used computer graphics to showcase Neil Armstrong’s flight tests and the eventual Apollo 11 flight. Instead, he took a lesson from Christopher Nolan and used as much practical effects as possible. For the flight scenes, effects supervisors Paul Lambert (Blade Runner 2049), Ian Hunter (Interstellar), Tristan Myles and J.D. Schwalm placed simulation planes in front of 10-foot LED Screens which would play images of soaring skies while the planes were rigged to move in synch with the screens. This way the actors can get into the moment and the audience can feel more like they’re in the moment. All of this comes together to create scenes more thrilling than most Marvel Movies could dream of.

And then we get to the moon and your mind is blown by how real all of this looks. All done with little to no CGI.

But the academy seems to lean in favour of CGI effects. And many agree its key competition is Avengers: Infinity War thanks to the motion capture effects of intergalactic supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) which I will give credit for is amazing. But I suspect the Academy will lean more towards Ready Player One. Say what you will about the film[1], but you must give credit to the incredible effects.

By now, Spielberg’s effects team have mastered the use of motion capture, with our heroes’ avatars looking just realistic enough for video game characters without entering uncanny valley. It looks more impressive when the avatars interact with live action characters.

But the highpoint of the film’s special effects comes in the moment Wade (Tye Sheridan) and his friends enter the Shining. It’s mind-blowing to see these CGI characters blend into this film classic. If only there was as much quality in the storytelling.

[1] And yes, there is a lot to be said about the plot, performances and questionable ideals.

#Oscars #academy awards #2019 academy awards #best cinematography #alfonso cuaron #roma #Cold War #never look away #a star is born #the ballad of buster scruggs #black panther #the favourite #vice #mary poppins returns #mary queen of scots #blackkklansman #green book #border #best costume design #best editing #best makeup and hairstyling #best production design #first man #best visual effects #avengers infinity war #christopher robin #ready player one #The Shining #ruth e. carter #sandy powell

0 notes