Surveying The Oscar Field: The 2017 Below The Line Categories (Part 5)

By Will Mavity

One month from now, the Independent Spirit Nominations, NBR Awards, New York Film Critics Awards, Critics Choice Nominations, Satellite Awards, Annie Award Nominations, Alliance of Women Film Journalists Nominations, and Gotham Awards all will have already been announced. Which is to say, we are officially into Oscar season. And still, the race feels undefined. "All The Money In The World" and "The Meyerowitz Stories" took heavy blows this week with the revelations of sexual harassment and abuse surrounding Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman. Sony has already announced it will no longer campaign Kevin Spacey for an Oscar, which suggests that the film’s Kevin Spacey-centered makeup likely will suffer as a result. And although not due to any scandal, Clint Eastwood’s "15:17 To Paris" has also dropped out of the race, opting for a 2018 release instead of a December awards qualifying run. Finally, the first trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson’s "Phantom Thread" dropped, revealing lush costumes and production design. 

*The following are Will Mavity's predictions and do not reflect the thoughts of others at Next Best Picture*

​BEST FILM EDITING

​As "Get Out’s" buzz continues to grow, Gregory Plotkin’s decisive cutting looks more and more likely as a nominee. Acclaimed psychological thrillers historically perform well in this category (See "Se7en," "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," "Black Swan," "Collateral"). And as "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" continues to grow as a potential frontrunner, its chances at an editing nom grow as well. If the Editors Branch loves psychological thrillers, they love Best Picture frontrunners even more. 

Predicted Nominees:

1. "Dunkirk"
2. "The Post"
3. "Darkest Hour"
4. "The Shape Of Water"
5. "I, Tonya"

6. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" 
7. “Get Out”
8. "Baby Driver"
9. “Call Me By Your Name”
10. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

Don’t Count Out:

11.  "Blade Runner 2049"
12. “Molly’s Game”
13.  "The Florida Project" 
14. “Wonderstruck”
15. “Lady Bird”

​BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

​​The big story here is Paul Thomas Anderson’s announcement that neither he nor anyone else on the "Phantom Thread" shoot received a DP credit. Meaning, the film isn’t even eligible for a Cinematography nomination. Meanwhile, "Blade Runner’s" buzz continues to fade. It likely won’t even break $100 million domestic. Hoyte Van Hoytema’s chances for "Dunkirk" look better and better. 

Predicted Nominees:

1. "Dunkirk" 
2. "Blade Runner 2049"
3. "Darkest Hour"
4. "The Shape Of Water"
5. “Wonder Wheel” 

6. "Wonderstruck"
7. "Call Me By Your Name"
8. "The Post"
9. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
10. “Mudbound”

Don’t Count Out:

11. "The Greatest Showman"
12. "The Lost City Of Z"
13. “Hostiles”
14. "The Florida Project"
15. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

​BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

​​​This category has remained relatively static since our last check-in. 

Predicted Nominees:

1. "The Shape Of Water"
2. "Dunkirk"
3. "Darkest Hour"
4. “Wonderstruck"
5. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

6. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
7. "The Post"
8. "Coco" 
9. “Victoria & Abdul”
10. "Blade Runner 2049"

​Don’t Count Out:

11. "The Greatest Showman"
12. “Phantom Thread”
13. "Battle Of The Sexes"
14. "Wonder Woman" 
15.  “Hostiles”

​BEST ORIGINAL SONG

​​As with score, Original Song has remained relatively static. "Detroit’s" re-release could potentially remind voters of its haunting end credits song courtesy of The Roots. 

Predicted Nominees:

1. "Call Me By Your Name" 
2. "Coco"
3. "Beauty And The Beast"
4. "Cries From Syria"
5. "The Greatest Showman"

6. "Detroit"
7. "Marshall"
8. "Get Out"
9 "Chasing Coral"
10. "Fifty Shades Darker"

Don’t Count Out:

11. "Battle Of The Sexes"
12. "Ferdinand"
13. "The Lego Batman Movie"
14. "An Inconvenient Sequel"
15. "The Promise"

​BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING

​In light of Kevin Spacey’s allegations, the makeup work in "All The Money In The World" will likely be too tainted by scandal to contend in a major way in this category. 

Predicted Nominees:

1. "Darkest Hour"
2. "The Shape Of Water"
3. "I, Tonya”

4. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
5. "Logan"
6. “IT”

Don’t Count Out:

7. "The Greatest Showman"
8.  “All The Money In The World”
9. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

​BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

​"​Thor: Ragnarok" premiered to strong reviews and large box office returns, but its VFX were not singled out enough to overcome the frosty relationship between Marvel and the tech branches. 

Predicted Nominees:

1. "Blade Runner 2049"
2. "War For The Planet Of The Apes"
3. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
4. "Dunkirk"
5. "Logan"

6. "Beauty And The Beast"
7. "The Shape Of Water"
8. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
9. "Thor: Ragnarok"
10. "Kong: Skull Island"

Don’t Count Out:

11. "Wonder Woman"
12. "Justice League”
13. "Okja"
14. "Spider-Man: Homecoming"
15. "Alien: Covenant"

​BEST SOUND MIXING & BEST SOUND EDITING

​"Only The Brave" underperformed financially. Despite its strong reviews, it appears to not have the legs to pull off a "Lone Survivor" or "13 Hours" style sound nomination. Meanwhile, as "Get Out" maintains its momentum, it looks more and more realistic as a sound contender. 

1. "Dunkirk"
2. "Baby Driver"
3. "Blade Runner 2049"
4. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
5. "The Shape Of Water"

6. "Wonderstruck" 
7. "Darkest Hour"
8. "Mother!"
9. "The Greatest Showman"
10. "The Post"

Don’t Count Out:

11. "Get Out"
12. “Only The Brave”
13. “Coco”
14. "Detroit"
15. "Wonder Woman”

And for Sound Editing....

​Predicted Nominees:

1. "Dunkirk"
2. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
3. "The Shape Of Water"
4. "Blade Runner 2049"
5. "Get Out”

6. “Detroit”
7. "Mother!"
8. “Baby Driver”
9. "Wonder Woman"
10. "Only The Brave”

Don’t Count Out:

11. "War For The Planet Of The Apes"
12. "Kong: Skull Island"
13. "Logan"
14. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
15. “Coco”

​BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

​​Production Design remained relatively static. The "Phantom Thread" trailer dropped, showcasing striking Production Design, but the work didn’t immediately scream ‘nomination.’

Predicted Nominees:

1. "The Shape Of Water"
2. "Blade Runner 2049"
3. "Wonder Wheel"
4. "The Greatest Showman"
5. "Darkest Hour"

6. "Wonderstruck"
7. "Beauty And The Beast" 
8. "Phantom Thread" 
9. "Murder On The Orient Express"
10. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

Don’t Count Out:

11. "The Post"
12. "Victoria & Abdul"
13. "Dunkirk"
14. "Mudbound"
15. "Suburbicon"

​BEST COSTUME DESIGN

​No changes here. Once again, the "Phantom Thread" trailer did wonders to further solidify that film's status here in this category.

Predicted Nominees:

1. "Phantom Thread"
2. "Beauty And The Beast" 
3. "The Greatest Showman" 
4. "Murder On The Orient Express"
5. "Victoria & Abdul"

6. "Darkest Hour"
7. "The Shape Of Water"
8. "Wonderstruck"
9. "Thor: Ragnarok"
10. "Blade Runner 2049"

Don’t Count Out:

11. "The Beguiled"
12. "Battle Of The Sexes"
13. "I, Tonya"
14. "Suburbicon"
15. "Lady Macbeth"

​Keep checking back as the awards begin to be announced, giving us more and more of a concrete idea as to what in God’s name is going to happen in this entirely unpredictable awards season. ​In the meantime, check out our updated predictions for these categories below.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

BEST FILM EDITING

BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

BEST SOUND MIXING

BEST SOUND EDITING

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

You can follow Will and hear more of his thoughts on the Oscars and Film on Twitter at @mavericksmovies