94th Academy Awards Predictions

The Academy Award for Best Production Design is one of the categories that won’t be featured in the live telecast. As a fan of filmmaking, I’m naturally opposed by the insulting decision on the part of the Academy to diminish their members for a hypothetical audience that doesn’t exist. I’ll be using this editorial not just to give predictions, but hopefully put forward the case for the Oscars to wisen up and present all 23 awards.

Dune

Nominees: Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos

Scene That Should Win: Leaving for Arrakis

The world of Arrakis is one of the most impressive aspects of Dune, surpassing what could be accomplished in the 1984 version and bringing Frank Herbert’s novel to life. Creating an entire world from partial cloth is difficult, and Dune has the luxury of essentially getting a bi-round to the finals. Dune is the sole “genre” film of the category, winning at the Set Decorators Society Award for Fantasy or Sci-fi, with its other four competitors competing and losing in their respective categories. The Art Directors Guild similarly splits up their nominees into genres, so precursors are less essential even if its chief competition The Power of the Dog wins there.

Nightmare Alley

Nominees: Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau

Scene That Should Win: Chasing the Geek

My personal choice for the win, Nightmare Alley sees Guillermo del Toro bringing his talents for atmospheric horror to the 1920’s boardwalk era. Clem’s circus is a fascinating maze of attractions, with each act’s stage being a story in itself, while the wealthy homes of the Buffalo elite create the horrific contrast with perfection. Nightmare Alley‘s inclusion here is well-earned and expected, and its surprise inclusion in Best Picture could give it the shot in the arm needed to surpass Dune. It’ll be competing with Best Picture frontrunner The Power of the Dog for the slot of second place, so the Art Directors Guild will solidify which film will play the spoiler.

The Power of the Dog

Nominees: Grant Major, Amber Richards

Scene That Should Win: Phil Interrupts Dinner

The Power of the Dog‘s surprise inclusion here over more traditional period pieces like Being the Ricardos and House of Gucci signal its strength. Although this category feels more like a nomination to bolster its tally rather than a win on the horizon, The Power of the Dog shouldn’t be underestimated. The Burbank ranch and Rose’s restaurant may be the only sets in the film, but their creation each speak to the mental status quos of the characters. As The Power of the Dog delves deeper into its story, the fusion of the two very different families results in an enticing new environment.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Nominees: Stefan Dechant, Nancy Haigh

Scene That Should Win: Macbeth vs. Macduff

A new and vibrant adaptation of Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth takes advantage of a minimalist environment to create the characters’ head spaces. Macbeth’s castle and the roads of Scotland feel almost like a labyrinth, trapping viewers into the doomed lord’s mental anguish. It’s some of the more fascinating work, with The Tragedy of Macbeth being a pristine example of how to utilize very little to make a large impact. It’s unlikely to win due to this restrained approach, but that doesn’t make it any less unique work.

West Side Story

Nominees: Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo

Scene That Should Win: “Officer Krupke”

West Side Story is a phenomenal film, with Steven Spielberg’s version trading the colorful fantasia of the original with something more realistic and enticing. West Side Story‘s New York City is one filled with a layer of dust from construction, while Doc’s store and Anita’s apartment each feel like a lived-in world just begging to be explored. Its inclusion in this category was one of the many needed to guarantee West Side Story‘s overall success in Best Picture, but its loss as the SDS Awards means that the nomination is likely the reward.

While it’s unclear who will be second place, the undeniable frontrunner is Dune. Nightmare Alley feels like the closest competition, with nominations at BAFTA and the ADG’s giving it potential momentum to build to. The Tragedy of Macbeth and West Side Story could also steal thunder if the ADG goes their way. Whoever wins will have to contend with the tech giant of Dune though, and none will likely be able to gather the needed support to rally.