The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions: Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design

Best Cinematography

Lol Crawley "The Brutalist"

Stéphane Fontaine "Conclave"

Greig Fraser "Dune: Part II"

Edward Lachman "Maria"

Jarin Blaschke "Nosferatu"

Other Contenders - Paul Guilhaume "Emilia Perez", Alice Brooks "Wicked", Phedon Papamichael "A Complete Unknown", Jomo Fray "Nickel Boys", Michal Dymek "The Girl With the Needle"

Commentary - Four of the five BAFTA nods also crossed over to ASC: The Brutalist, Conclave, Dune Part II, and Nosferatu. BAFTA went with Emilia Perez, whereas ASC went for Maria, Wicked, A Complete Unknown, and in their Spotlight Award, Nickel Boys and The Girl With the Needle. Edward Lachman's El Conde, another Netflix property, makes me think that Maria will cross the finish line and take the last slot. 

Best Costume Design

Conclave

Dune Part II

Gladiator II

Nosferatu

Wicked

Other Contenders - Blitz, A Complete Unknown, Maria, Saturday Night, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Challengers, Emilia Perez, The Substance

Commentary - Wicked, Nosferatu, and Conclave seem locked. I am going with the sequels in Dune Part II and Gladiator II. Blitz's BAFTA nod and Durran's name attached have me intrigued and I may switch before Thursday. A Complete Unknown also made BAFTA after missing CDG. Maria is strong as well. Finally, look out for other CDG nominees Challengers, The Substance, Emilia Perez, Furiosa, Saturday Night, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. 

Best Film Editing

Anora

Challengers

Conclave

Dune Part II

Emilia Perez

Other Contenders - September 5, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, A Real Pain, Wicked, The Substance, Kneecap

Commentary - The Brutalist missing at the Eddies and the BAFTA is startling for a big BP contender. Maybe the runtime felt just a bit too long for the editors. Four seem locked: Anora, Conclave, Dune Part II, and Emilia Perez. In the last slot, I really want to go with Challengers, but my gut tells me that the slick editing of September 5. But I am sticking with Challengers because it should be nominated (and should win). Watch out for A Complete Unknown, and Eddie nominees Wicked, A Real Pain and The Substance, and BAFTA nominee Kneecap. 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

A Different Man

Nosferatu

The Substance

Wicked

Other Contenders - Dune: Part II, Emilia Perez, The Apprentice, Maria, Waltzing With Brando

Commentary - I feel weird leaving out Dune and Emilia Perez, both BAFTA nominees, but this is a branch that likes the makeup loud and often beats to its own drummer. I suspect that the flashier work of A Different Man and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will join the three I think are locks: Nosferatu, Wicked, and The Substance. 

Best Production Design

The Brutalist

Conclave

Dune: Part II

Nosferatu

Wicked

Other Contenders - Gladiator II, Emilia Perez, Blitz, A Complete Unknown, The Substance, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Commentary - I feel like these five, the BAFTA five, and all ADG Nods, have settled into these slots. Gladiator II could get in, but it feels like BAFTA would have gone there. Blitz and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice are intriguing, and BP contenders like Emilia Perez, A Complete Unknown, and The Substance cannot be discounted.