The obvious money is there Oppenheimer here: The film is overall incredibly strong, and voters in this category like big, loud, ambitious work. Indeed, Christopher Nolan's films have already swept the sound category several times, in Creation And Dunkirk. There's just too much going on in OppenheimerIt is a favor to predict logically against this, and so I will not do it. And even! I am compelled by the candidacy of The area of interest. In its campaign, A24 brilliantly showcased the sound design of Jonathan Glazer's chilling portrait of Nazi daily life, with mundane scenes of family feuds and garden tours set against the harrowing soundscape of the terror at Auschwitz that takes place right next door. Very occasionally, voters recognize relatively clever and conceptual sound editing and mixing here, as with The sound of metal few years ago. Given the admiration this Best Picture nominee has garnered, it will surely receive support for its sole below-the-line nomination. It remains to be seen whether this will be enough to defeat a juggernaut. —DC
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould; The creator
EXPECTED WINNER: Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima; Godzilla minus one
Stéphane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams and Théo Bialek; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould; Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, part one
Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould; Napoleon
British special effects supervisor Neil Corbould is already the category's big winner, nominated for his work on three different nominees (and with two Oscars already at home). And as a member of the team nominated for The creator, it's already been victorious this season, with this film winning five awards at the Visual Effects Society Awards. But the innovative and low-budget project The creator is the least seen of the five nominees, and we imagine there will be an outpouring of affection for another of this season's low-budget underdogs. A surprise success in the United States, Godzilla minus one continued the legacy of the iconic monster on a budget of less than $15 million and was noticed by critics across the country. With Oppenheimer not even nominated, this category is hard to predict, but why not side with a beloved monster when you can? —KR
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
PROJECTED WINNER: Sarah Greenwood, production design; Katie Spencer, set decoration; barbie
Jack Fisk, production design; Adam Willis, sets; Flower Moon Killers
Arthur Max, design director; Elli Griff, sets; Napoleon
Ruth De Jong, decorator; Claire Kaufman, decorator; Oppenheimer
James Price and Shona Heath, production design; Zsuzsa Mihalek, sets; Poor things
Despite the fact that the Art Directors Guild gave Oppenheimer, The poor things, And Salt burn its highest awards in the period feature film, fantasy and contemporary categories, barbie is the very deserving winner here. In addition, the entire Academy votes for this category, and the film directed by Greta Gerwig has many fans there. Among the five nominated productions, barbie stands. The fact that audiences were so completely transported into the very colorful and nostalgic world of the world's most famous dolls – complete with very familiar Barbie dream houses, cars and other memorable settings – is a huge testament to the creativity and know-how of Greenwood and Spencer. Of course, there are beautiful landscapes and buildings to Flower Moon Killers And Oppenheimer; vast battlefields and French architecture Napoleon; and a lively and imaginative European style in The poor things, but was there anything more delicious than this reveal of Mojo Dojo Casa House? This inspired a whole interior decoration trend on TikTok, so let's give the creators behind it some Oscar gold. —K.W.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
PREDICTED WINNER: “What Was I Made For?”, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, barbie
“I'm Just Ken”, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, barbie
“The Fire Within”, Diane Warren, Flamin' Hot
“It Never Went Away,” Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson, American Symphony
“Wahzhazhe (A song for my people)”, Scott George, Flower Moon Killers