Dave's 2008 Oscar Preview - Part Two: Kazakhstan Lives for a Day

In which we see how even a film like Norbit can have a (surprisingly good) shot at the little golden man.

MAKEUP

  • La Vie en Rose
  • Norbit
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Will Win: La Vie en Rose
Should Win: La Vie en Rose

This is a very close call. Don't forget, The Nutty Professor won Rick Baker a statue back in '96. So just because it's Norbit, don't hate on the nomination. That having been said, Nutty Professor was a top ten grosser in its year and we had never really seen anyone create that effect before. Now, Norbit is just another fat suit. The only other obvious choice is La Vie en Rose, and the winner here usually goes to an obvious choice (even if they usually forget to nominate a bunch of more obvious choices). As for Pirates, don't be fooled, most of that's CG.

Marion Cotillard gives a dazzling performance in La Vie en Rose, but the makeup doesn't exactly hurt.

COSTUME DESIGN

  • Across the Universe
  • Atonement
  • Elizabeth: The Golden Age
  • La Vie en Rose
  • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Will Win: Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Should Win: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

The taste for this vote has turned slightly Baroque over the last few years, so the understated dress of Atonement and La Vie en Rose might not make an impact. Across the Universe is wild, but not so much because of the costumes. The Golden Age is a lot more in your face with its couture, and even if not a lot of people saw it, that didn't hurt last year's winner.

Sweeney Todd isn't quite as fabulouuus as The Golden Age, and so might be overlooked, but its costumes work better as part of an integrated look than the costume design of these other films, though Atonement comes close (which may be why they were the only two films also nominated for the next category...).

ART DIRECTION

  • American Gangster
  • Atonement
  • The Golden Compass
  • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
  • There Will Be Blood

Will Win: Atonement
Should Win: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2Page 3

Article tags

Spread the word
Bookmark and Share
Profile image for david-dylan-thomas

Article Author: David Dylan Thomas

David Dylan Thomas is a Philly-based writer/filmmaker who opines voraciously about dem pictures what move on the screen at DavidDylanThomas.com.

Visit David Dylan Thomas's author pageDavid Dylan Thomas's Blog

Read comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own
  • Once Once

    No Description Available.Genre: Feature Film-DramaRating: RRelease Date: 18-DEC-2007Media Type: DVD

  • Enchanted (Widescreen Edition) Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
  • Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition) Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition)

Article comments

Add your comment, speak your mind

Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
Please read our comment policy.
Please preview your comment.

blogcritics lists for Nov 11, 2009

fresh articles Most recent articles site-wide

fresh comments Most recent comments site-wide

most comments Most comments in 24hrs

top writers Most prolific Blogcritics for October

top commenters Most prolific Commenters in 24 hrs