Filed under: Oscar Predictions

Oscar Predictions: Best Visual Effects and Film Editing

Less than a week to go...

Photo: AMPAS

We have reached the home stretch, and by this time next week winners will be crowned and there will be no more guessing for 2008 and we will have to move on and begin preparing for the best of 2009. This means we only have a few days left to speculate and we will take full advantage by taking a look at Visual Effects and Film Editing today, Cinematography and Art Direction tomorrow, Animated, Foreign Language and Documentary films on Wednesday and then the complete field on Thursday along with polls for you to vote for your projected winners.

To take a look at past predictions click on any of the links below.

As for this round, let's look at the nominees for Visual Effects and Film Editing…

Achievement in visual effects
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
  • The Dark Knight, Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
  • Iron Man, John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan
Achievement in film editing
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
  • The Dark Knight, Lee Smith
  • Frost/Nixon, Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
  • Milk, Elliot Graham
  • Slumdog Millionaire, Chris Dickens

First off, for Visual Effects we are looking at a no brainer when it comes to Curious Case of Benjamin Button. All you need to do is watch the video to the right and find the other nine right here to get an idea of just how much went into bringing that film to life.

Admittedly Iron Man has some impressive visual effects but I just don't think they compare and as for The Dark Knight, I think it comes in third in this race.

As for Film Editing, this is the one category where I think the Academy proves they have a primary focus on bigger budget studio films, because the best editing of 2008 was found in Ballast, but you won't find that film anywhere among the Academy's list of favorites so we are stuck with a rather lackluster group of features when it comes to this category — at least in my mind — with Slumdog Millionaire as the likely front-runner and my prediction to take the category. After all, it did just win the ACE Eddie Award in the dramatic category. If it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me.

Slumdog had the task of making sure the pacing of the film kept up with the kinetic energy brought about by its accompanying music and frenetic scenes and the editing work by Chris Dickens was up to the task. Looking at the other four nominees I really don't have much to say.

So now you tell me… Agree? Disagree? No opinion?


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Post #1
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Yep Brad i agree with you mate….Visual effects would go to Benjamin Button…no doubt about it…and as you said Slumdog in editing as it maintained it's great pace….but Brad can we the users of ropeofsilicon play a Oscar Prediction contest…it would be fun then….we dont need prizes or gifts..just a game of prediction…what say????cant we have it here???

- Abhishek-The Oscar Maniac
( February 16th, 2009 | 2:29 am )
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Post #2
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@Abhishek-The Oscar Maniac: Thursday I will have polls open for every category. As for a prediction contest, I have done one in the past (like 3 years ago) and I am already working on one for one for next year, but this year it's probably a little too late. Sorry about that. :(

- Brad Brevet (Post Author)
( February 16th, 2009 | 2:54 am )
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Post #3
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While I wouldn't be against "Slumdog Millionaire" winning all ten of its nominations, I'm hoping "The Dark Knight" will pick up Best Editing along with Best Supporting Actor and possibly Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Cinematography.

- Garrett
( February 16th, 2009 | 4:53 am )
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Post #4
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@Brad Brevet: Hey its ok…poll will be grt…

- Abhishek-The Oscar Maniac
( February 16th, 2009 | 10:53 am )
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Post #5
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"While I wouldn’t be against “Slumdog Millionaire” winning all ten of its nominations"-GARRET
That is impossible to win ALLL ten of its nominees becuz its nominated twice in best song.

I agree with both predictions brad.

I hope Benjamin button sweeps both-but i think it will only sweep visual effects.
If it doesnt, i will be even more upset than for Ledger to lose.

- Oscar Smarty
( February 16th, 2009 | 4:16 pm )
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Post #6
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@Oscar Smarty: That is correct. Actually, I was thinking of a different tech award and totally forgot it was nominated twice for Best Song.

- Garrett
( February 16th, 2009 | 5:08 pm )
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Post #7
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I'm not sure who deserves Best Editing, but I have a feeling TDK might get it. In fact, I have a feeling TDK may sweep most of its nominees, which will supposedly "make up" for the fact that it wasn't even friggin' nominated for Best Picture (*frowny face*). Last year "Bourne Ultimatum" got a three-for-three cleansweep with Editing, Sound, and Sound Editing. Also, back in 1999 Matrix did a four-award cleansweep which included Sound and Editing as well. It looks like the Academy for once actually favors big-budget action movies in at least one category (gasp!).

Either that, or "Slumdog Millionaire" will win Best Editing. I'm fine with it winning Best Picture and Best Director and Best Screenplay, but all the technical awards as well? Really, it doesn't deserve all the technical awards. A few, yeah. Best Song, most definitely. But Best Sound & Sound Editing & Editing? No.

- JM
( February 16th, 2009 | 9:35 pm )
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Post #8
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Yeah…. I think Slumdog is a Memento…. nominated for achievement in doing something really difficult, but in the end will lose to TDK…. but I do think Slumdog is a close second, and that the other three for editing are lightyears behind TDK and slumdog

- Dan Tralder
( February 17th, 2009 | 3:55 pm )
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