Oscars 2021: Final Predictions In All 23 Categories
10. Best Cinematography
A relatively close race between Nomadland and Mank, two films where the cinematography is a huge selling point of the whole film. Judas and the Black Messiah and Trial of the Chicago 7 both managed to score nominations here but neither have particularly memorable shots or camerawork to be considered legitimate contenders.
News of the World takes advantage of its wide open spaces to capture the landscape of the Wild West to good effect but the film under performed elsewhere so it is unlikely to gain much traction.
Nomadland's visuals are one of the universally praised aspects of the film with gorgeous shots that show off the beautiful American wilderness. Mank on the other hand, is less about showing off the natural world and more about exhibiting the impeccable production design wherever it can.
Both are strong contenders but Nomadland took a hit after Mank beat it at the American Society of Cinematographers awards closing the gap between the two nominees. Nomadland will still take this one, the film falls apart without its cinematography and the Academy will want to reward that, but it will be a close race.
What Should Win: Nomadland
What Will Win: Nomadland