Oscars 2021: Final Predictions In All 23 Categories
16. Best Sound
The first year where the two sound categories (editing and mixing) have been consolidated into one all encompassing award. The two Tom Hanks vehicles News of the World and Greyhound seem unlikely to have any real chance of winning here, although Greyhound is essentially one long battle sequence so its extensive sound design is worthy of the nomination.
The real contenders here are Sound of Metal, Soul and Mank with Sound of Metal expected to win. Pixar's sound design is always top tier but Soul brings nothing particularly new to the table.
Mank actually does impress with an echoed sound mix that illustrates the feel and the mood of the era it is portraying. In fact, it should really be considered more of a threat than it currently is.
Regardless, Sound of Metal's sound design makes or breaks the film and it is exceptional throughout. The ability to convey the experience of deafness and accurately represent what hearing implants sound like for the user is ground-breaking stuff that raises the film to new heights.
What Should Win: Sound of Metal
What Will Win: Sound of Metal