With the Oscars coming up, there are always those major categories that keep us on the edge of our seats. Usually these categories are saturated with celebrities or involve some of the most captivating films of the year. These categories are memorable even with the craziness of the Oscars: eccentric hosts, mid-Oscar selfies, celebs tripping up the steps to receive their award, nomination/award snubs, Adele Dazeem. However, other lesser-known categories get lost in the frenzy, overlooked due to the lack of a well-recognized celebrity or because people simply don't know what the hell the award is for in the first place. Nevertheless, some of these categories are remarkable and given to some of the most talented individuals in Hollywood. So let's take a look at some of those categories that could use some serious loving and might help you out with your Oscar predictions.
Cinematography
Why you should watch: A cinematographer is responsible for filming the movie. So, if you really enjoyed that one dramatic scene with that one heated argument where someone got clocked in the face––thank your newly beloved cinematographer. Someone in this position would typically be the head of authority when it comes to lighting and the camera crew and would work to translate the director's artistic vision into a tangible, visual film.
Nominated in this category is Duke's very own Robert Yeoman T'73, whose work with the colorful Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel has earned him rave critic reviews. Nevertheless, our homeboy Yeomen will be in contention with the winner of last year's Oscar in cinematography, Emmanuel Lubezki, who filmed Birdman. It'll be quite the decision for the Academy to decide between Yeomen's fun and inquisitive filming versus Lubezki's unique, realistic and innovative filming. I, for one, am rooting for the Dukie.
Sound Mixing
Why you should watch: Sound mixing is really about which audio recording is the purest and most natural-sounding and is linked to another award, the sound editing. If you've ever been to a movie and thought, "Gee whiz, this does not sound like an old Japanese movie dubbing," then you are listening to the work of a grade-A sound mixer.
This year the competition is a bit difficult to judge. American Sniper, Birdman, Interstellar, Unbroken and Whiplash all rely heavily on imagery rather than audio. While the best picture contender is usually awarded this honor, I would narrow the winner down to American Sniper, Birdman, and Whiplash and would bet on BAFTA (the British Oscars) winner Whiplash to come out on top.
Production Design
Why you should watch: Movies are all about the visual appeal. Part of that appeal comes from everything from the way the set is constructed to how the story is physically brought to life. A production designer has to tackle this daunting task, and to be honest, the production design gives every movie an idiosyncratic flair. Think of Hogwarts castle or the Hunger Games arena––production design is what shaped these iconic images that allowed the plots to flourish. The Academy truly appreciates this hard work.
Of all of the sets that relied on physical construction rather than special effects, The Grand Budapest Hotel wins by a long shot. Try your hand at creating an entire wacky, Victorian-esque hotel set by yourself. You'd give yourself the Oscar, too.
Costume Design
Why you should watch: For a movie, costume design is a lot like Project Runway. A designer is plunged into the challenge of representing a truly unique world and story through dress. No matter how obscure, a designer would have to, in the words of Tim Gunn, "make it work." The probable winner in this category doesn't just depend on if the costumes look pretty but more on how the film itself is embodied in the clothing.
Disney films like Into the Woods and Maleficent are imaginative contenders but the lack of a truly dynamic plot hinders their chances of clasping the little bronze man. The Grand Budapest Hotel not only has the typical, wacky Wes Anderson plot, but the costumes are so distinct and aesthetically amusing that the design allows for the combination of the imaginative and the fancy textile.
Documentary Feature
Why you should watch: Honestly, documentary films get a bad rap. When I hear the word “documentary,” I immediately think about some boring slideshow of scenes with Ferris Bueller's history teacher narrating. However, documentary can be an extremely compelling visual art form. When done right, it has the power to capture the nuances of a situation or phenomenon and can inform the masses. Think Michael Moore, Morgan Spurlock, Ross McElwee. Not to mention the lesser known, but still captivating documentarians who flock to Durham every year for Full Frame Film Festival and are eligible for Oscar nomination.
So what documentary lives up to this hype this year? All of the critics are raving about Citizenfour, a film about Edward Snowden. It has received a slew of awards from the International Documentary Association (imagine, a whole association dedicated to this genre of filmmaking liking this film indicates that it is pretty darn good) as well as a BAFTA. Speculative sources such as Entertainment Weekly and The Guardian are calling it a shoe-in.
Now that you are informed about these five, lesser-known categories, make sure to tune into the Oscars so you can impress your friends with your knowledge. Just make sure you don't change the channel during these categories!
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.