The 97th Academy Awards are almost here! They’ll be taking place on Sunday, March 2nd at 7PM E/4PM P on ABC. To prepare you all for Hollywood’s biggest night, I’ll be going through all 9 below-the-line categories and give you insights as to how the race in each of them is shaping up going into the Oscars. So let’s get on with it, shall we?

Best Cinematography:

1. The Brutalist
2. Dune: Part Two
3. Nosferatu
4. Maria
5. Emilia Pérez

Nosferatu may have taken Critics Choice while Maria took American Society of Cinematographers, but neither of those movies are Best Picture nominees. With wins from BAFTA and the British Society of Cinematographers, it’s Lol Crawley’s to lose for The Brutalist. That movie was notably shot on VistaVision, a higher resolution widescreen variation of the 35 mm film format that hasn’t been used since the 1960s. The end results are so astonishing.

Best Costume Design:

1. Wicked
2. Nosferatu
3. A Complete Unknown
4. Conclave
5. Gladiator II

With wins from Critics’ Choice, Costume Designers Guild, and BAFTA, there’s no way Wicked is losing this. The costumes worn by every single character (including the extras) in that movie is so eye-popping. It’s impossible to look away from them. I should add that one of the reasons I’d be happy for this particular win is that the costume designer, Paul Tazewell, is like me a native of Northeast Ohio. So it’s always exciting to see representation from where I originally come from.

Best Film Editing:

1. Conclave
2. Anora
3. Emilia Pérez
4. Wicked​
5. The Brutalist

The ACE Eddie Awards won’t be taking place until after the Oscars, so they’re not gonna be any helpful this year. Of the precursors that have happened, Challengers won the Critics’ Choice, but isn’t nominated here. Yet the BAFTA went to Conclave. So given the limited tea leaves we have, that’s where I’m going. Plus, one of the most successful aspects of that movie is Nick Emerson’s editing. It not only keeps things moving well, but it also helps keep the suspense going.

Best Makeup & Hairstyling:

1. The Substance
2. Wicked
3. Nosferatu
4. A Different Man
5. Emilia Pérez

The last three years, the winner of this category was also paired with a lead acting win. Like Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Brendan Fraser in The Whale, and Emma Stone in Poor Things. We’ll talk more about Best Actress later, but it looks like that trend may continue this year with The Substance. It’s already won accolades in this category from the Critics’ Choice, Make-Up & Hair Stylists Guild, and BAFTA Awards. It’s pretty much a lock. Although if Wicked (which did win a couple MUAHS prizes) surprisingly beats The Substance here, that’ll definitely be writing on the wall for Demi Moore in Best Actress. We’re all gonna feel like Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost telling her “Molly, you in danger girl.”

Best Original Score:

1. The Brutalist
2. Conclave
3. The Wild Robot
4. Emilia Pérez
5. Wicked

The Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards in this category both went to Challengers, but it was snubbed here. Suddenly, it was feeling like the 2018 race where First Man won both of those, but still didn’t crack the Oscar lineup. BAFTA that year went to A Star is Born (mainly for its overall soundtrack). That left many predictors confused about what was winning the Oscar, which ultimately went to Black Panther. Luckily, BAFTA this year went to The Brutalist, so I’d say it’s a safe bet to predict it here. Daniel Blumberg’s score for that definitely leaves a lasting impression.

Best Original Song:

1. ‘El Mal’ from Emilia Pérez
2. ‘The Journey’ from The Six Triple Eight
3. ‘Mi Camino’ from Emilia Pérez
4. ‘Like a Bird’ from Sing Sing
5. ‘Never Too Late’ from Elton John: Never Too Late

No film that won this category at both Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice has ever gone on to lose the Oscar (not counting those that were snubbed by the Academy). I know some were speculating whether or not ‘El Mal’ would lose here after all these controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez broke out, but I don’t see any of the other nominees posing a threat.

Best Production Design:

1. Wicked
2. The Brutalist
3. Conclave
4. Nosferatu
5. Dune: Part Two

Wicked pretty much won this award from the moment people started seeing the film. Everything about the world of Oz is so imaginative in large part thanks to all these practical sets. Nathan Crowley has been nominated 6 times before, but hasn’t won yet. After sweeping through all the major precursors (Art Directors Guild, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice), it looks like 7 will be a very lucky number for one of the very best production designers working today.

Best Sound:

1. Dune: Part Two
2. A Complete Unknown
3. Wicked
4. The Wild Robot
5. Emilia Pérez

With wins from the Motion Picture Sound Editors and BAFTA, it’s probably a safe bet to predict Dune: Part Two to prevail here. Anyone who got to see that film in theaters knows that the sound work especially shines through all the speakers surrounding the audience. While it is possible that A Complete Unknown could win given that all the musical performances there were recorded live on set, it could still split with Emilia Pérez and Wicked (both of which also won at MPSE) regarding the music vote in this category.

Best Visual Effects:

1. Dune: Part Two
2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
3. Wicked
4. Better Man
5. Alien: Romulus

Unlike last year where this category was literally such a toss-up, Dune: Part Two has this race all locked up after having already won at BAFTA and Critics’ Choice. It’s impossible not to be wowed by all the effects work in that movie. While Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes beat it at the Visual Effects Society Awards, the previous three installments also won there but still lost the Oscar. Largely due to the fact that those movies always only show up here on nomination morning but nowhere else and they’re up against contenders with more support overall.

​As a reminder, the Academy Awards will be taking place tonight on ABC. The pre-show will begin at 6:30pm/3:30pm. After that, the 97th Oscars telecast will begin at 7:00/4:00 lasting for about three and a half hours or so. I’ll be back soon for my predictions in the main categories.