The battle for Best Cinematography is shaping up to be a tough one. Long before the season really began, it was actually thought this might be another cakewalk for Greig Fraser (Dune: Part Two). And it still could be. There’s every chance Fraser picks up his second Oscar in three years for the same film franchise. Or that works against him and it’s too soon and too familiar to reward him again.
Fraser has picked up a Critics Choice Award nomination alongside Lol Crawley (The Brutalist), Jomo Fray (Nickel Boys), Stéphane Fontaine (Conclave), Jarin Blaschke (Nosferatu), and Alice Brooks (Wicked). Blaschke earned a big win from the National Board of Review, while Fray scored major wins with the critics groups of New York and Los Angeles. Crawley has picked up a handful of critics wins too, thus proving this race is wide open.
It feels like Fraser, Crawley, Fray, and Blaschke are the top four locks for nominations, but you can’t discount Fontaine, especially if Conclave sweeps the board. Maybe he gets that fifth spot, but it’s hard to go past Edward Lachman (Maria), particularly given he scored a nomination just last year for El Conde; the film’s sole nod. That highlights his adoration with the cinematography branch and bodes well for his chances here.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY PREDICTIONS:
1. The Brutalist – Lol Crawley (A24) – CCA
2. Nickel Boys – Jomo Fray (Amazon MGM Studios) – CCA
3. Dune: Part Two – Greig Fraser (Warner Bros.) – CCA
4. Maria – Edward Lachman (Netflix)
5. Nosferatu – Jarin Blaschke (Focus Features) – CCA
IN CONTENTION:
Challengers – Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (Amazon MGM Studios)
A Complete Unknown – Phedon Papamichael (Searchlight Pictures)
Conclave – Stéphane Fontaine (Focus Features) – CCA
Emilia Pérez – Paul Guillaume (Netflix)
Wicked – Alice Brooks (Universal Pictures) – CCA