Now that Paramount has sold The United States vs. Billie Holiday to Hulu and the latter has confirmed the film will be released in time to qualify, it launches straight into the top five for Costume Design. Just look at the image above and tell me it’s not a serious contender. If the titular star is dressed in an array of outfits like this one, it could even be our new frontrunner.
The real dark-horse contender is Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. At the age of 89, Ann Roth would tie with James Ivory as the oldest Oscar nominee of all time. If she were to win, Roth would tie that record with Ivory as well. It’s a period piece, which is right up the Academy’s alley, and Roth is a legend who hasn’t won since her first and only Oscar in 1996 for The English Patient. That could make her tough to beat.
I’m still wary of including Mulan in so many of these technical categories. It’s not that the costume designs of Bina Daigeler aren’t entirely worthy of a nomination. But there’s this nagging thought in the back of my brain that the Academy will turn their nose up at Disney’s unique streaming release strategy for the film. Only time will tell.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN PREDICTIONS:
1. Mank (Netflix)
Trish Summerville
2. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Ann Roth
3. Emma. (Focus Features)
Alexandra Byrne
4. Mulan (Disney)
Bina Daigeler
5. The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu)
Paolo Nieddu
MAJOR CONTENDERS:
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (20th Century Studios)
Guy Speranza
The Glorias (Roadside Attractions)
Sandy Powell
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Michael Wilkinson
Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros)
Charlese Antoinette Jones
News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Mark Bridges
One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)
Suzie Harman and Robert Worley
The Prom (Netflix)
Lou Eyrich
The Witches (HBO Max/Warner Bros.)
Joanna Johnston
Wonder Woman 1984 (HBO Max/Warner Bros.)
Lindy Hemming