We’ve lost a bunch of contenders since last month; Coming 2 America will debut on Amazon Prime in March, putting it outside the Academy’s extended eligibility period; Respect has been pushed back to August 2021; and Death on the Nile has been pulled from 20th Century Studios’ release schedule altogether.
The glorious gown and costume designs (that’s how it’s officially listed in the film’s credits) of Trish Summerville move Mank into the top spot this month. The female costumes are particularly impressive, especially given the challenges of Summerville working in a black-and-white aesthetic. If you haven’t cottoned on by now, it really does look like Mank will all but sweep the technical categories.
I am wary of including both Emma. and The Personal History of David Copperfield in the top five, as their styles mirror each other quite closely. If anything can challenge the dominance of Mank, it would be a true period piece like one of these two films.
Now that we know Wonder Woman 1984 is sticking to its December release with a dual theatrical/streaming release on Christmas Day, we could see it snatch a nomination for its costume designs. Last year, Joker broke through as the first comic book adaptation to score a nomination in this category, and the DC love could easily continue.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN PREDICTIONS:
1. Mank (Netflix)
Trish Summerville
2. Emma. (Focus Features)
Alexandra Byrne
3. Mulan (Disney)
Bina Daigeler
4. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Ann Roth
5. The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)
Suzie Harman and Robert Worley
MAJOR CONTENDERS:
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (20th Century Studios)
Guy Speranza
The Glorias (Roadside Attractions)
Sandy Powell
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 Prom (Netflix)
Lou Eyrich
Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)
Phoenix Mellow
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Paramount Pictures)
Paolo Nieddu
The Witches (HBO Max/Warner Bros.)
Joanna Johnston
Wonder Woman 1984 (HBO Max/Warner Bros.)
Lindy Hemming