We’ve finally arrived at a tech category where Dune isn’t my current frontrunner. In saying that, it’s still sitting at second for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and there’s every chance it sneaks up to #1 in the coming months. It may be a film that just sweeps every tech award, even if there are better contenders. The Academy loves fantastical makeup and hairstyling work, and Dune is drowning in it.
But if there’s one thing the Academy loves more, it’s a film that uses elaborate makeup and hairstyling to completely transform its leading lady. From Bombshell to La Vie en Rose, history favours something like The Eyes of Tammy Faye where Jessica Chastain essentially disappears into the titular role. Sure, it’s purposely garish and tacky work, but, hey, that certainly was Tammy Faye’s aesthetic.
Also firmly in contention is the subtle-but-effective work seen on Spencer that captures the glamourous looks of Princess Diana without teetering into caricature territory. On the other end of the scale are the outlandish designs of Cruella where Emma Stone changes her entire appearance in practically every scene. Expect both to remain in the top five the entire season.
But if there is one film that really deserves to be here, it’s the prosthetic and wig extravaganza Coming 2 America. After being punted from last year’s race, it dropped on the Amazon Prime way back in March, meaning it faces an uphill battle to still be remembered during the voting period. If Amazon gives it the push it needs, it could easily sneak in.
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING PREDICTIONS:
1. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Searchlight Pictures)
2. Dune (Warner Bros.)
3. Spencer (Neon)
4. House of Gucci (MGM)
5. Cruella (Disney)
IN CONTENTION
Being the Ricardos (Amazon Studios)
Coming 2 America (Amazon Studios)
The French Dispatch (Searchlight Pictures)
The Green Knight (A24)
King Richard (Warner Bros.)
The Last Duel (20th Century Studios)
Licorice Pizza (MGM)
Nightmare Alley (Searchlight Pictures)
The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.)
The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24/Apple TV+)