With the Academy’s nominations announcement drawing closer by the day, it’s time to lay it all on the line with my final Oscar nomination predictions. It’s an unusual situation where some form of simian creature features in numerous finalists for Best Visual Effects. Monkeys were on trend this year. Sans any apes, Dune: Part Two was a shoo-in for a nomination and its nods from BAFTA, the Visual Effects Society, and the Critics Choice Awards proved that.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Better Man also have this trifecta of nominations, so they feel safely locked in. Does it hurt the latter that it’s become a much-publicised box office flop? Eh, not really. The members of the visual effects branch aren’t really swayed by such things. And the fact its effects work come from the wizards of Wētā Workshop works hugely in its favour.
That leaves those final two spots up for grabs. While it was odd to see both Wicked and Gladiator II completely ignored by VES, they both landed at BAFTA and CCA and that could be enough to see them sail through. It’s plausible one misses out and makes way for something like Twisters or Mufasa: The Lion King. MCU blockbusters often make an appearance, so you could see Deadpool & Wolverine sneak in. But But I think it’s going to a contender with zero precursor love in the form of Alien: Romulus.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS PREDICTIONS:
1. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.) – BAFTA, CCA, VES
2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Studios) – BAFTA, CCA, VES
3. Better Man (Paramount Pictures) – BAFTA, CCA, VES
4. Wicked (Universal Pictures) – BAFTA, CCA
5. Alien: Romulus (20th Century Pictures)
Alternate: Twisters (Warner Bros.) – VES
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