I think most of us are still scratching our heads over the snub of Top Gun: Maverick for Best Cinematography. With over 20 wins with the critics groups including Critics’ Choice and the National Board of Review plus nominations from BAFTA and the American Society of Cinematographers, it seemed like our unassailable frontrunner. But it wasn’t to be and its omission here blew this race wide open.
In its place, All Quiet on the Western Front emerged as the new leader, particularly after its win at BAFTA. Netflix has championed James Friend’s stunning cinematography work and they’ve seized their opportunity to push Friend to the front of this pack. Sure, Friend wasn’t nominated at ASC, but I think that really just speaks to how late its impressive surge truly was.
Is there still a chance Mandy Walker (Elvis) becomes our first-ever female winner in this category? Look, it’s definitely still plausible, particularly if we’re all overestimating All Quiet on the Western Front. Oddly, Warner Bros. haven’t really focused on the historical nature of Walker’s nomination and potential win. Walker’s history-making win at ASC certainly helped, but it likely came too late during Oscars voting to really make an impact. Never say never, but I think the war epic has this one.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY PREDICTIONS:
1. All Quiet on the Western Front – James Friend (Netflix) – BAFTA
2. Elvis – Mandy Walker (Warner Bros.) – ASC, BAFTA
3. Empire of Light – Roger Deakins (Searchlight Pictures) – ASC, BAFTA, CCA
4. TÁR – Florian Hoffmeister (Focus Features) – CCA
5. Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths – Darius Khondji (Netflix) – ASC
Will win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Should win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Possible shocker: TÁR