After a clean sweep this season, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the unstoppable frontrunner for Best Costume Design and Ann Roth is set to become the oldest female Oscar winner in history. Roth will also become the second-oldest winner overall, squeaked by Call Me By Your Name screenwriter James Ivory by just three months. With wins at the Critics Choice Awards, the BAFTAs, and Excellence in Period Film at the Costume Designers Guild Awards, there really is very little doubt Roth is taking this one home.
Could an argument be made for any of the other contenders? Alexandra Byrne is a seven-time nominee and won back in 2007 for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The period designs of Emma. are usually the Academy’s cup of tea, but Byrne couldn’t even win on home soil at the BAFTAs, so it’s a long shot she will score an upset win. Bina Daigeler won the CDG Award for Excellence in Sci-Fi / Fantasy Film for Mulan, so she’s also a slim chance to steal this one. But this award is going to Roth and it’s one of the absolute locks of the evening.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN PREDICTIONS:
1. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Ann Roth
2. Emma. (Focus Features)
Alexandra Byrne
3. Mank (Netflix)
Trish Summerville
4. Mulan (Disney)
Bina Daigeler
5. Pinocchio (Roadside Attractions)
Massimo Cantini Parrini
Will win: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Should win: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Possible shocker: Mank