2020 Oscar Nomination Predictions: MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING and VISUAL EFFECTS (October)

Bombshell screened this week for critics and it’s coming in roaring hot, moving up to the #1 spot this month. With an incredible amount of diverse makeup and hair on display (from fat suits to prosthetic teeth, chins, noses et al) it’s going to be hard for the Academy to pass this up.

With The Irishman now being seen and not so much a mystery, it’s a safe bet for makeup as well, with some significant aging makeup for stars Robert De Niro and especially Joe Pesci.

Here are my 2020 Oscar Nomination Predictions in Makeup & Hairstyling for October 15, 2019.

Green – moves up Red – moves down Blue – new/re-entry

1. Bombshell (Lionsgate)
2. Judy (Roadside Attractions)
3. Joker (Warner Bros)
4. The Irishman (Netflix)
5. Downton Abbey (Focus Features)

NEXT UP (alphabetical by film)

The Aeronauts (Amazon)
Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)
Little Women (Sony/Columbia)
Rocketman (Paramount)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Disney)

OTHER CONTENDERS (alphabetical by film)

Aladdin (Disney)
Avengers: Endgame (Disney)
Hellboy (Lionsgate)
IT: Chapter Two (Warner Bros)
The King (Netflix)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Disney)
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (Sony/Columbia)
Us (Universal)

MAKEUP OR VFX?

Cats (Universal)
Gemini Man (Paramount)

When the de-aging VFX technology used for The Irishman was finally seen (first at NYFF) the reactions seemed mixed. Personally, I found it extremely distracting at first and certain elements (anything around talking or mouth movement) never really felt seamless. It will be interesting to see how the VFX branch will react to it (and to Gemini Man, for that matter) but I have to wonder if they feel this could be a whole new future of their work, why wouldn’t they go for it in a big way?

Elsewhere, Ad Astra moves up into the top 5 (feeling like First Man) as 1917 moves down. Tough to know how much of that WWI epic is going to be assisted by visual effects instead of practical effects. Two years ago, Dunkirk missed out here for that exact reason. Spider-Man: Far From Home and Terminator: Dark Fate swap spots this month.

Here are my 2020 Oscar Nomination Predictions in Visual Effects for October 15, 2019.

Green – moves up Red – moves down Blue – new/re-entry

1. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Disney)
2. The Lion King (Disney)
3. Avengers: Endgame (Disney)
4. Ad Astra (20th Century Fox)
5. The Irishman (Netflix)

NEXT UP (alphabetical by film)

1917 (Universal)
The Aeronauts (Amazon)
Cats (Universal)
Gemini Man (Paramount)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (Sony)

OTHER CONTENDERS (alphabetical by film)

Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox)
Aladdin (Disney)
Captain Marvel (Disney)
Dumbo (Disney)
Ford v Ferrari (20th Century Fox)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Warner Bros)
Midway (Lionsgate)
Pokemon Detective Pikachu (Warner Bros)
Terminator: Dark Fate (Paramount/20th Century Fox)