2021 Oscar Predictions: FILM EDITING (November)

I see a Midnight Sky rising…

George Clooney’s space drama is popping up everywhere on my charts this month and with editing by Oscar winner Stephen Mirrione (Traffic) it might be tough for the branch to say no, especially if it’s flashy in any way.

Probably the biggest change this month though is Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom entering the top 5. As I’ve said before, if you’re predicting the film to take both lead acting wins, as many people are, you’ve got to look at who did it before and what their path was. That path included nominations in editing and/or directing so Ma Rainey joins Nomadland, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and News of the World.

Pieces of a Woman enters the list for the first time and Judas and the Black Messiah could be a contender as well.

Here are my ranked 2021 Oscar predictions in Film Editing for November.

Green – moves up; Red – moves down; Blue – new entry this month

1. Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
Chloé Zhao

2. Mank (Netflix)
Kirk Baxter

3. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Alan Baumgarten

4. News of the World (Universal Pictures)
William Goldenberg

5. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Andrew Mondshein

6. The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
Yorgos Lamprinos

7. The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione

8. Tenet (Warner Bros)
Jennifer Lame

9. Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros)
Kristan Sprague

10. Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Adam Gough

Other Contenders (alphabetical)

Minari (A24)
Harry Yoon

Nine Days (Sony Pictures Classics)
Jeff Betancourt and Michael Taylor

One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Tariq Anwar

Palm Springs (Hulu/Neon)
Andrew Dickler and Matt Friedman

Pieces of a Woman (Netflix)
Dávid Jancsó

The Prom (Netflix)
Peggy Tachdjian and Danielle Wang

Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Frédéric Thoraval

Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Paramount Pictures)
Jay Rabinowitz