2021 Oscar Predictions: MAKEUP and HAIRSTYLING (December)

Jumping into the top 5 this month are moves from Bill & Ted Face the Music (this branch lovvves old man makeup) and a debut from the new Pinocchio, which is set for a Christmas Day bow.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom moves up to #2 and it’s really a stealth contender for the win. What seems simple upfront (wigs and grease paint makeup) is more complicated when you dive down into it, as the makeup branch will do. Chief hair designer Mia Neal made strand by strand horse hair wigs, just as the real Ma wore back in the day.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm drops to #6 but it’s still a major contender that could easily take out the wooden boy. The category expands to a top 10 this month, making room for the stylings of Mulan (probably closer to being a top 5 player than I’m giving it), News of the World, The Personal History of David Copperfield and The United States vs Billie Holiday but this is a category that gives far more attention to the makeup portion than it does hair.

Here are my ranked 2021 Oscar predictions in Makeup and Hairstyling for December.

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

1. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros)
Nominees TBD

2. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Nominees TBD

3. Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix) (Netflix)
Nominees TBD

4. Bill & Ted Face the Music (Orion Pictures)
Nominees TBD

5. Pinocchio (Roadside Attractions)
Nominees TBD

6. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Studios)
Nominees TBD

7. Mulan (Disney+)
Nominees TBD

8. News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Nominees TBD

9. The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)
Nominees TBD

10. The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Paramount Pictures)

Nominees TBD

Other Contenders (alphabetical by film)

Ammonite (Neon)
Nominees TBD

Mank (Netflix)
Nominees TBD

The Prom (Netflix)
Nominees TBD

The Witches (HBO Max)
Nominees TBD

Wonder Woman 1984 (HBO Max/Warner Bros)
Nominees TBD

Pinocchio image courtesy of Greta de Lazzaris/Roadside Attractions