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

ROCKETMAN (Paramount Pictures)
Not a lot surprises in what made the final cut for Makeup and Hairstyling or Visual Effects with the exception of The Irishman only making it into the latter. Considering the makeup branches penchant for old man makeup, and how good it is in The Irishman, it was a bit of a shock.
While my top 5 in Makeup and Hairstyling stays the same, it’s the bottom five that holds my interest. Is there a place for a Maleficent or Rocketman here? It’s wild to think that Joker would make it in over Maleficent as the former really has just one major makeup character whereas the latter is full of complicated and intricate hair and makeup styles on multiple characters. Rocketman is probably a longshot since not even Rami Malek’s teeth could take a bite out of this category last year. Judy Garland’s chompers, however…
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1917 made the finals in both of these categories, which could spell a surge for the Christmas Day film but I feel the makeup, hair and visual effects in the film are not the type that get nominated (Dunkirk missed out here but also had a poor bake-off reel).
Here are my 2020 Oscar Nomination Predictions in Makeup & Hairstyling and Visual Effects for December 18, 2019.
MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
Green – moves up Red – moves down Blue – new/re-entry
1. Bombshell (Lionsgate)
2. Judy (Roadside Attractions)
3. Joker (Warner Bros)
4. Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)
5. Downton Abbey (Focus Features)
NEXT UP (alphabetical by film)
1917 (Universal)
Little Women (Sony/Columbia)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Disney)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Sony/Columbia)
Rocketman (Paramount)

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (20th Century Fox)
VISUAL EFFECTS
Green – moves up Red – moves down Blue – new/re-entry
1. The Lion King (Disney)
2. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Disney)
3. Avengers: Endgame (Disney)
4. Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox)
5. The Irishman (Netflix)
NEXT UP (alphabetical by film)
1917 (Universal)
Cats (Universal)
Captain Marvel (Disney)
Gemini Man (Paramount)
Terminator: Dark Fate (Paramount/20th Century Fox)
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