Oscars 2009: Predictions for Best Cinematography

BEST
CINEMATOGRAPHY

Predictions: The Five Noms:

Blindness: César Charlone

Burn After
Reading: Emmanuel Lubezki

The Changeling: Tom Stern

The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button: Claudio Miranda

Revolutionary Road: Roger Deakins

Commentary:

Nominated for Best DOP in 2002 for his work with Fernando Meirelles, right hand-man César Charlone works from a screenplay that is perhaps less sprawling in scope than Cidade de Deus (2002) and The Constant Gardener (2005), but we should see some consistency in terms of color-rich visuals and the fluid style. Blindness receives an award-friendly, September release.

Children of Men‘s Emmanuel Lubezki will definitely be up for the award in 09 (he is working on both Alfonso Cuarón‘s and Terrence Malick‘s next projects) but this year he could crack the top 5 with the Coen’s Burn After
Reading. Usually films that are more dramatic in tone receive noms, so this political dramedy might be a weaker contender amongst the others.

After missing out on the fun with his impressive looking Letters From Iwo Jima, if Tom Stern gets the look down to sublime, then this period piece (The Changeling) could reward Clint Eastwood‘s vet cinematographer with his first nomination.

He has worked with David Fincher since the Fight Club days, and it all depends on how well The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button is critically received, but this dark horse pick could be the project that pushes Claudio Miranda into a regular feature film DOP for the decades to come.

The heavy favorite of the category is sharp-shooter Roger Deakins who has been nominated for a total of seven awards (including two last year Jesse James & NCFOM) but has yet to claim the big prize. This year he will have constrained work to showcase with Doubt, but it is his efforts with Sam Mendes on Revolutionary Road that should make him the frontrunner in the category.

The Contenders:
Mandy Walker (Lantana) could certainly crack the five noms with her on big in scope Baz Lurhmann’s Australia, Ed Zwick’s Defiance could reward Eduardo Serra (Blood Diamond), Spike Lee is conjoind at the hip with Matthew Libatique for their war drama set in Italy (Miracle at St.
Anna) and if released this year, Chris Menges could receive a fourth nom for Daldry’s The Reader.