2011 OSCARS: Makeup, Costume Design
As we come higher and higher up the Academy Award food chain, we inch closer to those big categories that always cause the presenter to gasp when looking at the golden envelope. I’ve always enjoyed the makeup and costume design categories, mainly because the nominees are worthy contenders. To act is difficult, to be sure, but to recreate style and life on the big screen seems extremely difficult.
Hats off to these nominees.
BEST MAKEUP
- Barney’s Version — Adrien Morot
- The Way Back — Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
- The Wolfman — Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
Thoughts: I believe The Wolfman is a worthy movie. Please don’t shoot me with a silver bullet. I know it was reviled by critics and, from what I hear, audiences alike. But call me crazy, I like movies that harken back to those old films that only play on TMC. And The Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, is an old-style horror movie, just with more gore. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Turn off the lights, grab some popcorn and try not to look for plot holes. Plus, Rick Baker is a makeup legend. He’s won so many times that I wouldn’t bet against him.
Who Will Win: The Wolfman
Who Should Win: The Wolfman
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
- Alice in Wonderland — Colleen Atwood
- I Am Love — Antonella Cannarozzi
- The King’s Speech — Jenny Beavan
- The Tempest — Sandy Powell
- True Grit — Mary Zophres
Thoughts: If The King’s Speech is riding high on Oscar night, it might pick up wins in these smaller categories. If the Academy’s voters actually thought about each category, Alice in Wonderland or True Grit might gain some love.
Who Will Win: Alice in Wonderland
Who Should Win: True Grit (those Western clothes were spot-on)
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Revised
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I agree with you… Old-school horror films with lots of blood and guts are rare these days. It seems that directors and producers opt for the element of surprise to scare audiences nowadays. I think ‘Blair Witch Project’ started the low-budget, shaky horror films that pretty much force you to live on the edge of your seat for the entire flick. Both have something to offer horror fans but it does bring me back to childhood and movies like ‘Friday the Thirteenth’ and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’. And being a lover of horror films I am always relieved to find films that don’t center around torture and sadistic killers. I guess mainly because those films actually scare me too much and seem far too realistic for a young female.
So, I think ‘The Wolfman’ should and will win. As for costume design I think ‘Alice and Wonderland’ would be the obvious choice but ‘True Grit’ really felt authentic. I think then sign of great costume design is watching a period piece like ‘True Grit ‘ and really feeling like you were transplanted into the Old West. I guess also in costume design it is probably better not to be noticeable. What I mean by that is you don’t want to be watching a period piece and notice that the costumes look too new, or perhaps realizing a certain accessory or piece of the costume looks out of place, or like a costume. Bottom line is authenticity to the period and the characters and less is more in my book. Which is why I think that ‘True Grit’ should win but ‘Alice in Wonderland’ will probably win because just the title screams COSTUME DESIGN!
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