The Rest of the Races

Cinematography: Whether evoking Norman Rockwell or the trippiest learning channel footage you’ve ever seen, The Tree of Life, though maddening, was lovely to look at.

Editing: Sure, have another one, The Artist.

Art Direction: The exquisite eye candy of Hugo.

Costume Design: It’s whichever film has the froufiest costumes but isn’t too terrible…so…um…Jane Eyre?

Score: The Artist had the hardest-working score, providing the entire soundscape. Done.

Sound Mixing: It’s whichever film has the most technical nods, so Hugo.

Sound Editing: Repeat, Hugo.

Visual Effects: Andy Serkis = gold. Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Makeup: The excellent aging of Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

Song: Flight of the Conchords fans rejoice, it’s a win for Bret McKenzie and The Muppets!

Animated Feature: The last time this category didn’t have a Pixar heavyweight, it went international with Spirited Away. I’m predicting Rango, but the Spanish Chico and Rita just might upset…

Documentary Feature: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory is the third installment in a documentary trilogy that literally helped exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners. Can’t beat that!

Foreign Language Film: A Separation is the favorite, but in recent years, the favorite always loses. In Darkness is about the Holocaust, so…