Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography

The most likely contenders:
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
ATONEMENT
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
INTO THE WILD
LUST, CAUTION
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
THERE WILL BE BLOOD

The American Society of Cinematographers chose the first three and the last two for their list. In contrast to last year, all seem like viable candidates. Last year, none of the five were Best Picture possibilities and the whole race was unpredictable. Oscar voters went 3/5 in comparison to the ASC list. I cannot decide which one of this year’s five might be left off for “Into the Wild”, and I am thinking maybe none of them. A part of me wants to say that somehow, shockingly, it will be “No Country for Old Men” that gets snubbed here. It might also be “There Will Be Blood”. There is zero buzz for “Lust, Caution” but the film does look nice and Asian films with similar looks have done well in this category in the past. I am going to stick with the ASC list.

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
ATONEMENT
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
THERE WILL BE BLOOD