Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Art Direction

The competition: The Artist, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, War Horse

Previous winners: Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Sweeney Todd, Pan’s Labyrinth, Memoirs of a Geisha
My winner: In a Better World
Who should win: Hugo
Who will win: This category tends to favor colorful, lavish productions. While three Harry Potter movies, and its nominated art directors, have been recognized here before, none of them has ever won. This could be the first time, but I suspect that, like in other categories, this will be down to “Hugo,” whose art directors have won before for “Sweeney Todd” and “The Aviator,” and “The Artist,” whose art directors are new to the Oscar race. “War Horse” could also potentially surprise since its technical elements are inarguably stronger than its story. I think there’s not much beating the eye-popping excitement of “Hugo.”