As with Best Director, it's hard to imagine that this field will ever include a non-Best-Picture nominee so long as there are ten. It's hard to get a read on what kind of editing a film will have this early in the year, so maybe just choosing a bunch of Best Picture frontrunners is the best way to go about guessing.
One contender I don't feel too uncomfortable predicting is Steven Spielberg's editor of choice, three-time Oscar winner Michael Kahn, a true giant in his field with three high-profile titles being released this year, two of them helmed by Spielberg. The one people will be watching the closest for awards buzz is
War Horse, which should stand a decent chance on account of being a war film.
Kevin Tent has been nominated by the American Cinema Editors three times for his collaborations with director Alexander Payne, but has never copped an Oscar nomination. With Payne's
The Descendants, maybe he'll finally break through. There's no denying he's due, but will the editor's branch be impressed enough with his typically un-showy work?
It's usually the case that the respected action blockbuster of the year will earn a nomination here, especially if it ends up a Best Picture nominee as well. That may bode well for Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey (who should have been nominated last year for
Star Trek) if J.J. Abrams
Super 8 delivers with critics and audiences. Of course, that trend catastrophically failed for
Inception this past year, so who knows?
Christopher Tellefsen is teaming up again with Bennett Miller (his director on
Capote) for the upcoming
Moneyball. Nothing about the film really screams "Best Film Editing!!!" aside from its Best Picture potential, but with zesty screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian on script duties, Tellefsen will have his hands full just trying to edit around their typically whip-smart dialogue.
Finally, Terrence Malick's long-awaited
The Tree of Life has had to employ a whole five-man squad of editors, including Oscar nominees Daniel Rezende (
City of God) and Billy Weber (Malick's
The Thin Red Line). Again, the possibility of being a hot Best Picture contender is the film's biggest selling point.
Predicted five:
The Descendents
Moneyball
Super 8
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Also consider: Tintin,
A Dangerous Method,
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,
The Help,
The Ides of March,
Hugo Cabret,
The Whistleblower,
Young Adult.
