The Set Decorators Society earns the prize for going first in the post-nominations landscape. Sure the Globes have already happened but the American Cinema Editors postponed due to the L.A. fires. SDSA was far enough out that they are still going to be able to keep their date while ACE moves to after the Oscars.
SET DECORATORS SOCIETY AWARDS
Legend:
Winner Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette
Runner-Up Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette
Best Period Décor/Design
The Brutalist WL PP TL
A Complete Unknown Nil
Gladiator II Nil
Maria Nil
Nosferatu WL PP TL
Wesley Lovell: There are really only three films on this list that have the breadth of achievements to become winners in this category: The Brutalist, Gladiator II, and Nosferatu. Of these, Brutalist and Nosferatu were the only Oscar nominees in the bunch. The race is between them. While I think The Brutalist has a much better shot at winning the Oscar for Production Design than Nosferatu, this award is for set decoration and Nosferatu is the kind of film that has more of it to be impressed by, so in a close competition, Nosferatu probably comes out on top.
Pete Patrick: The constantly surprising design of the various periods of The Brutalist should be hard to beat. The classic design of the various sets of Nosferatu is probably its closest competitor.
Thomas La Tourette: One of the two Oscar nominees, The Brutalist and Nosferatu, is the likely winner, and I’ll give the edge to Nosferatu. But do not discount Gladiator II which had striking work as well.
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Décor/Design
Alien: Romulus TL
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Nil
Dune: Part Two WL PP TL
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga WL
Megalopolis PP
Wesley Lovell: This is probably a more open category that it first seems. Dune: Part Two is the only title of the five with an Oscar nomination for Best Production Design and while I would normally think it had this one in the bag, this is a group of set decorators and Dune doesn’t have nearly as many set dressings as one might expect from a winner. That said, it’s still a strong possibility but I honestly wouldn’t be shocked if any of these five titles won it.
Pete Patrick: Dune: Part Two‘s sets are the most impressively designed of the group. Its closest runner-up might well be Francis Ford Coppola’s mammoth flop, Megalopolis.
Thomas La Tourette: Without having to compete against Wicked, Dune should easily win this.
Best Contemporary Décor/Design
Anora Nil
Civil War PP TL
Conclave WL PP
Emilia Pérez Nil
The Substance WL TL
Wesley Lovell: Conclave is the only nominee but like the above two categories, it doesn’t have a large scale number of sets to decorate in detail. Civil War, Emilia Pérez, and The Substance all have quite a few as well. Anora suffers from being less fantastical than these other titles. While I’m leaning towards Conclave, a terrific case could be made for The Substance, the only title in this bunch whose very foundation is built on the sets and props.
Pete Patrick: Details of the meticulously crafted makeover of the Sistine Chapel and other rooms of the Vatican during a Papal Election dwarf the competition and should win here. Civil War, which also has some meticulously crafted set designs, could be the spoiler here.
Thomas La Tourette: Three of these films might win. I will give the edge to The Substance for the striking interior sets but both Civil War and Conclave might win.
Best Comedy/Musical Décor/Design
Deadpool & Wolverine WL TL
Kinds of Kindness PP
Nightbitch Nil
Wolfs Nil
Wicked WL PP TL
Wesley Lovell: It’s perhaps a bit unfair for Wicked to compete against these other films. It would fit better in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category. These other pictures are contemporary and that gives Wicked an easy advantage. Against these titles, I imagine it will win in a walk but Deadpool has a strong batch of set designs. It might have even won if not for Wicked.
Pete Patrick: Wicked should win this one by a wide margin. I think Kinds of Kindness, which has some cleverly designed sets to look at, will be a distant second.
Thomas La Tourette: Wicked should be the easy winner here.
