This week has been so busy... but all I want to do is talk about the Oscars! Unfortunately there will be more Oscar conversation afterwards rather than before... but no matter. Lets talk predictions... this is my Oscar Costume pic for 2009:
Milk!
Yes, Milk. That is my pick. I loved the costumes in this movie so much. Why? Because they are real dangnit. This is not a schmancy period piece, this is a great movie with real clothes that look real. It looks like everyone just showed up wearing whatever they pulled on that morning. And you know what? That's what real costume design is all about. It is the most honest depiction of this time period I've ever seen on film. And the further away you get from something the harder it is to do that. It's not overly stylized, there's no corny daisy face painting or "bell bottoms" that look like they came from aeropostale.
The designer is Danny Glicker. He also designed films like L.I.E. and Transamerica. It looks like he's been at it for about a decade and he has a very impressive resume in that amount of time. Overall I'd say his work is all about honesty to the period and making people look real and he's pretty darn good at it. I hope everyone appreciates how delicate a task it is to 'costume' people to look as though they're not costumed at all- which is the Hallmark of a great costume designer.
Briefly, the other nominees are:
Benjamin Button, Jacqueline West (which has a good chance of sweeping)
The Duchess, Michael O'Connor (which is a pretty period film but also hot on the heels of Marie Antoinette so... kinda been there)
Australia, Catherine Martin (any costume/production design nerd's golden goddess in the flesh- she's back! But unfortunately her husband made a crummy movie. At least they're applauding her end of the deal- but a no go.)
Revolutionary Road, Albert Wolsky (He's one of our fav's from last year. A living legend. But seriously this time period competes with Benjamin Button which I think will take over. Then again, they just might give it to the guy because of his legendary status. But we said that last year. )
So Milk it is! Fingers crossed, Danny!
Oh yeah, let's hope Sean wins too. Seriously.