Best Costume?

Should also be good for an ADG nom. Not sure if that'll translate into a Best Art Direction nom. That category is usually good for 1-2 fantasy films.

Sarah Greenwood (twice nominated for Production design) and Jenny Beavan (7 noms and 1 win for Costume Design) are both working on Sherlock Holmes.

Could be a contender.

Harry Potter for Cinematography? Bruno Delbonnel is brilliant.

He's had great Oscar success as a Jeunet collaborator.

It seems that Potter films only get nominated for stuff if they are as good or better than the last film in critical consensus. Probably why Phoenix got snubbed even though it had a very good revamped look and feel. I also think COS got snubbed out of VFX/Sound/Art Direction...

Fame Trailer - http://www.moviefone.com/movie/fame-2009/30945/main

Don't know if there are original songs. I saw the stage production a few years back and the songs were all new (minus Fame obviously).

BUT, if there are new songs and its well received, maybe a nom.

Doesn't Shutter Island take place in the 50s? I could see a slew of tech nominations. The production designer has won Oscars for Sweeney Todd and The Aviator (as well as six other nominations), the cinematographer has won twice and been nominated three other times, etcetera.

It's possible but I also think there's a slew of films that could easily take its place.

Cheri - 1920s Paris
Inglourious Basterds - 1940s France
The Lovely Bones - 1960s/70s Philly
Nine - 1960s Venince
Public Enemies - 1930s Chicago
Wolfman - 188's London

And there's tech wildcards like Avatar (alien planet) and The Road (post-apocalyptic America)

Is it safe to say, with most of the films still unseen, The Wolfman is the early Best Makeup frontrunner?

Pretty much. Where The Wild Things Are doesn't have extensive makeup, does it?

Best Cinematography:
Shutter Island
Green Zone
Harry Potter
Nine
Agora

Best Editing:
Green Zone
Shutter Island
Nine
Avatar?

Best Sound:
Nine
Up
Green Zone
Avatar
Transformers

Best Sound Editing:
Transformers
Up
Green Zone
Avatar
Star Trek

Best Visual Effects:
Transformers
Star Trek
Avatar

Best Art Direction:
Agora
Avatar
Where The Wild Things Are
Nine
Cheri

Best Costume Design:
Where The Wild Things Are
Nine
Agora
Harry Potter?
Cheri

Best Makeup:
Wolfman
Star Trek
Where The Wild Things Are

Yeah, who knows?

I would say it's definitely towards the front of the pack. Where The Wild Things Are could show up, you have Cheri and Nine as well.

Star Trek too. I think it's an excellent candidate for three or four nominations as long as it's pretty good. There won't be any blockbusters that'll make a splash like TDK this year, though.

I don't see Trek getting anything beyond Visual Effects, maybe Sound Mixing.

Avatar will win as many awards as King Kong.

i could see Star Trek surprising as well.

which ones? I mean VFX is obvious, but I don't see what else. Maybe cinematography.... production design?

Makeup, of course.

Don't rule out the Sound categories, Score or Art Direction.

i'd be surprised if star trek got makeup. there aren't many aliens, actually - not any with extensive makeup (eg, they're all vulcan or romulan - or the orions, which would actually *hurt* the best makeup cause - they look awful...)

sound categories and vfx look good. perhaps art direction - which looks great.

The Orions pretty much rule out makeup.

I think one sound and VFX. If the film doesn't burn the box office, all bets are off.

Back in March I thought Where The Wild Things Are had a good shot. I think its chances at a nom or 2 have increased tenfold.

For lack of a better word, it looks lush.

Visual effects is going to be EXTREMELY crowded this year

AVATAR.

Not sure if Avatar can get Art Direction and Costume nominations.

Be positive.

No, its not that. I'm not sure it would even qualify because of digital designs.