Eddie Awards should provide hints for next week’s Oscars

With today’s ACE Awards (the “Eddie Awards”) ready to deliver honors on outstanding film editing work done in 2011, we should get a lead on who might be a favorite at the Oscar’s looming the following week.  Since the SAG and Golden Globes do not recognize Editing as a category, the next two weeks are the pinnacle for recognizing the achievements and outstanding efforts from last year.  You can also catch this year’s nominees for a special discussion on the art of editing next week out in Hollywood.  While the Eddie Awards recognize editing achievements across many categories and genres, the Oscars offer just one award for editing.  Here are those nominations.  As you can see, the favorites have clearly already been established.

“The Artist” – Anne-Sophie Bion and Michael Hazanavicius

Michael is also the director and gets a credit for writing, but the first time feature length editor, Anne-Sophie Bion would make for a rise to fame equaling Jeremy Lin.  She talks here, about working on her first feature length film as an (not assistant) editor:

“Q: Did you watch the Oscar’s growing up?

A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, like a little girl dreaming in front of her TV, “I will never go there, it’s not possible.” Actually, I still can’t believe it. Even for the [American Cinema Editors guild], we are nominated as well and Hervé Schneid got this “A.C.E.” close to his name on each credit, and now I’m so happy to have been nominated as well. It’s all these famous American editors!

A win for this team would certainly continue the run “The Artist” has already been on, and lift the career of the newly minted editor.

“The Descendents” – Kevin Tent

Kevin has been nominated for several ACE awards in the past for his work on “Sideways”, “About Schmidt” and “Election”, though this is his first Oscar nomination.   After four nominations, Kevin certainly has carved a name for himself.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

Last year’s combo led to wins for Best Edited Feature Film, “Social Network” at both the ACE and Oscars is back again.  Kirk also has credits for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  The film is nominated for 5 Academy Awards, though without the Best Picture nominee, the chances of taking this category are a bit slim.

“Hugo” – Thelma Schoonmaker

A two-time Oscar winner (The Departed and The Aviator) and with 33 total credits for editing, Thelma is certainly very accomplished and a favorite every time she’s nominated.  Given the scope of the film and the requirements to tell that story, Thelma has to be considered as a top candidate for this year’s award.

“Moneyball” – Christopher Tellefsen

Nominated for two prior Eddie awards in 2000 (Analyze This and Man on the Moon) this is Christopher’s first Oscar nomination.  With 26 editor credits, he reigns as the second most seasoned editor in this year’s nominee list.

Though it’s still anyone’s guess on this year’s winner, an interesting piece notes that the winner of Best Picture and Film Editing are very closely linked.

What do you think?

Do you have any favorites for this year’s best editor? As editing is truly the invisible art (and can often be overlooked), it’s sometimes quite difficult for those not in the business to make such a call. But we’re among editors here, so truly… what do you think?