For our ninth Rundown article, an opulent category tied closely with a category we’re covering next week. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Art Direction as well as general commentary about the race. Tomorrow, we’ll cover the most blockbuster-friendly category at the Oscars. (Note: Tripp’s comments and Rundown predictions will be updated later today)

Best Art Direction

Winner Predictions

• The Artist
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
• Hugo (O) (New)(R) (O)
• Midnight in Paris
• War Horse

Runner-Up Predictions

• The Artist (R)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (R) (R)

(color and symbol key at bottom of page)

Wesley Lovell: This is a category that would fit two of the nominees fairly well. Both Hugo and Harry Potter have large scale sets and are fairly pretty to look at. I give the edge here to Best Picture nominee Hugo which will find itself winning only a meager number of awards, including this trophy. If there’s an upset, it will probably be to either The Artist or, my guess, Harry Potter in recognition of eight films of glory.

Peter J. Patrick: Both films have elaborate sets for which they received guild awards for their art direction. I think it’s just a question of which will prevail. I give the edge to Hugo.

Tripp Burton: The battle between the two biggest nominees continues in this category, this time with Hugo probably taking the edge over The Artist. The 3D train station, with all of its nooks and crannies, would be enough to push Hugo over the hill on this one, but add in the movie studio and the exteriors of Paris and it seems like a lock. If the Academy doesn’t want to award all of the CGI work, though, then The Artist probably sneaks in and takes the award. The other three nominees are all filler.

KEY: