For our twelfth Rundown article, we’ll look at two defining categories that form the backbone of filmmaking’s production and post-production process. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Editing and Best Cinematography as well as general commentary about the race. Tomorrow, we’ll cover the two most aurally impressive categories.

Best Editing

Winner Predictions

• Argo (R) [New] (R) [New]
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Zero Dark Thirty (O)

Runner-Up Predictions

• Argo (R) [New]
• Life of Pi (O)
• Zero Dark Thirty (R) [New]

(color and symbol key at bottom of page)

Wesley Lovell: With an ACE award in the bag, this category seems to have shifted from early predictions of a Zero Dark Thirty win to an Argo win. With Best Picture almost certain, the film needs another category to look like more than a footnote and everything seems to support the film picking up this trophy.
Peter J. Patrick: This one looks to be a toss-up between the year’s best edited film, Zero Dark Thirty, and what is turning out to be the year’s most popular film, Argo.
Tripp Burton: Argo won the ACE award this weekend, which boosts its viability in a highly competitive category. A case could be made for any of these films, especially with the state of this year’s race. If Silver Linings Playbook or Lincoln play better on Oscar night than with the precursors, they could sneak in here too. The last 30 minute sequence of Zero Dark Thirty could be rewarded here, especially if it doesn’t pick up any other awards. If Life of Pi begins to sweep the technical categories, it could pick this one up too. However, the award will probably go to Argo, one of the few it might win on its way to Best Picture.

Best Cinematography

Winner Predictions

• Anna Karenina
• Django Unchained
• Life of Pi (R) [New] (O) (R) [New]
• Lincoln
• Skyfall

Runner-Up Predictions

• Skyfall (O) (O) (O)

(color and symbol key at bottom of page)

Wesley Lovell: Yes, the American Society of Cinematographers gave their prize to Skyfall photographer Roger Deakins, but they’ve given other prizes to him as well whereas the Academy has ignored him every time out. This time looks like the same thing might happen. Life of Pi, in spite of being largely visual effect-driven photography, will very likely triumph over Skyfall. There’s still a shot for Bond, but Life of Pi is looking very strong.
Peter J. Patrick: I see Life of Pi as the clear winner in this category with Anna Karenina, Lincoln and Skyfall all with outside chances.
Tripp Burton: Life of Pi is the third 3D movie nominated here since the return of the format, and both of the others won here. I would expect the visual flair of Life of Pi to take this one pretty handily, but love for the much-nominated, never-awarded Roger Deakins could sneak him in to a surprise victory for Skyfall. History isn’t on his side, though.

KEY: