While Oscar pools might not hinge on a correct prediction in this category, it will be interesting to see how many go for traditional, for history, or for off-kilter.

AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS AWARDS

Best Drama Editing

Mank (RU:Tripp)
Minari
Nomadland (Peter)
Sound of Metal (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas, RU:Peter)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: The two films that seem to be trading wins in the overall Best Film Editing field at the Oscars are also the two most competitive titles in this year’s American Cinema Editors awards. Sound of Metal and The Trial of the Chicago 7 are going to duke it out and whichever comes out on top should become the frontrunner for the Oscars.
Peter J. Patrick: A tough call. I expect that it is between Nomadland and Sound of Metal. I’ll say Nomadland today, but I might say Sound of Metal tomorrow.
Tripp Burton: Sound of Metal feels like the frontrunner here, but one of the bigger nominees could easily overshadow it. Those music scenes and the finale alone, though, seem ripe for a win.
Thomas LaTourette: Only Mank and Minari seem out of the running, and the other three are wildly divergent films. I am not certain what they will go for. Nomadland felt like it could have been a bit more compact, so I will drop it down to third. With the music and drumming being such an integral part of the film at the beginning, perhaps Sound of Metal will win. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Best Comedy/Musical Editing

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
I Care a Lot
On the Rocks
Palm Springs (RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Promising Young Woman (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: Only one of these five films is an Oscar nominee. Promising Young Woman isn’t a slam dunk winner given this fact. Its nomination at the Oscars was a bit of a surprise, though of the five nominees here, only Palm Springs really feels like it could give Emerald Fennell’s film a run for its money.
Peter J. Patrick: Promising Young Woman would get my vote, but the “how did they do that” aspect of the Borat sequel might get a few votes as well.
Tripp Burton: I’ll go with the only Oscar nominee here, but Borat could be a surprise winner for the way it is assembled.
Thomas LaTourette: I am not certain that Promising Young Woman fits in this category, but with an Oscar nom in this field, it seems like the easy winner. If they want a true comedy, then perhaps Palm Springs might win.

Best Animation Editing

The Croods: A New Age
Onward
Over the Moon (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Soul (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Wolfwalkers (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: For animation, the season leader, Soul, should always be considered the frontrunner. I really cannot imagine them going anywhere else.
Peter J. Patrick: What else but Soul or Wolfwalkers?
Tripp Burton: When in doubt this season, pick Soul for animated.
Thomas LaTourette: The well received Soul should win. In my mind it was the best of the films and was also the best edited of them too.

Best Documentary Editing

All In: The Fight for Democracy
Dick Johnson Is Dead (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)
The Dissident
My Octopus Teacher (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
The Social Dilemma (RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: In documentaries, great editing isn’t necessarily a pre-requisite for winning an Oscar, so what wins here will have zero impact on the Oscars. That said, Oscar nominee My Octopus Teacher has an advantage of being the film that has buzz building for it, which may well carry it through to victory here.
Peter J. Patrick: They seem to like the Octopus movie above all else in documentary this year, with everything else a runner-up. I go with Dick Johnson Is Dead for that.
Tripp Burton: The unbelievable streak My Octopus Teacher is on will probably continue here.
Thomas LaTourette: My Octopus Teacher looks to be in the lead as best documentary, though that does not mean it necessarily will win this award. If it does not, then perhaps The Social Dilemma will win.