Paired with the Motion Picture Sound Editors, you have a fairly strong indication of the direction the Oscar vote might go.

CINEMA AUDIO SOCIETY AWARDS

Best Sound Mixing – Live Action

All Quiet on the Western Front (Peter, RU:Wesley)
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Batman
Elvis (RU:Thomas)
Top Gun: Maverick (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Loud and/or complex sound mixes are often favored. All Quiet, Elvis, and Top Gun: Maverick are all key contenders for this category and I would be surprised to see any of the three win. The challenge of lip syncing is most obvious in Elvis, but war films are also popular in this category. That said, in my home viewing of Maverick, I was blown away by the sound detail and that’s with inferior speakers to movie theaters. I wouldn’t be shocked if it comes away with the win easily.
Peter J. Patrick: Action should rule the roost over music, so I think this will be a close one between All Quiet on the Western Front and Top Gun: Maverick.
Tripp Burton: No predictions provided.
Thomas LaTourette: I am guessing the jet engines of Top Gun will win over the music of Elvis but would not be surprised if it goes the other way.

Best Sound Mixing – Animated

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Peter, Thomas, RU:Wesley)
Lightyear (Wesley)
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (RU:Thomas)
Turning Red (RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: While Pinocchio has been running roughshod over all other animated films this season, this group is far more likely to recognize the use of sound in something like Lightyear or Puss in Boots. That said, while Lightyear is my pick, it’s a soft pick and the added benefit of being a musical might put Pinocchio over the top.
Peter J. Patrick: I don’t see how Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio can miss on this one.
Tripp Burton: No predictions provided.
Thomas LaTourette: Pinocchio is the likely winner.

Best Sound Mixing – Documentary

Good Night Oppy (RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (RU:Peter)
Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues
Moonage Daydream (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari

Wesley Lovell: They love music documentaries, but they also haven’t had much opportunity to recognize space-based efforts. Moonage Daydream seems like the kind of film they would recognize, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Oppy won either.
Peter J. Patrick: I love a musical for this one, the only question is which one? I’m thinking Moonage Daydream, but it could just as easily be the Leonard Cohen or Louis Armstrong tribute.
Tripp Burton: No predictions provided.
Thomas LaTourette: Music documentaries often do well here which should give the upper hand to Moonage Daydream.