For our eighteenth Rundown article, we examine categories whose innovation was in their infancy when the Academy was founded. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing as well as general commentary about the race. Thursday, we’ll cover a frocking amazing category.

Best Sound Mixing

Winner Predictions

• Black Panther
• Bohemian Rhapsody (WL R) [New] (PP O) (TB R) [New] (TL R) [New]
• First Man
• Roma
• A Star Is Born

Runner-Up Predictions

• Black Panther (PP R) [New] (TB R) [New]
• First Man (WL R) [New](TL R) [New]

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Wesley Lovell: You cannot deny that Bohemian Rhapsody has hung on much better than anyone thought it could and with wins at both the Cinema Audio Society (CAS) and the Motion Picture Sound Editors, I think the film likely moves into lock position. First Man and Black Panther are the only titles that seem like real possibilities of overtaking the Bohemians, but I find that to be an outside chance at this point.
Peter J. Patrick: Bohemian Rhapsody should be an easy winner here with Black Panther its closest competition.
Tripp Burton: This weekend’s CAS winner Bohemian Rhapsody would seem to be the front-runner here, but it is worth noting that the CAS doesn’t have the greatest track record predicting Oscar winners. If Black Panther really picks up steam with the below-the-line awards, it could win here.
Thomas La Tourrette: When A Star Is Born first opened the critics raved about its sound mixing as they thought it caught the feeling of being in a concert. Over time though, its chances of winning just kept fading. First Man felt like the obvious next choice, but both its lackluster box office and its lack of winning other awards have hurt its chances. Now it is Bohemian Rhapsody that has taken the lead, even though it was not the best respected for its sound mixing. At this point it feels like it will be the winner. I do not think that either Roma or Black Panther will be in the mix, unless the Academy voters just keep checking the boxes by either of those films. First Man might pull off the surprise win, but I think it will go to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Best Sound Editing

Winner Predictions

• Black Panther (PP R) [New]
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• First Man
• A Quiet Place (WL O) (TB O) (TL R) [New]
• Roma

Runner-Up Predictions

• Black Panther (TB R) [New]
• Bohemian Rhapsody (TL R) [New]
• First Man (WL O) (PP R) [New]

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Wesley Lovell: It’s hard to say what the Academy will do when they hardly know the difference between Sound Mixing and Sound Editing. Typically, the two awards go hand-in-hand, which makes Bohemian Rhapsody, Black Panther, First Man, and Roma into a better position than A Quiet Place. That said, everyone was a bit surprised that A Quiet Place, so reliant on its sound mix and editing, wasn’t nominated for the top prize. That will probably be remembered by voters and it may end up winning. That said, I wouldn’t put it past them to select Bohemian Rhapsody out of sheer ignorance on what this category means.
Peter J. Patrick: Black Panther‘s sound effects should win here with First Man also possible.
Tripp Burton: It is rare that a film wins a sound award when it doesn’t have any other nominations, but A Quiet Place is a film that is liked by a lot of people that is literally all about the sound design. I think it makes a surprise here.
Thomas La Tourrette: This feels like it has turned into a toss up between Bohemian Rhapsody and A Quiet Place. Originally, First Man seemed like the film to beat, but it just keeps slipping and not winning awards. Then I thought that Quiet Place had it sewn up, but then with wins at BAFTA and two at the Sound Editors Guild, Bohemian Rhapsody started pulling a little ahead in the race. A Quiet Place did win the most prestigious award form the guild, but Rhapsody won two to its one. Either First Man or A Quiet Place would be more deserving than Bohemian Rhapsody as both did wonderful work with silence, but the best films do not always win. I do not think that either Roma or Black Panther stand much of a chance, unless one of those films does a gigantic sweep. Bohemian Rhapsody may still win, helped by its box office draw and being more recent, but I will go with A Quiet Place to just edge it out in a very close race.

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