Below the Line: Costume design is more than just about clothing. It is about expressing who a character is and telling stories about those characters. Costume design can be seamless sometimes. Oftentimes it does not stand out on its own but rather serves to describe things about a character that cannot be achieved any other way. In this way, costume design is rather magical, creating characters out of actors and describing who he or she is and in what time and place the character lived. It is an art form that is deeply creative and an essential part of storytelling and filmmaking magic.
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One of my favorite pastimes is watching all of the films nominated for the Academy Awards, both as an artist and as a citizen of the world. In turn, I have seen all the movies nominated for best costume design. Reading these interviews is interesting and insightful, and also calls to mind one glaring truth: the winner is going to be based on which movie the academy liked the most, as each design was as thorough as the others and had merits all their own. My personal pick is Mad Max, which had thousands of actors, all of which looked and felt like they belonged in this sprawling world George Miller created. I also believe that Carol should not have been nominated, as many of those costumes were simple period pieces that didn't push the boundaries of what you would expect. A close runner-up to Mad Max would be the revenant, which gave both the Americans and Native Americans believable attire for the massive winter in which the movie takes place. The best attire, however, isn't that which blends into the world and makes you forget that you're there, but outfits that help to create the world.
Gee whiz. The nominations this year are absolutely amazing and I'm so glad that these particular designers were nominated. I've only just entered into the realm of costumes and so I'm still very new and trying to learn the names of the masters. I remember watching Mad Max: Fury Road and being absolutely jaw droppingly blown to bits by the costume design and make up work. It was the first thing I noticed and to this day, is still really the only thing that sticks to my mind so viscously. They were so insane and out of this world, so meticulous and extravagant and I was jus so stunned with the work! That being said, I am now glad that I'm able to put a name to the wonderful work that I've marveled over. Oh, Jenny Beavan. What a spectacular designer. It's really only after attending theatre school that I've truly begun to appreciate the work and genius of costume design and how it can make or break the story of a character. I haven't seen any of the other movies that have been nominated, but I'm putting my bets on the work done in Mad Max. The entire design of the movie is just so refreshing and gluttonous and oh, how I love it.
Costumes always has the opportunity to add so much life to the story of a movie, play, show, etc. Its ability to elevate a character to its true form is nothing short of magic. Seeing all these nominations, I'm inclined to find out why these designers were nominated. Having not been in touch with pop culture very recently due to being trapped in Purnell, I don't get much time to watch a film. So why the nominations? How did their designs change the characters or the world of the film? Apparently according previous posts, Cinderella's costume designed only really bevelled on the surface of idea and only amplified the thought of what a period piece looks like, but didn't explore enough with it to deem it worthy of an oscar. By the pictures in the article, I would have to agree and say that I expect this kind of design for this story. That being said, it is ok to deliver what is expected, but the real accolades are given to those who go above and beyond to think outside the box with their design. One photographic example is the picture of Mad Max. That design looks terrifying (in a good way) and evokes such an uneasy feeling due to the barbaric nature of the costumes and the story the clothes themselves tell. Im very excited to see who wins the oscar.
I believe Jenny Beavan should win for Mad Max. Not just because I absolutely adored that movie and the stunning and new visuals created, but because I think what the production did on Mad Max was truly exptrodinary. I think creating an entirely new world is a feat in and of itself, and creating a new world AS WELL as convincing the audience it is REAL is amazing. All of these costume designers did incredible work, but what Mad Max accomplished overall in exploring the new world following a nuclear war was exciting and interesting. Often times during movies, I don't even notice the costumes, as they are designed to fit into the set and theme and be just like how normal clothes are - normal and expected. With Mad Max, I was in awe over the visuals created by the War Boys and the Wives. I never believed a story could be told literally only from the costumes - as Mad Max had almost no dialogue, it almost was. 10/10. Good movie.
Also, not related to costumes but still cool, that fire guitar actually worked.
Fire guitar = Oscar.
Yes!!! This is so exciting. Basically I comment on anything with the word Oscar in it, because I'm an Oscars fanatic, and also a conflicted Oscars viewer who wants diversity.. but anyway! Awesome article. However, I really don't want a period piece to win. And I know it's difficult to recreate period costumes, however.. I want something sci-fi and out of this world to win. And Cassidy beat me to it- but I want Mad Max to win whole-heartedly. The most disturbing part of the mad max world for me was the costumes. The leader whois disgusting and imbred wears a chest plate to cover up his disfigured chest, and the way the army of young men was made to look sickly and blood barren.. It was just amazing and grotesque.
Cinderella was costumed well, too and very inventively. And really, all of these were good, but I simply don't think they required as much innovation and invention. Especially not the Revenant, a movie where the main character wears the same bear skin 90% of the film. The Oscars tends to go for period pieces, though. And hopefully they see what an achievement Mad Max was.
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