With last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Cinematography Claudio Miranda (“Life Of Pi”), impeccable futuristic-wasteland visual effects, and an original score from the band M83, “Oblivion” has to be on the Academy’s radar. If I were to put all chips on one nomination out of Joseph Kosinski’s science fiction thriller, it would have to be on Best Visual Effects, with all the gadgets and machinery at work in the film and the authenticity it brings to film, this element cannot be denied. A close second would probably be Best Production Design, as this film is filled to the brim with breathtaking set pieces, all of which serving a purpose. And do not count out Claudio Miranda. The cinematography is spot on.

The main thing working against the film is the bad word of mouth coming from critics and the science fiction nature of the film, that does not scream Oscar fodder. These are the reasons that Best Visual Effects looks like the best bet, as the films nominated in this category are normally out of the box compared to the period pieces and historical dramas that capture most of the other awards. Oblivion is one of my favorite films of the year, and even though there’s a strong possibility it will completely miss the mark, it’s still nice to see it up for consideration.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: