Costume Design

 There are finite details that go into creating a wearable look for any film. Certain textures, colors and shapes must become lost in the landscape, across the faces, and disappear into the language. Similar to music, a costume array in any motion picture must not be seen to be noticed. Unless you are creating an over the top character, such as the Mad Hatter.....then everything I just described goes out the window....

 The Academy Nominee's 2010 for Costumer Design are: 

“Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood
“I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi
“The King's Speech” Jenny Beavan
“The Tempest” Sandy Powell
“True Grit” Mary Zophres 

Colleen Atwood has created for some of the most interesting films of the last 20 or so years including, "Sweeney Todd", "Memoirs of a Geisha" (academy winner) and "Big Fish" - her assignments are a nice mixture of over the top dramatic and subtle personalities. Noticeable of course is her many fantasy uniforms in collaboration with Jonathan Demme and Tim Burton- which translates to many works with Johnny Depp. With Depp, she has created looks for "Edward Scissorhands", "Ed Wood" and "The Tourist". Her nom for "Alice in Wonderland"the creations are intruiging- especially considering the many clever ways costume changes were afforded through out the film.

Antonella Cannarozzi  dresses Tilda Swinton boldly in elegant rich designs.....Sorry to say I haven't seen the previous films she has created for, although I am intrigued by her colors and lines - yet, it is difficult not to attribute much of the nom to Swinton's bearing. 

Jenny Beavan creates a modern take on period costuming - her designs are historically fitting, yet contain fabric and color choices that are most attractive to the actor. The costumes work with and for the characters, not so much blending in as complimenting with ease. Most notably in "Tea with Mussolini" and "Gosford Park" she dressed beautiful actors in to their understated characters. Nominated this year for taking the lovely Helene Bonham Carter (quirky, no?) and Colin Firth (gorgeous, yes?) to another time and place, fitting them in physical adornments allowing characters to be interesting, not costumed.

Sandy Powell, an eight time nominee and three time winner, has chosen well in costuming a variance of film styles. From period pieces to modern gangsters, Ms. Powell runs an impressive list of variety. With out having seen "The Tempest" I can only say from photographs that Shakespeare would be pleased but not surprised.....

Mary Zophres is my personal choice for this year's award. While not my favorite film, "True Grit" is....okay, Gritty. Zophres stays in the perimeter of the cowboy picture but still offers dimensions that make it a film made in 2010. I would have nominated her for "A Serious Man" but they didn't ask me....