Nomadland's smooth and swift road to Oscar glory hit a minor snag last night at the American Society of Cinematographers awards. The supposed frontrunner for cinematography prizes this season lost out on the industry's biggest peer-voted accolade, as David Fincher's Mank won instead. Fincher's first film collaboration with his Mindhunter DP Erik Messerschmidt impressed ASC members with its stylized, silvery recreations of Golden Era Hollywood, though it remains to be seen if the film's diminished Best Picture chances at the Oscars stymie its hopes at taking any tech awards from the Academy. For Nomadland, though, this is definitely a tad worrying: should The Father win Adapted Screenplay (as at the BAFTAs), Mank Cinematography, and anyone other than Frances McDormand Leading Actress, that'd put Nomadland in line for just two Oscars: Best Picture and Director. And that peculiar haul hasn't occurred for 80 years! ASC nominations are here.
Best Cinematography - Feature Film
Erik Messerschmidt (Mank)
Spotlight Award
Aurelien Marra (Two of Us)
Best Cinematography - Documentary
Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw (The Truffle Hunters)