Categories One-by-One: Cinematography

[Mister Tee]

The nominees:

Judas & the Black Messiah (Sean Bobbitt)
Mank (Erik Messerschmidt)
News of the World (Darius Wolski)
Nomadland (Joshua James Richards)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Phedon Papamichael)

Sometimes you just have to say, this is simple. No one can figure what Papamichael is doing on the list. Most people are glad Bobbitt finally has a nomination. People can find News of the World blandly-traditional, or question the look of Mank. But none of it matters: Nomadland is as much a cinematographer's movie as it is a director's, with arresting images throughout, and so much Magic Hour shooting we ought to consider retiring the trophy. Joshua James Richards by acclamation.