The sights and sounds

Technical categories and the films that might earn nominations in them:

Art direction / Set decoration

Musicals like “Dreamgirls” usually take this award. As do movies billed as art, such as “Babel” and “Marie Antoinette,” or quasi-artsy, such as “The Queen,” “Hollywoodland” and “Bobby.” However, the truth is this lineup is really anti-art since it favors big, commercial productions, albeit ones with stylized flourishes, giving other contenders a chance: “The Prestige,” “World Trade Center,” “The Good German,” “Children of Men,” “The Good Shepherd,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “The Black Dahlia.”

Cinematography

Cynics call this the Best Scenery Award because it favors vast, sprawling epics, so look for “Blood Diamond,” “Apocalypto,” “Curse of the Golden Flower,” “The Painted Veil,” “World Trade Center,” “United 93,” “Catch a Fire,” “The Last King of Scotland,” “Water” and “Flags of Our Fathers.” A little film with a big cinematic sweep such as “Babel” might do well, plus other contenders with a rich palette: “Dreamgirls,” “The Queen,” “Little Children” and “Marie Antoinette.”

Costume design

Voters think frilly, flashy and old are great, so they lose their heads over historic costume dramas, which bodes well for “Marie Antoinette,” as well as another royal, though far less ornate, drama: “The Queen.” Period films in general often nab noms, and there are several this year -- “Bobby,” “Flags of Our Fathers,” “The Good German,” “The Good Shepherd,” “The Illusionist,” “The Prestige,” “Hollywoodland,” “Miss Potter,” “The Painted Veil,” “Curse of the Golden Flower” -- as do lavish musicals (“Dreamgirls”).

Film editing

Typical contenders make viewers feel dizzy with fast, zigzag crosscutting. Among favored 2006 films: “Miami Vice,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “United 93,” “The Prestige,” “Curse of the Golden Flower” and “Children of Men.” Many Oscarologists believe there exists a secret connection between the editing and best picture races since the categories often share three or four nominees and many winners. That bolsters the editing odds of best pic contenders with a frenetic pace such as “Flags of Our Fathers,” “Babel,” “Dreamgirls,” “Bobby,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “The Queen,” “Little Children” “The Departed” and “World Trade Center.”

Makeup

The painted natives in “Apocalypto” and painted divas in “Dreamgirls” may demand attention. The latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” should make a jaunty return: Johnny Depp wore more mascara in both than he did while swishing under wig and cashmere sweaters in “Ed Wood.” Getting Helen Mirren to look like a dead ringer for the cadaverish Elizabeth II in “The Queen” may deserve a bow. Ditto for all the dying boys in “Flags of Our Fathers.” Fantasy epics usually rule (“X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Eragon,” “The Fountain,” “Pan’s Labyrinth”). But there will be room for only three nominees whittled down from seven finalists.

Musical score

Memorable music lingers after “Flags of Our Fathers,” “World Trade Center,” “Bobby,” “Catch a Fire,” “The Last King of Scotland,” “The Queen,” “Hollywoodland,” “The Painted Veil” and “Volver.” Usually, academy perennials get heard in this category, but John Williams isn’t eligible this year. James Horner has two scores: “Apocalypto” and “All the King’s Men.” Hans Zimmer has “The Da Vinci Code.” Thomas Newman could get his eighth bid for “Little Children” and Philip Glass his third for “The Illusionist” or “Notes on a Scandal.”

Song

This race usually includes new songs written for classic musicals. “Dreamgirls” has three: “Listen” (performed by Beyonce Knowles), “Love You I Do” (Jennifer Hudson) and “Patience” (Eddie Murphy, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson). Also count on animation: “Cars” (“Real Gone,” Sheryl Crow); “Happy Feet” (“Song of the Heart,” Prince); “Curious George” (“Upside Down,” Jack Johnson). Films with name crooners: “Flicka” (“My Little Girl,” Tim McGraw); “Casino Royale” (“Casino Royale,” Tina Turner); “Charlotte’s Web” (“Ordinary Miracle,” Sarah McLachlan); “The Pursuit of Happyness” (“A Father’s Way,” Seal). Even documentaries: “An Inconvenient Truth” (“I Need to Wake Up,” Melissa Etheridge).

Sound

Musicals and animated flicks do well, so “Dreamgirls” is a good bet, and “Cars,” “Flushed Away,” “Monster House,” “Happy Feet” and “Ice Age: The Meltdown” will be seriously considered. But the movies that do best in the sound races make the most noise. The boom-bang-kaboom in “Flags of Our Fathers,” “The Departed,” “World Trade Center,” “United 93,” “Mission: Impossible III,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Apocalypto” and “Superman Returns” may get nods.

Sound effects editing

Compared with the other sound category, war and fantasy/animated films often prevail over musicals. But that was under the old rules that allowed only three nominees determined after contenders in this category play their work to voters, instead of a popular vote of the academy’s sound branch. This year, no more bakeoff, so nominees will probably overlap: See films above.

Visual effects

Fantasy and epic size are key, thus benefiting December’s potential blockbuster about a dragon-riding freedom fighter, “Eragon.” Also possible: “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Mission: Impossible III,” “Superman Returns,” “The Fountain,” “World Trade Center” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.” The second “Pirates” may make a swashbuckling return.

Tom O’Neil writes the Gold Derby blog on TheEnvelope.com.