"Lincoln" is barely ahead of "Argo" for best editing (25.97 percent to 25.16 percent of the ballots) and actually trailing on cinematography, production design, costume design and sound mixing.
Potamkin emphasized the primacy of directing in the art of movies, but he also wrote extensively about other aspects of the art — cinematography, production design, music, and movie acting, which he recognized as distinct from theatrical performance.
"Roma," Netflix's first best picture nominee, is also in the running for best leading actress (Yalitza Aparcio), original screenplay (by Cuarón), cinematography, production design, foreign language film, sound editing, sound mixing, and best supporting actress (Marina De Tavira).
He clarifies: "The things we're judging are narrative, cinematography, production value, acting, writing, directing across the board".
The movie also received nods for Original Music, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing and Make Up and Hair.
Mitchell did however laud its cinematography, production design, and musical score, as did the Film Journal Internationals Erica Abeel.
Both pictures won nods in the overall film, British film, director, adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing, production design, makeup and hair, costume, sound and music categories, but it was the heavyweight casts that pushed each production well into double figures.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is nominated for Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Adapted Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design and Sound.
"Melancholia," starring Kirsten Dunst, below, from the Danish director Lars von Trier, was named best picture; it also won awards for cinematography and production design.
The luncheon focuses largely on behind-the-scenes craft including cinematography, sound, production design and editing, saving the top prizes and celebrity power for the Wednesday night event.
