The final shortlist the Academy has released this year features the films eligible for three nominations in the Best Makeup and Hairstyling category.

Based solely on past history, the films most likely to earn nominations are A Man Called Ove (the foreign lingo entry, think Il Divo, La Vie en Rose, and The 100-Year-Old Man); Star Trek Beyond (even the makeup-lite Star Trek Into Darkness was nominated); and Suicide Squad (nominee for most and most noticeable makeup effects). Deadpool could also make a play for a nomination, but the other three are mostly achievements in non-prosthetic makeup and hairstyling, which has always gotten short shrift with the Academy.

The only surprise omission to me is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, though it might have been disqualified under The Hours rule…as in touched-up makeup effects using CGI.

7 FEATURES ADVANCE IN RACE FOR MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING OSCAR®

LOS ANGELES, CA –The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that seven films remain in competition in the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 89th Academy Awards®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

“Deadpool”
“The Dressmaker”
“Florence Foster Jenkins”
“Hail, Caesar!”
“A Man Called Ove”
“Star Trek Beyond”
“Suicide Squad”

On Saturday, January 7, 2017, all members of the Academy’s Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

Nominations for the 89th Oscars® will be announced on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

The 89th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.