Typically, the movie that wins this award goes on to win Best Picture. There are exceptions to this rule, like last years The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which failed to even be nominated for Best Picture. Since the category for Best Picture is unclear at the moment, I say that whoever wins this has an instant boost at their chances for the big award.

Our first nominee is Argo, edited by William Goldenberg. He is receiving his third and fourth nomination in this category for Argo and Zero Dark Thirty, previously receiving nominations for The Insider and Seabiscuit. As they showed us last year, the Academy tends to vote for movies with flashier editing, which gives Goldenberg a fighting chance to win for either of his two films. I think Argo has the best chances, seeing as how not only is it the bigger Best Picture frontrunner, but that the intense but quickly timed editing is simply the best of the year.

The next nominee is Life Of Pi, edited by Tim Squyres. This is his second nomination, the first being for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Now, I am in love with the film, I can’t bring myself to praise the editing as much as Argo. Ang Lee’s films are not exactly known for having the best editing, and while I think that the movie’s slow beginning works to its advantage, I can see where they’re coming from. The only reason I would imagine Life Of Pi taking home the gold is if the Academy really wants to reward this movie…Please, God?

And then you’ve got Lincoln, edited by Michael Kahn, who won this award thrice for Raider’s Of The Lost Ark, Schindler’s List, and Saving Private Ryan. However, all three of those movies were much more intense than Lincoln. Still, If the Academy really loves the movie, they might work up the courage to award Lincoln. But, I don’t think that’s going to happen, as any cut away from Daniel Day Lewis is a bad edit in my book.

But it stands a better chance than Silver Linings Playbook, edited by Jay Cassidy, (previously nominated for Into The Wild) and Crispin Struthers. (who earns his first nomination.) Comedies don’t win in this category. They just don’t. The movie is only here because it’s a Best Picture Contender, but they could just as easily have nominated Beasts Of The Southern Wild or Skyfall. Just don’t place your bets on it, okay?

The last nominee is Zero Dark Thirty, edited by the aforementioned William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor, who was previously nominated for There Will Be Blood. The editing in this movie is very good and intense, but it doesn’t give you any room to breathe. Argo does its job a little better, using slow moments to off-put the more exciting moments. But if anyone can steal, it’s this movie.

Will Win: Argo
Runner’s Up: Zero Dark Thirty
Should Win: Argo