Ranking the Oscar Nominees/Personal Nominees: Best Sound Editing/Mixing

Sound Editing - 

(1) Oscar nominees

5. La La Land

I mean, the sound editing is fine, just fine, but it's really more of a 'mixing' thing so to speak, based on my limited knowledge of the craft. Still, fine work in that regard. 

4. Sully

Really gives you a sense of the main event, which is of course the landing on the Hudson river, the visuals are deftly realized of course but the sound editing is what really draws you in and immerses you in the intensity of the moment. Everything else about the sound editing is solid, too. 

3. Deepwater Horizon

Peter Berg, though by no means a perfect filmmaker, really has a knack for throwing the viewer into chaotic, disastrous scenarios. The work here by Wylie Stateman (who also worked on the fantastic Lone Survivor) and Renée Tondelli is superb in bringing out the horror of the real-life disaster while also making it coherent to the viewer, and not just a large mass of noises. 

2. Arrival

Beautiful work to be sure, One scene that particularly sticks in my mind due to the excellent sound editing is that first helicopter scene where Louise is introduced to Ian. The sound work done in that particular scene is so subtle and one wouldn't necessarily pick up on it, so I commend the utter thoroughness of the sound editing team in making each sound in Arrival resonate as strongly as the visuals. 

1. Hacksaw Ridge

Mel Gibson films, regardless of your subjective opinions on them, are always beautiful sounding. In terms of sound editing, this is the best of any of his films yet. Robert Mackenzie and Andy Wright make each war scene ring so strongly in your ears, each bullet fired and flamethrower burning and terrified scream haunts your ears in between these sequences.

(2) Personal Nominees

5. Train to Busan

In many ways a very by-the-books zombie movie, the film nevertheless has stuck with me as much it does for its technical brilliance on almost all levels, with the sound editing in particular being something extremely commendable. I wouldn't even say the effects for the zombies are all that innovative, but the expert blend of terrifying sounds, silence, that adds so much tension to each sequence whether it be a zombie chase, a confrontation between passengers on a stranded train, or that unbearably terrifying finale, is superb.  

4. Deepwater Horizon

3. Arrival

2. Silence

Spellbinding work, and a damned shame it wasn't nominated. It's funny that a film called Silence excels so much in the sound department, and the sound editing makes those 'quiet' moments really stand out, particularly in scenes which are dialogue-free or ata certain distance from the 'main event'. The unforgettable buildup to the opening title, Garrupe's attempted rescue of the villagers, the crucifixion scene, and the ending are all amplified by subtle but all-round excellent sound editing that makes even the most minute sounds resonate so beautifully.

1. Hacksaw Ridge

1. Hacksaw Ridge
2. Silence
3. Arrival
4. Deepwater Horizon
5. Train to Busan
6. The Witch
7. Sully
8. La La Land
9. Rogue One
10. Allied

Sound Mixing

(1) Oscar Nominees

5. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

I actually watched this last year in cinemas, but have completely forgotten about it. I remember the sound mixing was a good aspect of the film though.

4. Rogue One

As per a Star Wars (and Gareth Edwards film), it's to be expected that the sound mixing is very much on point. The fact that this time round, the film's score was (in my opinion) one of its lacking points made it all the more crucial. There's no lightsaber 'broom broom'-ing outside of that fantastic second Vader scene, but the usual explosions, gunshots, blasters, collisions all have a particularly heads-on, gritty feel that suits the film's tone perfectly. 

3. La La Land

Beautiful work to be sure, even though I don't think it's exactly perfect. The opening sequence, in particular, I felt was a bit oddly mixed. Now that's a nitpick since when the sound mixing is on point, it really is perfection. That ending epilogue in particular would not work as well without the magnificent sound mixing. 

2. Hacksaw Ridge

You can hear dialogue and feel its power over the ruckus of each war scene which is always an impressive feat in itself, Then you have moments where the score (more on that later) kicks in and fits so perfectly with the battlefield sounds, that's terrific sound mixing there. Again, the final montage of victory in the film feels so beautifully conceived in part because of how the score, the noises, and the visuals are all enhanced by how it all fits in together.

1. Arrival

I would probably give this first place based entirely on the opening and ending of the film alone. The sound mixing in both scenes just makes each moment so beautifully conceived, and I haven't even gotten onto all the alien translation scenes and that crucial 'contact the Chinese' scene, all which merge the film's soundtrack, background sounds, and dialogue into such a compelling mix. 

(2) Personal Nominees

5. Rogue One

4. La La Land

3. Hacksaw Ridge

2. Arrival

1. Silence

The 'moment' in the film is an amazing and profound moment, and takes a massive risk with the sound mixing. Really, the whole film's sound mixing is kind of on a limb because of how minimalist and yet stylized it is, but it never feels too little or too much, it feels just right. The flashback sequences in particular feel so distinctly different in its 'silence' and blend of sounds to the 'present' sequences, and the sound mixing also helps to so eloquently convey Rodrigues relationship with God without necessarily needing any direct dialogue, well until that 'moment' of course which is incredibly constructed in terms of sound. 

1. Silence
2. Arrival
3. Hacksaw Ridge
4. La La Land
5. Rogue One
6. Train to Busan
7. Green Room
8. Sing Street
9. Doctor Strange
10. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them