There is always some overlap between the two sound categories. Sound Editing is the creation of foley. Sound Mixing is the recording and mixing of the soundtrack. They are two distinct aspects of sound production, but often if a film does one well it does the other similarly well.

That said, a well-mixed film may not require a lot of sound effect production. A musical, perhaps. A film may require a heavy amount of foley, which usually means the mix is harder to master. An action movie, perhaps. A lot goes into the soundtrack, making it hard sometimes to discern whether the Academy will honor films in both categories, one, or none.

The Nominees – Best Sound Editing:

• Black Panther
• First Man
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout
• A Quiet Place
• A Star is Born

In the Mix:

• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Mary Poppins Returns
• Ready Player One
• Incredibles 2

The Nominees – Best Sound Mixing:

• Black Panther
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• First Man
• A Quiet Place
• A Star is Born

In the Mix:

• Mary Poppins Returns
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout
• Ready Player One
• Incredibles 2

A film like A Quiet Place and First Man rely on sound to make its set pieces work. Both the mix and the edit are crucial in this regard.

Films like Mission: Impossible, Black Panther, Ready Player One, and Incredible 2 are action-oriented picks that need sound to keep the energy up. But Black Panther is the only film on this list with the Oscar bonafides to safely choose for both categories. Mission: Impossible could also make it into both, but I’m more inclined to pick the edit over the record.

Maybe it’s just me, but I found the mix in Mary Poppins to be kind of grating, particularly in the songs. But people are loving that movie, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it popped up in one or both of these categories. This and Bohemian Rhapsody have the musical element that makes them stand out in these categories. But if any music-centric film is getting into both categories, it is A Star is Born. It is a lock for mix, and a strong candidate for editing.

As always, thanks for reading!

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—Alex Brannan (@TheAlexBrannan)