Agreed. The production design on TFE was remarkable from beginning to end. Hell, I even thought Zorg's haircut and strange plastic half-dome were perfect for the character even though it was a very strange blend of elements. I also loved Ruby Rhod's OTT outfit and bizarro haircut, which perfectly complemented Chris Tucker's performance. I'm surprised that it wasn't even nominated for Best Costume Design that year, though Sci-Fi films are always on the Academy's shit list. (Titanic won, by the way.)

All of the films in contention that year were period pieces, which kind of blows my mind because the filmmakers have almost unlimited references with which to create costumes for period films. Futuristic or imaginative films like TFE, though, have to create their own design language and do so cohesively so that the costumes fit into the aesthetic of the film, don't look cheesy or cheap, and don't distract from the actor's performance. That's a damn tough thing to do.

That said, two Sci-Fi films DID compete for "best art direction" in that same year, but lost--as did just about every other film in every other category--to Titanic. They were Gattaca, which didn't really do anything for me in that regard, and Men in Black, which had very strong design throughout. At least Sci-Fi was represented even if Titanic brushed its representatives aside.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/oscar/chart/?view=allcategories&yr=1997&p=.htm

@AlienFanatic: I totally agree with you, but I think in the last few years ScFi movies are doing better at the Oscars.

In 2009, District 9 was not only nominated for not only the script, but also for Best Picture. That same year, Star Trek was nominated for 4 Oscars and won for Best Makeup!

In the art direction category this year, Passengers was nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Soundtrack, which they should have won.

I better stop here before I start boring you silly with all of this.

That's what happens when fashion's enfant terrible Jean Paul Gaultier does your costuming.