Original Score is one of the most interesting categories year in and year out, with the list of films that were disqualified being almost as good of a list as the nominees. This year was not only a great year for film but film music, with the 5 nominees beating out many worthy adversaries to make it in the Oscar lineup.
The nominees are:
Anna Karenina – Dario Marinelli
Argo – Alexandre Desalt
Life of Pi – Mychael Danna
Lincoln – John Williams
Skyfall – Thomas Newman
Anna Karenina – Dario Marinelli
One should NEVER underestimate a heavy string based score in this category and given Marinelli’s stature as a previous winner, he’s very much a threat to win this. The score is incredibly moving and his score gets some standout scenes, you can’t listen to this score and not think of the sweeping cinematography or the shifting sets. However, the reception to Anna Karenina was not the greatest and his score for Atonement is far superior to this effort, so I don’t think Marinelli takes it this year.
Best Track: Dance with Me
Argo – Alexandre Desplat
This is clearly one of those nominations that comes along with the general good will of a film. I mean when you consider Desplat’s work this year that didn’t make it like Zero Dark Thirty, Rise of the Guardians, Moonrise, etc, this nomination pales in comparison. But the score, much like the film, has this kind of old Hollywood movie making feel to it, and though it gets a bit sappy near the end, it’s still filled with a lot of tension. Argo also has the winning momentum now and Desplat is so well regarded he very well could upset.
Best Track: Breaking Through the Gates
Life of Pi – Mychael Danna
Quietly, Mychael Danna has been steamrolling the competition on his way to being the Oscar front runner. Danna’s score is traditional enough to appease everyone but with just the write hint of world music, it soars. Plus, this score is incredibly evocative, making you contemplate quitting your existence in one moment and uplifting you in the next.
Best Track: God Storm
Lincoln – John Williams
John Williams eschewed his normal showiness and delivered his finest score in years. The music to Lincoln is really subtle (so subtle I barely remember it) but it sweeps you up when it needs to. The Lincoln camp could have made a bigger deal about this possibly being Williams’ last score but luckily they just let the work speak for itself. I don’t see it winning unless there’s a vote split with Pi and Argo.
Best Track: The Peterson House and Finale
Skyfall – Thomas Newman
The score for Skyfall is one of the bigger surprises on Oscar nomination morning. Usually scores drag in Original Songs (a la Life of Pi), but I truly think all the focus on Adele’s song for this film brought the score along with it. That and the fact that Newman has been nominated so many times. I think it’s strange they would nominate him when he doesn’t really stand a chance at winning and is 0-11, why add insult to injury?
Best Track: Silhouette
If I had a Vote: Life of Pi
Prediction: That Original Song nomination spoke to some broader support for Life of Pi, so I’m sticking with it by the slimmest of margins over Desplat riding that Argo train.
Snubs: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Cloud Atlas (*weeps loudly*), The Impossible, Looper, Sinister
UBourgeois
February 12, 2013 at 12:32 pm
I dunno about Argo “paling” in comparison to the rest of Desplat’s work this year… I’m not familiar with the Guardians score, but I prefer it to ZDT or Moonrise (Moonrise isn’t eligible, anyway).
I am glad that the two most likely winners here are what I’d consider the best in the set here, with Anna Karenina coming in at a very close third. Sad that Cloud Atlas, Beasts, and The Master (no snub mention?) didn’t make it in, as in my eyes those are the best of the year,
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Terence Johnson
February 12, 2013 at 3:49 pm
The reason I think it pales is because I literally had to go to iTunes to listen to samples because I could not for the life of me remember a single song from the score nor pick a best track. After listening to it however, it’s still a nimble score, just like it less than Desplat’s others
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missionstatement1224
February 12, 2013 at 8:58 pm
I preferred Argo’s score to that of Zero Dark Thirty as well. I didn’t even notice a score in the latter film until the raid…but I think Moonrise Kingdom is his best one this year.
With Life of Pi, I thought basically the entire film was mediocre (minus Richard Parker), so the score didn’t really do it for me.
Lincoln’s was alright, but I barely even remember it. Very subtle, which isn’t what you expect from John Williams.
Haven’t seen Anna Karenina yet, but I love Marinelli’s past work.
Skyfall was good, not great, but can’t really complain there.
Definitely agree on the snubs for Cloud Atlas and The Impossible (my first and third favorite scores of the year; Moonrise is second).
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Caddie
February 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
I really loved the Anna Karenina score too. It was such a perfect match for the costumes, production design and cinematography that I just felt pure delight.
I also really liked Moonrise Kingdom and Cloud Atlas. The final nominees are all worthy and I wish them well.
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slater
February 12, 2013 at 12:39 pm
i’d still go for Lincoln here. Pi is great at moments but gets a bit dull at times or monotonous, where Lincoln is kind of always lingering, varying slightly, enhancing the scenes – not to mention a few fun country/bluegrass type numbers for variety. Pi will probably win though. Depends on which movie the academy wants to give the most consolation prizes to for losing BP to Argo (which i still don’t get)
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moviewatcher
February 12, 2013 at 1:32 pm
[insert rant over Cloud Atlas's snub in this category which it totally should have won]
*sigh*
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JamDenTel
February 12, 2013 at 1:50 pm
I maintain that The Master was robbed here, and Cloud Atlas at the very least deserved a nomination.
But what’s worst is that none of these scores are THAT great. I’ll go with Skyfall, but really, I wouldn’t nominate any of these.
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Will
February 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm
If I had a vote, it would be Skyfall. Great score and the standout track is definitely Quartermaster. Thomas Newman should have won at least twice by now, it’s ridiculous a composer as unique as him working in the mainstream hasn’t gotten recognition yet. Life of Pi also has a spectacular score and will probably win.
I agree that Argo is the least deserving of Desplat’s work this year. Zero Dark Thirty is a brilliant score and Moonrise is just as deserving. I’m glad Desplat is getting some recognition, but the love for Argo spilled over here too much.
Really wish The Master and Cloud Atlas could have gotten in as well as Cliff Martinez’s beautifully atmospheric score for Arbitrage. The best part of Beasts, by far, is the score and I’m shocked it isn’t nominated here given its obvious support.
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Terence Johnson
February 12, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Eeek I totally forgot about The Master’s score here. So many scores were swirling around in my brain that Greenwood’s got overlooked (kind of like how the Academy did)
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Josh P.
February 12, 2013 at 5:07 pm
To be honest, I wasn’t terribly impressed with any of these scores. None of them would have made my personal ballot. “Cloud Atlas” should have definitely been nominated and won in this category. I also think “The Master”, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and “The Dark Knight Rises” should have gotten nods too. But I think “Life of Pi” is going to win this. Among these nominees, I’d choose “Skyfall”, though “Life of Pi” would be a close second.
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George
February 13, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Skyfall should definitely win, unless some strange Argo sweep occurs I think Skyfall has a really good shot. It’s unique and modern and Newman is a god among composers.
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Sam
February 15, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Life of Pi has the best score and it should win.
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