Oscar Predictions: Original Score and Original Song

One of the biggest contributing factors in movies is the music. In fact it's one of the only things that kept me awake while watching Avatar. This year however I think it's easy to say what the inevitable winner will be. James Horner did a nice job of musically portraying Avatar, but it just felt too much like Titanic. Hans Zimmer (Sherlock Holmes) gave us exemplary work as per usual. Alexandre Desplat will get a win someday, but it will probably for something better known than Fantastic Mr. Fox, like maybe his score for this year's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Sorry. I couldn't resist). As for Marco Beltrami (The Hurt Locker), just go.The clear winner in the race is obviously Michael Giacchino for Up. Giacchino could have been nominated for any of his scores, but Up was his true master stroke. The main theme itself evolves throughout the film from a simple piano melody to a full scale orchestral tribute. At times it felt as if the characters were actually being driven by the music playing. The film wouldn't be as touching as it is if Michael Giacchino hadn't done the score.

This year the Academy has decided not to play the songs nominated in the original song category during the broadcast, which I believe is a great decision on their part. That's not only because it will shorten the lengthy show, but because most of the songs nominated are uninteresting. I was worried that they wouldn't have this category at all, and the only reason I was worried was because of The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart. I don't have enough motivation to go through the other nominees, but as Daniel Plainview once said "When it comes to the showdown they won't be there". The Weary Kind captures what Falling Slowly had two years ago.