Oscar-nomics: Best Original Score Prediction

This category is one I rarely get upset with, cause I am a sucker for a good musical score. Like the Social Network and Slumdog Millionaire or even the Bourne Ultimatum, Scores always work their ways and sometime can make or break a film for me. This years list of nominees are all strong, but I think that even though they won last year, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' score for Dragon Tattoo I thought helped added to the level of intensity as well as creepiness Fincher tried to draw from both them and the cinematography. Also, I thought Alexandre Desplat's score for Tree of Life was amazing, but it was deemed ineligible. Oh well, lets take a look at the nominees shall we:

War Horse: John Williams

I find it a little astounding that this is his first nomination since Memoirs of a Geisha back in '06, but he makes up for it by being a double nominee. This nomination I saw coming from a mile away, it has everything the Academy looks for in a Score. It has a sense of grandeur, its powerful and it definitely adds to the scene at hand. Its a standout for sure, and probably would've won in another year. However the film, while a best picture contender, has not had the kind of momentum to really drive itself into winning many awards, and I see this film coming up short.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Alberto Iglesias

Now talk about a nominee out of left field. Granted, I am thrilled to see it here, thriller/espionage films don't often get this kind of recognition, which is a shame. The score is rather terrific, its subtle in every scene, it plays well into said scene and it never overstays its welcome. Personally, I am glad this was able to sneak in, even if some other more awards established films that I liked were knocked off. Still, as great as it is to see it here, I consider it the longest of long-shots here. It hardly gathered any awards momentum and it isn't a Best Picture contender, so this is where the nomination is the reward, still kudos for that.

The Adventures of Tintin: John Williams

This is my personal favorite of the dual nominations of Mr. Williams. It, along with a little help from the brilliant sound team (which they themselves were rudely ignored) aided in providing us with a sense of wonder and amazement with every scene unfolding before us. Whether it was watching the fights unfold, traveling to far and distant lands, or simply enjoying a day out shopping, the music always added that little extra something that I frequently enjoyed. Still, as much as I enjoyed this I am afraid this also is not helped by not having a Best Picture nomination, or an Animated nomination either. In fact, being the only nomination of the film itself, I consider this film to be in last place, sadly. If the academy are wanting to award Williams for his work, which I still doubt will happen, it will likely go to War Horse instead. Still, another great score to see in this list.

Hugo: Howard Shore

Personally, this might be my favorite of the list. Its playful, energetic, always plays to the scene, but becomes sort of its own entity when it comes to the scene at hand. For example, this song I picked helps us explores the mind of the legendary Georges Melies through his films. I would pick this to win, and honestly with all of the things going for it the score definitely stands a shot. Unfortunately I see it coming up short come Oscar night to a score that, well, carried the film in some respects.

The Artist: Ludovic Bource

Now, hear me out about what I said. In the silent era, music in the film was crucial cause it spoke for the characters. It helped move the movie along and not give away what the film truly is: a silent film. Without the score, many would not want to watch a film solely based on the motions being shown on the screen. So, with that being said, Scores in silent films are crucial, and without Ludovic Bource's wonderful score, it wouldn't be what it is today. I enjoyed this film because of the Score (also for Dujardin and Hazanavicius's direction, but that's for another time). The Score is playful, yet also powerful. It plays to the scene, as any silent film score would, and definitely adds its own two cents to the scene. While I want to see Hugo win this, I think the Artist not only should win this, but needs to. If it doesn't, then we might be in for a train wreck of an evening for the film. I mean, truth be told, its really the story teller here. It helps us understand what the actors are trying to portray in the scene without a single word of dialogue, and it works on all levels. This is your winner.

Winner: The Artist
Runner-up: Hugo

Should Win: The Artist (for what it is to the film, I think it should win, even though I enjoyed Hugo's more)
Should've Been Nominated: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo