I’ve been watching the Oscars since I was 14 years old. I used the list of Music nominees to educate myself on film music. So I have a lot invested in these particular awards. Perhaps this year’s Oscar nominations for Music will spark a lifelong love in some young 14-year-old…
BEST SONG
- “Man or Muppet” from THE MUPPETS—Bret McKenzie
- “Real In Rio” from RIO—Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett
After all these years and the many idiosyncracies of the AMPAS Music Branch, I didn’t think it was possible for me to be shocked anymore. But when I first read the Song category on Oscar.com, I couldn’t believe it. I thought there had to be a mistake. Only TWO nominees?! I quickly went to other sites to verify that I wasn’t seeing things. Yup, only two nominees. In the numerous rule changes over the last few years, they’d always threatened that it could be as few as two and as many as the normal five nominees in the category. I just never thought I’d see two, much less missing the predicted winner (the rousing production number “Life’s a Happy Song” from THE MUPPETS).
Missing are expected nominees like the beautiful ballad “Lay Your Head Down” from ALBERT NOBBS and “The Living Proof” from THE HELP, co-written by Thomas Newman and Mary J. Blige. The nominating trend over the past few years, and this year in particular, is sending a clear message to songwriters and filmmakers—If you want a song nominated for an Oscar, it damn well better be part of the film and not a thrown onto the end titles scroll as audiences are leaving the theater.
As for the nominees themselves, “Man or Muppet” is a particularly funny sequence during THE MUPPETS, though it doesn’t strike me as a stand-alone classic. But, hell, neither was Randy Newman’s phone-it-in winner last year from TOY STORY 3.
Then again, RIO is a big, splashy production number in the animated film that starts the film off with a colorful bang of Brazilian pop, with a melody that becomes integral to John Powell’s score. Having a trio of music powerhouses as songwriters won’t hurt its chances either.
Prediction: “Real In Rio,” strictly because of its bigger box office and the chance to give Sergio Mendes an Oscar. (Hey, it worked with Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Melissa Ethridge, and many others.)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
- THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN—John Williams
- THE ARTIST—Ludovic Bource
- HUGO—Howard Shore
- TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY—Alberto Iglesias
- WAR HORSE—John Williams
Here, we see a return to the heyday of John Williams double nominations. While I wasn’t a particular fan of TINTIN, the score or especially the film (which didn’t even get a nomination for Best Animated Film), I won’t deny any love shown for Williams (though TINTIN takes a spot that rightfully should have gone to Alexandre Desplat). Williams’ action writing in TINTIN is, as always, colorful and superb, and WAR HORSE is one of his most mature works. In most years, the two nominations cancel each other out and they will do so again this year. (The only time Williams has won during a double nominations year was in 1977 for STAR WARS, when he was also nominated for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. I don’t count the E.T. win as a double nomination, since the second nomination came in the Best Song category for “If We Were In Love” from the long-forgotten YES, GIORGIO.) With all the deserved love being shown THE ARTIST, just take these 46th and 47th nominations as equally deserved recognition for the Maestro.
HUGO goes into the awards with the most nominations of any film (11, as opposed to THE ARTIST’s 10). Martin Scorcese’s loving shout out for film preservation waltzes beautifully onscreen thanks in no small part to Howard Shore’s superb score. A well-deserved nomination that will hopefully remind people that there is more to Shore than just LORD OF THE RINGS.
Alberto Iglesias’ TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY just missed making my Top 10 list, but I’m thrilled that the Music Branch honored his moody, atmosphere score. With echoes of Jerry Goldsmith’s CHINATOWN, it’s a chilly evocation of John Le Carré’s Cold War spy story.
As for THE ARTIST, I’ve been trumpeting Ludovic Bource’s score for months now. I’m running out of adjectives and superlatives to heap on this marvelous work. See it, hear it, and enjoy.
Prediction: The Artist, hands down. Nothing else stands a chance.
What do you think? What are the highlights and snubs of this year’s music nominees?
