I’m a big fan of film scores. Yes, I’m that nerdy. No, I don’t mean that I enjoy listening to the Star Wars soundtrack on my iPod. It’s not an album, it’s a film score. It was written and arranged to accompany a movie, and in most cases should be experienced that way. What I do enjoy, however, is dissecting and analyzing the cues and motifs, subtle and otherwise, that a composer weaves into the fabric of the film. Most of my favorite movies are ones that I have been able to go back and watch again, able to appreciate the music and focus less on the plot.
The score makes or breaks the movie. Have you ever watched a rough cut? It feels more like a loose collection of detached, emotionless skits than a coherent, immersing experience. I’ve seen some decent movies ruined by horrible scores, and I’ve seen some mediocre movies heightened by a great soundtrack.
So it may come by no surprise that my favorite Oscar category is Best Original Score. In case you’re a normal person and don’t know who’s up this year, the nominees are:
- How to Train Your Dragon by John Powell
- Inception by Hans Zimmer
- The King’s Speech by Alexandre Desplat
- 127 Hours by A.R. Rahman
- The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Before I continue, I must say one thing:
It is outrageous that Tron: Legacy was not nominated for Best Original Score. —Me
Aside from that glaring blunder, all of the scores are superb. Having watched all of these movies at least once, I think 2010 was a much stronger year than 2009 was in this category. So to help you get up to speed, I now present them to you, along with my predictions (I recommend watching these on YouTube at 720p, for best sound quality, but here they are embedded for convenience):
127 Hours—Liberation in a Dream
I enjoyed the different genres Rahman was able to incorporate into this score. However, it is still probably the weakest contender of the bunch. Remember Slumdog Millionaire? Rahman took home two well-deserved Academy Awards for that one. Despite its versatility, I don’t think this score lives up to Slumdog. Rahman did, however, write a stand-out piece that is up for Best Original Song. It really is part of the score, but now that it’s been separated out to compete in its own category, the rest of the soundtrack is left looking a little bare.
Inception—Time
The Inception score was built on layers and textures instead of melodies and hooks, an apt methodology considering the movie’s plot. Zimmer also built some time-twisting trickery into the the countdown. This is easily one of my favorite soundtracks (and movies) of all time. Its only possible flaw is that it doesn’t have clear motifs for any of the individual characters, though this is actually by design. One might argue that this somewhat dampens the bond between Cobb and Mal, or at least prevents it from building into something greater, but I think the style draws out the opacity of their relationship, painting layers of complexity instead of a simple love story.
The King’s Speech—Title Track
The delicate piano melody and soft strings underscore the picturesque style of this film, a feast of early 20th century elegance. No brash brass here. With sublime restraint, the score slowly builds to a wonderful climax. On the other hand, the main character left his comfort zone to take a great risk, and it would have been nice if Desplat had played it a little less safe, even if just for a moment or two.
How to Train Your Dragon—Forbidden Friendship
You probably haven’t seen this if you don’t have a kid, but you should. You watched Toy Story 3, didn’t you? Well, this movie is funnier, and has a stellar score to boot. Powell uses the instruments of the northern countries to achieve a dramatic, almost epic feel.
The Social Network—A Familiar Taste
Reznor managed to mold an organic sound out of many of the synths he used in this score. The edge of the synths also brought an air of excitement to the film, seeming to mirror the story of innovation in the film itself.
Predictions
Of course, any of these could win. But only one will. I’ve already ruled out 127 hours. Although it’s my personal favorite, I’m going to eliminate How to Train Your Dragon as well, because there’s simply no buzz behind it almost a year later. Inception was a summer blockbuster that’s been repeatedly passed over. I think everyone’s just tired of talking and hearing about it. The most support right now seems to be behind The Social Network and The King’s Speech. The Social Network was a little more innovative, so I’m betting the Oscar will go to Reznor.
If these were the Ryans, the order would be:
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Inception
- Tron: Legacy
- The Social Network
- The King’s Speech
- 127 Hours
I’m not much for the Best Original Song category. “Coming Home” from Country Strong was actually quite weak. “We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3 was made in similar cookie cutter fashion. “I See the Light” from Tangled will win, and it probably really is the best song. But best doesn’t always mean favorite, and this year, I like “If I Rise” by A.R. Rahman, sung by Dido.
