With the unveiling of the Academy’s shortlists, we now know the final 15 films in contention for Best Original Score. While we’ve known for some time the Academy had ruled Hans Zimmer’s score for Dune: Part Two was ineligible, its omission from the shortlist made it 100% official and leaves this race feeling quite open for anyone to win.
The Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards agreed on the same five nominees in Conclave, Emilia Pérez, The Wild Robot, The Brutalist, and Challengers. All five made it onto the Academy’s shortlist. Challengers was the only one to miss with the Society of Composers and Lyricists (they went with Gladiator II). Does this mean the nomination race is already over?
Look, it’s hard to make a case for anyone outside those core five. Maybe Wicked if the film overperforms. Likewise with Nosferatu or Sing Sing. Perhaps they’ll feel sorry for Zimmer and acknowledge his score for Blitz instead. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS:
1. Conclave – Volker Bertelmann (Focus Features) – CCA, GG, HMMA, SCL
2. The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg (A24) – CCA, GG, SCL
3. Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol (Netflix) – CCA, GG, HMMA (feature), SCL
4. The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers (Universal Pictures) – CCA, GG, HMMA (animated), SCL
5. Challengers – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Amazon MGM Studios) – CCA, GG, HMMA
IN CONTENTION
Alien: Romulus – Benjamin Wallfisch (20th Century Studios)
Babygirl – Cristobal Tapia de Veer (A24)
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – Danny Elfman (Warner Bros)
Blink Twice – Chanda Dancy (Amazon MGM Studios)
Blitz – Hans Zimmer (Apple Original Films)
The Fire Inside – Tamar-kali (Amazon MGM Studios)
Gladiator II – Harry Gregson-Williams (Paramount Pictures) – HMMA, SCL
Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 – John Debney (Warner Bros) – HMMA
Inside Out 2 – Andrea Datzman (Walt Disney Studios) – HMMA
Nosferatu – Robin Carolan (Focus Features) – HMMA (horror/thriller)
The Room Next Door – Alberto Iglesias (Sony Pictures Classics) – HMMA (independent)
Sing Sing – Bryce Dessner (A24)
The Six Triple Eight – Aaron Zigman (Netflix) – HMMA
Wicked – John Powell, Stephen Schwartz (Universal Pictures) – SCL
Young Woman and the Sea – Amelia Warner (Walt Disney Pictures)