With the unveiling of the Academy’s shortlists, we now know the final 20 films in contention for Best Original Score. While there weren’t any huge snubs to speak of, it was no doubt stinging for Searchlight Pictures to see its original musical The Testament of Ann Lee missing in favour of some rather, uh, interesting choices like Captain America: Brave New World, Diane Warren: Relentless, and whatever Truth & Treason is.
The Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards agreed on the four nominees in Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, and Sinners. All four also scored nods with the Society of Composers & Lyricists and at the Hollywood Music in Media awards, so I think it’s safe to call them all fairly solid locks.
That leaves the final spot open to numerous contenders. After Sirāt overperformed with the Academy’s shortlists mentions, it’s entirely plausible its score gets recognised. Likewise with Wicked: For Good, in a repeat of last year’s somewhat surprise nomination for Stephen Schwartz and John Powell. But, for this month, I’m going with perennial favourite Hans Zimmer (F1).
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS:
1. Sinners – Ludwig Göransson (Warner Bros.) – CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL
2. One Battle After Another – Johnny Greenwood (Warner Bros.) – CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL
3. Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat (Netflix) – CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL
4. Hamnet – Max Richter (Focus Features) – CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL
5. F1 – Hans Zimmer (Apple Original Films) – GG, HMMA (main)
IN CONTENTION
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Simon Franglen (20th Century Studios) – HMMA (sci-fi)
Bugonia – Jerskin Fendrix (Focus Features) – HMMA (main), SCL
Captain America: Brave New World – Laura Karpman (Disney)
Diane Warren: Relentless – Lesley Barber (Greenwich Entertainment)
Hedda – Hildur Guðnadóttir (Amazon MGM Studios)
A House of Dynamite – Volker Bertelmann (Netflix) – HMMA (main)
Jay Kelly – Nicholas Britell (Netflix)
Marty Supreme – Daniel Lopatin (A24) – CCA, HMMA (main)
Nuremberg – Brian Tyler (Sony Pictures Classics)
Sirāt – Kangding Ray (NEON) – GG
Train Dreams – Bryce Dessner (Netflix) – SGL
Tron: Ares – Nine Inch Nails (Walt Disney)
Truth & Treason – Aaron Zigman (Angel Studios)
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – Nathan Johnson (Netflix)
Wicked: For Good – Stephen Schwartz, John Powell (Universal Pictures) – HMMA (main), SCL
