For much of this season, most of us felt like the Oscar for Best Original Score was all but locked for previous winner Justin Hurwitz for Babylon. While it’s true the film’s Oscar campaign never recovered after those lukewarm reviews and disappointing box office, no one could deny Hurwitz had delivered an incredible score that seemed likely to net him his second Academy Award.
Early in the race, Hurwitz expectedly picked up the Golden Globe (his fourth win overall), but, in a strange turn of events, he hasn’t won anything else since. The Society of Composers and Lyricists failed to even nominate Hurwitz and gave their prize to Michael Abels for Nope. Critics’ Choice went with Hildur Guðnadóttir for TÁR, which had been deemed ineligible by the Academy. And BAFTA went with Volker Bertelmann for All Quiet on the Western Front.
All Quiet on the Western Front peaked at just the right time and its seven BAFTA wins and nine Oscar nominations really cemented how heavily many had underestimated the film as a true awards contender (including Netflix). It has all the momentum coming into Oscars voting, while Hurwitz’s Globe win feels like it occurred years ago. There’s something about Bertelmann’s evocative and unsettling score that’s hard to ignore. It perfectly complements the hellish scenes of war and genuinely rattled the cinema for those of us lucky enough to see this masterpiece on the big screen.
It’s a tight race and Hurtwitz could still pull this off. Hell, one could even make an argument for Bertelmann and Hurtwitz splitting the votes and John Williams picks up his first win since Schindler’s List in 1994. Or the Everything Everywhere All at Once sweep could be so strong that it takes Son Lux along with it. But I’m sticking with the war epic here.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS:
1. All Quiet on the Western Front – Volker Bertelmann (Netflix) – BAFTA
2. Babylon – Justin Hurwitz (Paramount Pictures) – BAFTA, GG, CCA
3. The Fabelmans – John Williams (Universal Pictures) – GG, CCA, HMMA
4. The Banshees of Inisherin – Carter Burwell (Searchlight Pictures) – BAFTA, GG, HMMA
5. Everything Everywhere All At Once (A24) – Son Lux – BAFTA, HMMA, SCL
Will win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Should win: Babylon
Possible shocker: Everything Everywhere All at Once
