It’s an odd situation for Best Original Score where the winner of both the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice Awards (plus over 25 critics group wins) isn’t nominated at the Oscars. I’m still stumped as to how Challengers missed a nod in this category, but we must move on. Without those two typically key precursors to help predict what the Academy will do, it’s looking like this is Daniel Blumberg’s to lose.
Blumberg picked up wins from BAFTA and the Society of Composers and Lyricists for his expansive score for The Brutalist and that gives him the edge over everyone else. The BAFTA win was particularly telling, given Conclave did so well there and you would have expected to see Volker Bertelmann get taken along for the ride.
If Conclave performs better than expected, you could see Bertelmann take this one. He’s a previous winner of this category for All Quiet on the Western Front in 2022 and his score is integral to the construction of Conclave. But the fact he hasn’t won anywhere else this season is hard to ignore. Blumberg has his nose just in front and that’s where I lay my bet.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS:
1. The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg (A24) – BAFTA, CCA, GG, SCL
2. Conclave – Volker Bertelmann (Focus Features) – BAFTA, CCA, GG, HMMA, SCL
3. The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers (Universal Pictures) – BAFTA, CCA, GG, HMMA (animated), SCL
4. Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol (Netflix) – BAFTA, CCA, GG, HMMA (feature), SCL
5. Wicked – John Powell, Stephen Schwartz (Universal Pictures) – SCL
Will win: The Brutalist
Should win: Challengers…oh, wait…
Possible shocker: Emilia Pérez