34 Comments

1. 1
   

   Ross says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7:54am

   My original score predictions:

   JAMES HORNER – AVATAR
   THOMAS NEWMAN – BROTHERS
   ALEXANDRE DESPLAT – THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX
   ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL – PUBLIC ENEMIES
   MICHAEL GIACCHINO – UP

   My original song predictions:

   ALL IS LOVE – Where the Wild Things Are
   ALMOST THERE – The Princess and the Frog
   DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS – The Princess and the Frog
   TAKE IT ALL – Nine
   THE WEARY KIND – Crazy Heart

   I can’t believe people are predicting Cinema Italiano. It could happen, but it’s such a lousy song.
2. 2
   

   Anna says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7:55am

   Twilight?? An Oscar Nominee? God I hope not. That’s almost as bad as Miley Cyrus being a nominee.
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   Joschi says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7:56am

   A Single Man is my Favourit Score this year. Let’s hope that Abel get’s a shot
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   Joao Garcia says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:14am

   MY PREDICTIONS:

   Score:
   - Up
   - Avatar
   - The Fantastic Mr. Fox
   - The Informant!
   - Where The Wild Things Are

   Song:
   - Nine
   - Avatar
   - The Princess and the Frog
   - Crazy Heart
   - Nine
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   red_wine says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:15am

   The year’s best score is the the thunderous glorious score for Ponyo. Its the stuff of concert hall music. Huge orchestras, choral splendor, a multitude of themes, sopranos singing arias, piano and violin solos, its got it all. I think its by far 1 of the best scores of the decade. But what a pity it will miss, the film seems very low-key and besides its a foreign composer.

   So I’ll throw my weight behind the second best score which is Up. An instant classic by Giacchino, the score is unforgettable, serves the film and is deeply poignant. I think it should be an easy winner here.

   His Star Trek will also come into play I think. A big blustery Williamesque action score in a well-loved film. The themes are very catchy too.

   Desplat has had a great year and his Fantastic Mr. Fox has some great notices and a couple of mentions here and there(runner-up in LA). But this might come as a shock, his score for new Moon is gorgeous, his best this year. I wouldn’t bother to see the film but I heard the score on youtube and its lovely. Its better than Benjamin Button and has perhaps Desplat’s best theme. Extremely worthy of a nom.

   There’s this defunct category called Best Adaptation Score, I would nominate Avatar for that. The score was so derivative of his own work(and others’), it was like hearing a temp track with music from 10 different films.
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   Heberto Rivera Patino says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:22am

   Yes, I love the score to A SINGLE MAN.
   My predictions:
   AVATAR- James Horner
   THE INFORMANT!- Marvin Hamlisch
   PUBLIC ENEMIES- Elliot Goldenthal
   A SINGLE MAN- Abel Korzeniowki
   UP- Michael Giacchino

   Good shot:
   THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG- Randy Newman
7. 7
   

   CeciliaTallis says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:34am

   This guy seems to be pretty bad at predicting. Who didn’t see Newton Howard coming for Michael Clayton, or Rahman for Slumdog? The fact that he says New Moon is a possibility and doesn’t consider Fantastic Mr. Fox is also pretty telling as well. I don’t understand how is opinion is any more valid than mine.

   Desplat (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
   Giacchino (Up)
   Hamlisch
   Horner
   Korzenlowski

   Alternate: Kent
8. 8
   

   DBibby says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:38am

   I agree, this guy’s predictions are pretty terrible. Mary J. Blige’s “I Can See in Color” didn’t make the shortlist, right? Yet it makes the “Next 5″?

   I really hope Cinema Italiano is ignored (I saw the film yesterday and the song is awful- the worst part of an disappointing film). I have my fingers crossed for the A Single Man score though- it’s beautiful and really deserves a nomination IMO.
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   Sasha Stone says:
   Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:45am

   Actually his predictions aren’t “bad” at all – he uses different criteria than the average Oscar watcher. Geez, he kindly sent them to us and he gets such backtalk from the peanut gallery? Please, a little respect, folks.
10. 10
    

    Paddy M says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 9:32am

    The relatively high placings of Ponyo and Sin Nombre confuse me – I just don’t see these happening. Joe Hisaishi failed to receive noms for such wonderul socres as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle; I don’t expect to see him get in for Ponyo.

    I’d have A Single Man higer – it has a Golden Globe nom, after all. Also the entire ‘Think outside the box’ group seem quite likely – Iglesias’ score for Broken Embraces was superb, and they sure love them some Thomas Newman at the Academy, while I’m expecting to see Brothers get rather more love from them than elsewhere.

    And no Where the Wild Things Are? With the love that score’s getting, I don’t think that’s a wise choice. Though I’m very prepared to retract that statement if the Academy decides to declare it ineligible as being too much a ‘song-based’ score…Lord have mercy…
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    Mary1 says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 9:44am

    A Single man OST is the best for me. Just leaves me speechless. A great score for a great film!
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    NycOscarBuff84 says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 9:58am

    @Sasha just b/c this guy from Film Score Monthly gave you an article like this, does that mean we have to hold back criticism? That sounds like back-door censorship to me (which I haven’t really noticed much at all on AwardsDaily until now)
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    NycOscarBuff84 says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 9:59am

    Though I don’t think his predictions are “bad” at all.
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    walkabout says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 10:07am

    sorry, but this doesn’t look like someone who knows enough about this race in general… you want proof? he didn’t see Michael Clayton coming… well, I did! that was one of the most obvious picks that year for someone who know about film music.

    and this year, he’s not talking about The Princess and the Frog for Original Score at all? Come on… and I expect desplat to have a better chance with Fantastic Mr Fox, but yeah, Coco Before Chanel can also make it…

    anyway, my predictions are:

    Original Score:
    James Horner for AVATAR
    Alexandre Desplat for FANTASTIC MR. FOX
    Randy Newman for THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
    Elliot Goldenthal for PUBLIC ENEMIES
    Michael Giacchino for UP

    (alternatives: The Informant!, Up in the Air, A Single Man, The Lovely Bones)

    Original Song:
    “Almost There” from THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
    “Down in New Orleans” from THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
    “Take it All” from NINE
    “Trust Me!” from THE INFORMANT!
    “The Weary Kind” from CRAZY HEART*

    (alternatives: Avatar, An Education, Nine, Brothers)

    The Informant! will most probably get one nomination. It will either be Score or Song… I guess Avatar can get in for Original Song (no matter how awful the song really is) and Hamlisch can replace Goldenthal in Score…
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    ztuuz says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 10:31am

    My predictions:
    The Informant! – Marvin Hamlisch
    Up – Michael Giacchino
    The Fantastic Mr. Fox – Alexandre Desplat
    The Young Victoria – Ilan Eshkeri
    Where The Wild Things Are – Buwell, Karen O.

    Longshot
    A single man – Abel Korzeniowki
    The Road – Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
    A Serious Man – Carter Burwell
    The Lovely Bones – Brian Eno
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    Intermezzo says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 10:55am

    I have to confess that I’m totally scared of this year’s predictions. The bunch of possible nominees are decent but not great. Why is no one predicting Ponyo and Drag me to hell, two wonderful scores this year. And why is everybody predicting Public Enemies, a boring effort, an example of a good musician doing a bad job. Sometimes, I think there’s no one listening to scores anymore.
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    John-Paul says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 11:49am

    Why is “Star Trek” not even considered a long shot for a nomination? I think it was possibly the best score I’ve heard this year, and I would hope that it is at least more likely to be nominated than “Twilight.” Is it just because Michael Giacchino also did “Up” this year, and they don’t like nominating the same composer twice?
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    Clayton says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 12:53pm

    I think Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog are both strong contenders for score, in addition to Up. Animation domination, indeed.
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    Mark says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 12:56pm

    Christopher Young’s “Drag Me To Hell” was terrific. A brilliant horror score. I don’t know if it wil make the cut though. I’m almost sure James Horner will score another nod for “Avatar”. It is one of his best. Personally, I really liked Mr. Desplat’s score for “Julie & Julia” but he could very well get a nod for “Cheri” or “Coco Before Chanel” or maybe even “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”.
    #17: Only someone of John Williams’ stature or Jerry Goldsmith (a shame that he’s already passed away) would be capable of a double nod for Best Film Score from the Academy, I think.
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    Dave L says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 1:35pm

    I think Broken Embraces has a fantastic shot. The branch really like Eglesias.
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    Give Meryl Oscar #3 says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 2:19pm

    I think Avatar is sweeping both music awards this year.
22. 22
    

    Rebecca says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 2:36pm

    I really hope the score from ‘The Informant!’ makes it in. Some of the music made me laugh out loud. Thanks for sharing those predictions, Sasha.
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    Carson Dyle says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 3:18pm

    Fantastic Mr. Fox is probably the best score I’ve heard this year.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5uIG5E_NdU

    Hoping that it gets a look-in. Star Trek too, although that’s a long shot. Or… is it? The series has been nominated in that category before.

    Overall, the Best Score category is probably one of the biggest sources of facepalming for me in its entire history.
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    Noah says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 4:04pm

    I hope Coraline’s brilliant music isn’t forgotten. Bruno Coulais really deserves a nod.

    And I hope Fantastic Mr Fox, Avatar, and Star Trek also get mentions.
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    eboy.tc says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 4:33pm

    *17 Jean-Paul, Exactly. When you consider score that play surprisingly important part in film this year, I’d love to name ‘Star Trek’. Believe me, ‘Trek’ score is totally worth at least nomination.

    Even if Michael Giacchino ‘ll be nominate for Up, his Star Trek score still worth some praise.
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    daveylow says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 4:56pm

    I have to defend Cary who knows his film music. I read his reviews in Film Score Monthly and he is reliable.

    And the Desplat score of New Moon is quite lovely, even if you think the movie stinks.

    I hope Desplat gets nominated this year for his fine work. Though he never seems to win. To me, he is quickly becoming the Georges Delerue of our time.

    Cinema Italiano is such a lousy song but because it’s so flashy (in an equally awful way ) in the movie, I could see it get nominated. And if so, it will be excruciating to watch on the awards show.
27. 27
    

    Carson Dyle says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 5:08pm

    Eh, Desplat’s only had two noms. He’s hardly been put through the O’Toole Gauntlet like James Newton Howard or Thomas Newman. But I’d love to see him win.
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    Tero Heikkinen says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 5:34pm

    I thought Horner’s score for Avatar was terrible. I’m a big fan of Horner and I can’t remember a single tune from the movie. What happened?

    If Avatar is nominated for Best Score, I have lost all faith in that category.
29. 29
    

    Seankgallagher says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:06pm

    I wasn’t a fan of AVATAR’s score either, but I blame that partly on Cameron. Horner’s done some good work outside of Cameron movies, and I’m sure his work on those is according to Cameron’s taste.

    I hope the score for WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE isn’t disqualified, because that’s my favorite score of the year. And I’d also love it if Brian Eno got nominated – I actually liked his score for LOVELY BONES a lot. But the odds are definitely against him.
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    longhorn says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 9:49pm

    Jean-Paul and eboy.tc, I completely agree. Star Trek was one of the best scores of the year, hands down – and if I remember correctly, the Academy doesn’t usually have a problem with double nominees in this category, so here’s hoping.

    Also, I’m calling it now – there will be three songs nominated from Princess and the Frog, one from Nine, and an oddball, perhaps from Where the Wild Things Are.

    The Academy DEFINITELY doesn’t mind double or triple nominees in this category. In recent years, it seems like if there is a popular film with more than a couple of original songs in it, the Academy will use that film to fill up most of the slots, especially if it’s Disney (Dreamgirls, Enchanted…going back a little further, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Little Mermaid).

    I think it will look like this:

    Almost There – PATF
    Down in New Orleans – PATF
    Ma Belle Evangeline – PATF
    Cinema Italiano – Nine (though I’m hoping for Take it All, the much better song, and imo, just as likely to be nominated)
    All is Love – WTWTA
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    The Natural says:
    Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 10:16pm

    longhorn, the Academy put into rule this year that no single film may garner more than TWO Best Original Song nominations, so Princess and the Frog won’t be able to be nominated that many times. I’d say take out “Ma Belle Evangeline” and add in the unfairly maligned and wonderfully fitting “I See You” from Avatar.
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    alex says:
    Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 1:55pm

    Horner has lost all his charm, Avatar’s score was horrible. Probably it will have another nomination for the succes of the film but it is another injustice of the Oscars.

    Oscar to Alexander Desplat’s Cheri¡¡¡
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    prediction says:
    Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 12:43pm

    I think the nominees will be as follows:

    The Informant
    Avatar
    Where the wild things are
    Up
    Public Enemies
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    Juan says:
    Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 3:15pm

    Avatar’s score is horrible.
    Love Horner, but this score is a total dissapointment…