OSCAR COMMENTARY
TECHNICAL CATEGORIES -AURAL
by Nathaniel R

Please note: Nomination Totals are for this category being discussed only.
Some artists work in different fields and may have more nominations than this...

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Best Original Score

2/5 correct on my predictions. Year in and year out this is the category where I always get the worst prediction statistic score. The easiest way for me to understand my complete and utter confusion each year regarding this category is to look at how I feel about John Williams (talented but sometimes lazy self-repeating composer who has deserved an Oscar or two during his long respectable career) versus the way THEY feel about John Williams --let me try to sum up how they feel about him ---this is me channeling an Oscar voter:

"He is, put simply, the greatest composer who ever walked the earth. If they resurrected Tchaivosky, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Wagner, Haydn, Shostakovich, and every other musical genius who ever lived and they all started scoring motion pictures --hell even if god himself starting conducting orchestras--None of them would EVER hold a candle to my hero, idol, GOD...Sir Magnificence John Williams!!!

P.S. Johnny call me! I ♥ you! "

Blech. This man has a ridiculous amout of nominations. It's almost pathetic really. Because however you slice it, in any realm of achievement -sports, music, film, the arts, accounting (!), ANYTHING. It is an impossibility to always be the single best in your field every single year of your existence.

That said I'm proud of this branch for letting 3 new people in. Which is really really weird for this insular group.

Reader Response to the John Williams discussion: here.


My personal ballot? 2/5 in similarity...and no, they aren't the Williams scores. Although I should say this: All five of these nominees are good scores.

Should Win: Gustavo Santaolalla's spare instantly memorable score for Brokeback is a keeper.
Will Win: This is a toughie. The conventional wisdom says that John Williams will finally win again for Memoirs of a Geisha. I still think this is a very tough call and Brokeback may still prevail.

Did Win: Brokeback Mountain
1
2
3
4
5
Brokeback Mountain
Gustavo Santaolalla
1st nom & win
Constant Gardener Alberto Iglesias
1st nomination
Memoirs of a Geisha
John Williams
43rd nom / 5 wins
Munich
John Williams
44th nom / 5 wins
Pride & Prejudice
Dario Marinelli
1st nomination
 
Golden Globe BFCA
   

 

Best Original Song

2/3 correct on my predictions. But 3/3 if you consider just the film (I had the other Hustle & Flow song --the one they were really campaigning for, although I prefer this one)
My ballot? 3/3 (but my ballot has two more since they usually have five nods)

Should & Will Win: Dolly Parton's "Travellin Thru" will happen I think. I don't like Transamerica but the song is cute. And you gotta love Dolly. But there are only three nominees here. Any of them could win. It'll probably be tight.

Did Win: "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" --it's nice to see a song that actually has a narrative purpose in its movie honored. But Dolly still shoulda won.

"In the Deep"
from Crash
"It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp"
from Hustle & Flow
Travelin Thru
from Transamerica

 

Best Sound

4/5 correct on my predictions. I followed the guild on this one and they had Crash rather than Chronicles of Narnia (which I had at #6)
My ballot? 3/5

Should Win: War of the Worlds
Will Win: Walk the Line which is fine. Lurve the soundtrack.
Did Win: King Kong
Chronicles of Narnia
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Walk the Line
War of the Worlds

 

Best Sound Effects Editing

2/3 correct on my predictions. I really wasn't aware that Memoirs of a Geisha had sound effects. ;) so I went with Revenge of the Sith. Of their 7 finalists I had Memoirs in last place. hee.
My ballot? 2/3

Should, Will, Did Win: King Kong
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
War of the Worlds