Oscar's 2008 Music Nominations

The nominations for the 2008 Academy Awards are in and a lot of repeat names have popped up in the music categories. While that's not entirely unusual, this year seems extra packed with folks up for their second or third or sixth nom.

In the Original Score Category Dario Marianelli returns with a nomination for his pulsating score to Atonement. That rhythmic typewriter drove some movie goers crazy (which might just have been the idea) but the folks who know scores decided its one of the years best. I have to agree. Marianelli's first nomination was back in 2005 when his beautifully simple score to Pride and Prejudice lost to Brokeback Mountain.

Another 2005 nominee, Alberto Iglesias (nominated then for The Constant Gardener) makes his second appearance in th elist with his work on The Kite Runner. The third Oscar alum, James Newton Howard, who has had four nominations in the past but zero wins, was tapped for his intense scoring of Michael Clayton. While the music in Clayton is solid, it doesn't match the film as well as some of Howard's other works. I'm still floored he didn't get any attention for King Kong.

Michael Giacchino, pet composer to both Brad Bird and J. J. Abrams, is something of a surprise nominee to me. Not because the score to Ratatouille isn't wonderful, but more that he's not the kind of composer you usually see at the Oscars. Much of his career has been spent composing great stuff for video games and J. J. Abrams' television shows. It's nice to see someone with that kind of background getting recognized for his talent. Hopefully that attention will get him even more ambitious projects.

Marco Betlrami, like Giacchino, is another newcomer. Much of his background circulates around the sci-fi/horror genres with the Scream trilogy, I, Robot, and one of my favorites from him, Hellboy. 3:10 To Yuma had an interesting score, though it didn't strike me at first as Oscar nom material. Again, the guys who know these things thought it was. Who am I to argue?

Missing from the list is nearly perennial nominee John Williams, who hasn't missed a nomination at the Oscars since 1994. Of course, the fact that he didn't compose music for any films in 2007 might have something to do with it (to be fair, he didn't have any films released in theaters in 1994 either). No doubt he'll be back in 2008.

In the "Best Original Song" category, Enchanted ate up three of the five spots with creations from Oscar winning team Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. While Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova pulled together some amazing music for Once (and deserve some special recognition for their work on that project), Menken and Schwartz are almost locks for a win. I know I'd vote for "That's How You Know". My toes start tapping just thinking about it.

The full list of nominees are here, for your perusal and enjoyment:


Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score)

Atonement
Composer: Dario Marianelli

The Kite Runner
Composer: Alberto Iglesias

Michael Clayton”
Composer: James Newton Howard

Ratatouille
Composer: Michael Giacchino

3:10 to Yuma
Composer: Marco Beltrami


Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song)

“Falling Slowly” from Once
Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

“Happy Working Song” from Enchanted
Music by Alan Menken
Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

“Raise It Up” from August Rush
Nominees to be determined

“So Close” from Enchanted
Music by Alan Menken
Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

“That’s How You Know” from Enchanted
Music by Alan Menken
Lyric by Stephen Schwartz