Best Original Score: Take a Listen
Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 11:58PM by Eurocheese on the eve of the Oscars...
A simple exercise: I sat down with each of the five scores from this year, gave them my full attention and wrote down any descriptors that came to mind. They may be a little jumbled, but I’m glad I took the time to give them a listen. Looking at my list, I picked the descriptor that the felt like the best summary for each. My terms and overall ranking below...
Orchestral
Wistful
Melancholy
See the wind blowing over the grass
Playful
Majestic
Consistent/Thematic
Soothing
Echoing voices
Tranquil
Top Descriptor: Peaceful
Horns/Military drums
Broad
Sorrowful
Building momentum
Sweeping
Looping themes
Top Descriptor: Confident
Distinct
Playful
Movement/Energy
Untethered
Light (both meanings)
Adventure
Video game
Surging
Religious overtones/Spiritual
Separate, deliberately inconsistent
Top Descriptor: Joyful
Heavy
Mourning
Sharp strings
Sadness
Country western elements
Fearful/Dread
Ominous/Tense (especially during “Dime Mountain”)
Evokes a mood
Top Descriptor: Lonely
Atmospheric
Inventive
Big band
Smokey bar with a bluesy singer
Lovely
Escapism
Aggressive
Bounce
Cohesive
Bygone era
Jazzy
Top Descriptor: Nostalgic
My Personal Ranking:
1. Soul (by a hair)
2. Minari (also gorgeous)
3. Mank (also excellent)
4. Da 5 Bloods
5. News of the World
Have you listened to any of these scores outside of watching the movie? Feel free to put your rankings in the comments!
Best Original Score, composers
Reader Comments (9)
NIN for the win!!!!! Again!!!! Now let's get Jonny Greenwood to win an Oscar and then have that NIN/Radiohead world tour!
I've got to say: I didn't think Reznor and Ross could distance themselves so much from their usual work like they did with Mank.
They should win for both films, to be honest.
Lazy
Unnecessary
Not writing
Well, I like this approach.
I'm a News of the World voter. It's been a lonely year.
I am between Soul and Mank, with Mank (currently) winning by a hair.
I can't believe the News of the World score is original. It feels like something we've heard a million times before.
Isn't the Soul "overture" actually a song?
I liked NEWS OF THE WORLD's score best.