When a legend like John Williams is among nominees, it can be a one-sided race.
The Original Score category is probably the most versatile one in the entire list of Oscars 2016 nominees.
It has Ennio Morricone, a maestro who has done it all at the age of 87, and it has Johann Johannson boasting a consecutive nomination. It has music from a wildly popular franchise and it has music suitable to express the emotion of a particular era.
Let's take a look at the nominees as we predict who shall take the golden trophy home.
Bridge of Spies, Thomas Newman
In my opinion, Thomas Newman is the Roger Deakins of the Original Score department. So many beautiful compositions ('Shanghai Drive' from Skyfall being my favourite. Another Roger Deakins connection for Newman), 13 Oscar nominations and yet no win. From the looks of it, it will be another year of disappointment for him.
Newman came as a replacement for John Williams, Steven Spielberg's go-to composer. Newman has composed a total of 48.25 minutes of original score for the cold war drama. The man is a protege of Williams, as he is the one who gave Newman his first chance at composing for movies in Return of the Jedi for the scene in which Darth Vader dies.
Carol, Carter Burwell
Young adults and people who actually care about pop culture will recognise him from his music for Twilight. The other bunch, let's say hipsters who worship Coen Brothers, will know him from all their movies barring a few.
Harvard graduate Burwell usually scores for what they call 'left-wing' directors. Then there are exceptions like Twilight, Where the Wild Things are and now Carol. There is an old world charm to Burwell's music in Carol. You can close your eyes and feel the diners, smokers and pearls in those musical notes.
This is his first Academy nomination and he is one of the strong contenders.
The Hateful Eight, Ennio Morricone
Originally a trumpet player, 87-year-old Morricone has many monikers. Maestro, Dan Savio, Leo Nichols. In the long career span, Morricone has charmed the world with Classical, Jazz, Rock, Lounge, Pop, Funk, and Film Music. The score for The Hateful Eight is his first Western Music since Buddy Goes West. This was also the first time Tarantino used an original score for his movies.
Morricone's music teamed with Robert Richardson's cinematography for a 70 mm film, taking you back to the Western Classic eras. Morricone has already won a Golden Globe for The Hateful Eight. This is his 6th Academy nomination. He was awarded an honorary Oscar for his contribution towards cinema in the year 2006.
Sicario, Jóhann Jóhannsson
This is the second consecutive nomination for the Icelandic composer. Jóhannsson is known for minimalistic music. For Sicario, he has gone in a completely new direction. The sound is heavy on percussion. It lends more gravity to the vast space of barren Mexico-US border while sticking to the Reykjavik grandiose.
Jóhannsson won a Golden Globe for The Theory of Everything and lost the Oscar to Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2015. In a tough fight with Morricone and Burwell, this could be Jóhannsson's year
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, John Williams
When the legend John Williams is among the nominees, consider the fight one-sided. Williams is not alone, he has brought the power of the wildly popular franchise Star Wars.
This is a record 50th nomination for the pianist, conductor and composer. This is his return to the franchise after Return of the Jedi, in which he introduced Thomas Newman, another nominee in the same category.
Williams used a 90 piece orchestra to create the new themes for the new characters. He uses the older ones, the iconic ones like the 'Imperial March' for example, to maintain continuity. The original recording of 175 minutes was cut short to 115 minutes by the time the end product hit the theatres.
Williams has won the Oscars five times so far. Will this be his sixth? We shall see.
Who will win - I am hedging my bets here. It could be either Ennio Morricone or John Williams.
Winner last year - Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel
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