The Edge of the Frame

One of the better categories among this year’s Oscar nominees has to be that of Best Original Score. Sometimes, the composers are a bit finicky with their nominations, usually going the safer route and not expanding out of their comfort zones. However, there’s some truly astounding work on display in this particular crop.

If I was to do any voting in this category, I would definitely have to go with “The Social Network.” Reznor and Finch’s score is truly sublime, incorporating experimental electronic elements with traditional themes and modern beats. The music is innovative, pleasing and ultimately game-changing, much like the movie itself.

After that, my runners-up would be a close call between “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Inception.”  Both films contain music that open your eyes and raise your heartbeat. I actually don’t think that there is an element of “HTTYD” that comes close to staying with me as strongly as the score. “Inception” gets a lot of bad word-of-mouth that Hans Zimmer simply recycled music from “The Dark Knight,” but I never thought of it that way. Zimmer’s music always follows similar tones and rhythms, but his work on “Inception” has the ability to stand on its own as a work of power and beauty.

As far as the Oscar goes, this is how I would rank the films’ chances of winning this particular award:

1. “The Social Network” – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
2. “The King’s Speech” – Alexandre Desplat
3. “Inception” – Hans Zimmer
4. “127 Hours” – A.R. Rahman
5. “How to Train Your Dragon” – John Powell

Ryan Adams at Awardsdaily has dug up this showcase of all five nominees. Check it out below and see for yourself.