FILMSCORES INELIGIBLE FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS - Essay Example

Film scores Introduction The process of selecting various film scores for nomination for the Academy Awards is anissue that has generated controversy in recent years. The Academy should establish two categories for the best film soundtrack. One should cater for original music and soundtracks and the other one should be for music scores that use pre-existing music for their production and development. The major reason why I advocate for this is to avoid unfairness in the presentation of the awards.

The reason why I say this is because it is clearly unfair to place original score composers who have worked extra hard to develop original scores with other music producers who have just edited other people’s work to come up with film soundtracks. If I may use the example of Crash, the 2005 winner of Best Picture at the Academy Awards, the soundtrack of the film was an original composition by Mark Isham that was later released the music labels Gut and Colosseum (Bridges 25). The soundtrack contributed significantly to the success of the film.

Placing such an original score together with un-original pieces is obviously unfair.Another reason why that this be adopted is because doing so will provide clear boundaries of what is original and what is not. Establishment of the two categories will pressure the Academy to properly redefine the terms that a particular composition should reach for it to be considered original or not. This will consequently eliminate cases like the one experienced recently where the music scores for the films, The Black Swan, The Fighter and True Grit were disqualified on the basis of being unoriginal.

Establishment of the two distinct categories will also encourage composers who feel that they can add something fresh to previously produced pieces and come up with outstanding film scores. As I have indicated earlier, the score of a film plays an important role in its success level and therefore, let me compare and contrast the scores of two films that have been hugely successful this year. One is the Ben Affleck directed thriller “Argo’’ and the latest installation of the James Bond series “Sky fall’’.

Both films are predominantly characterized and accompanied by original film scores. In the case of Argo, the renowned Alexandre Desplat has scored the film (Bridges 17). The score features many orchestral elements and easy concessions that are easily listenable to common people. Its opening cue comprises a rich sound filled with Persian Instrumentation that is very flavorful and therefore resonates with the Middle-Eastern filmsetting. Some of the songs included in these scores include the catchy “Held Up By Guards”, The Mission and The Scent of Death.

On the other hand, Sky fall main theme song is ‘Sky fall’ performed by British recording artist Adele. The song written by Paul Epworth definitely grows on the audience very quickly. It has bluesy opening note that is accompanied by a suspension of brass. Adele’s powerful vocals fully complement the instrumentation and the song title resonates with the film’s title. The rest of the soundtrack is very impressive and incorporates strong rhythmical and melodically intercessions and cadencies that further helps to amplify the film’s themes and tones (Bridges 15).

Sexy blue cords evenly spread out throughout the entire compositions also characterize the score. The leading score composer for this film was Thomas Newman.The general conclusion that can be drawn from the two film’s scores is that both are very well formulated original scores incorporating a wide variety of musical elements. It would be widely appropriate if both should garner nominations at next year’s Academy Awards in the category of Best Original Score and it would be no surprise if one of them went all the way and clinched the award.

Works CitedBridges, Robert. The Box Office Hits of 2011-2012. Los Angeles, CA: Hollywood Publishers.2012