I've sort of argued myself into a corner by picking The Golden Age for Costume Design, since these two awards almost always match and that film was not nominated here. Then again, they didn't match last year. There's also been a trend of late away from strict Best Picture nominees winning this award and I'm going to defy that, too, and say that the BAFTA win for Atonement is predictive.
At least my "should win" picks for Art Direction and Costume Design will match. Sweeney Todd truly is an aesthetic triumph (not to mention a directorial one, which, funnily enough, the Academy didn't).
ORIGINAL SCORE
- Atonement
- The Kite Runner
- Michael Clayton
- Ratatouille
- 3:10 to Yuma
Will Win: Atonement
Should Win: Atonement
On this one, I'm pretty much doing what little math I can come by. Clayton and Ratatouille's scores haven't been acknowledged elsewhere. 3:10 got a BFCA nod. Runner got a BAFTA nod. Atonement got both of those and a Golden Globe win.
The only score that stands out here for me is Atonement's. The narrative hinges on the very idea of narrative and things being written down, so the fact that the sounds of a typewriter are actually incorporated into the soundtrack as percussion is nothing short of brilliant. It's not every day you get subtext in your score.
ORIGINAL SONG
- "Falling Slowly" - Once
- "Happy Working Song" - Enchanted
- "Raise It Up" - August Rush
- "So Close" - Enchanted
- "That's How You Know" - Enchanted
Will Win: "That's How You Know"
Should Win: "Falling Slowly"
I think it's a toss up between "Falling Slowly" and "That's How You Know." Splitting the vote three ways didn't help Dreamgirls any last year and "Slowly" has the only win to it's name (from the BFCA). On the other hand, "That's How You Know" has a BFCA nod and a Golden Globe nod and it's from a far more recognizable film. On top of that, Disney has a very strong history in this category. On top of that, Amy Adams, who sings the song herself, is an up-and-coming starlet and the Academy loves rewarding up-and-coming starlets (damn near gave her an Oscar already in '06), even if the award doesn't actually go to her.
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