Last decade's Oscar-winning best film scores, ranked by Jonathan Ross
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony, set to take place on Sunday, 10 March 2024, promises an evening filled with glamour and excitement. One of the most anticipated categories is the Best Original Score, which features a competitive lineup of talented composers.
Jon Batiste, the animation-winning jazz maestro, contributed an enchanting score for Pixar's "Soul" in 2021. His work was so well-received that the animators used video of Batiste playing piano to build a note-perfect Oscar-winning animation.
Hans Zimmer, known for his unique soundscapes, constructed a fittingly epic score for the futuristic movie "Dune: Part 1" in 2022.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, on the other hand, offered a beautifully ethereal ambient soundtrack for "Soul". Their work was a testament to their versatility as composers.
Ludwig Göransson, who won the Oscar for Best Original Score in 2019 for his work on "Black Panther", is back in the race. For "Black Panther", he traveled to Senegal and South Africa to research musical traditions and instruments, ensuring an authentic African touch to the score.
The competition is fierce this year, with nominations also going to John Williams, Laura Karpman, Jerskin Fendrix, and Robbie Robertson.
Volker Bertelmann, who used century-old instruments to create the score for World War One drama "All Quiet on the Western Front" in 2023, is another contender. His work on this film was a poignant reflection of the era it portrayed.
Ennio Morricone, who won his first ever competitive Oscar in 2016 for his score to "The Hateful Eight", and Hildur Guðnadóttir, who earned a win at the 2020 Academy Awards for Best Original Score for "Joker", are also in the running.
Stephen Price, who won the Oscar for Best Original Score in 2014 for his work on "Gravity", and Alexandre Desplat, who was awarded the Oscar for best original score in 2017 for his work on "La La Land", are also nominees.
In addition to the Best Original Score category, there are several other notable nominations. Bradley Cooper is nominated for best actor in a self-directed film for "Maestro". Justin Hurwitz undertook a lengthy process for his score to "La La Land", sending nearly 2000 piano demos to the director.
Guillermo del Toro and Alexandre Desplat first discussed the possibility of "The Shape of Water" over sushi. Their collaboration resulted in a score inspired by Central European influences.
Jonathan Ross will be hosting the UK broadcast of the Academy Awards in 2024. With such a stellar lineup of nominees and hosts, the 96th Academy Awards promises to be a night to remember.
