'Black Swan' and 'True Grit' Scores Ineligible for Oscar, Is 'Inception' Next?
'Kids are All Right' and 'Fighter' scores also deemed ineligible
Variety's Jon Burlingame is reporting the Academy has nixed the eligibility of four potential original scores for this upcoming awards season. The scores deemed ineligible include Clint Mansell's score for Black Swan, Michael Brook's score for The Fighter and Carter Burwell's scores for True Grit and The Kids are All Right.
I actually got in a discussion about this very thing this morning with some Oscar bloggers over email, surprised when the Chicago film critics named Mansell's Black Swan the best original score of the year, primarily because it seemed like more of an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and that turns out to be the very reason it was disqualified. Burwell's score for True Grit was axed because it was mostly based on 19th-century hymns, which are apparently not sufficiently "original."
The scores for Fighter and Kids were reportedly given the heave-ho because "both films are filled with songs, leaving the scores to play second fiddle much of the time."
Interestingly enough, another film mentioned in our email chain was Alexandre Desplat's score for The King's Speech, which features classical music excerpts such as Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5. It, however, was deemed eligible.
I wonder, what does this mean for Hans Zimmer's score for Inception? I mean, is it original by Academy standards? If you haven't seen it yet watch the video below and remember, Zimmer has already owned up to the fact Edith Piaf's "Non, je ne regrette rien" was manipulated into the score directly.
The Academy's rules state, "An original score is a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring and is written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer." Can that be said for the above piece of music?
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stupid stupid stupid, i dont know how theyll fill the category now
this should help social network get in however
Damn shame. Technically Social Network would also be ineligible because of the Hall of the Mountain King segment. At least I think. So I guess by default, Toy Story 3 or Never Let Me Go will win.
I should have mentioned that as well. I can't verify, but some people mentioned NIN's "Ghosts" may have played a role in Reznor's Social Network score.
There're two songs of Ghosts in the Social Network score.
Really? Infused in the score or two songs directly?
Don't forget How to Train Your Dragon, it's probably the safest contender
Wonderful. How satisfying. Great. The reasons for the disqualifications of The Fighter and The Kids Are All Right are just ridiculous.
I guess this just means 127 Hours will take it. It was my favorite anyway.
Ooh, yes it could. Never Let Me Go has a decent shot, too.
This year was so great for scores, but my favorite this year was Black Swan so it's unfortunate to hear it was disqualified. Perhaps Harry Potter, my second favorite, can sneak in there now.
Agree, I am actually going to give a Best Score award in my RopeofSilicon Awards when I didn't give one out last year. I am happy to have enjoyed film scores again, last year was awful in my opinion.
I think that The Fighter and The Kids Are All Right shouldn't be disqualified. Unless there was no score at all but only songs were played then yes.However, I recall listing to the score from both films and this is outrageous and a complete insult to the composers and the films themselves. If they aren't given a chance to be considered nominees then the academy needs to change the rules.
That's disappointing, but I'm surprised that no one's mentioned The Last Airbender as a contender for Score. The movie may have been terrible, but the score by JNH is the best I've ever heard!
Though it really is a shame Black Swan's ineligible. It's my second place for favorite score.
I loved The Last Airbender's score, but I think the Academy will be distracted by the awfulness of the film to appreciate it.
Inception should be alright, especially if the only part that was used was the cadence of the beginning of Je Ne Regrette Rien. It's really only, what, four bars of the opening? Had it not been pointed out would you be able to tell? I suspect it will be nominated and wouldn't be surprised if it won the Oscar.
Well, I really don't care if Zimmer's score is ineligible because the fact that it's slowed down Edith Piaf makes the score so much better for Inception. Just another piece of complexity for an amazing film and worth losing out on a nomination for an award it would be overlooked for anyway.
I have a feeling the Academy will be following the Golden Globes example of idiotic nominations……..
The Tourist, Best Picture?
Would the fact that the song "Time" from the Inception score sounds nearly identical to "Journey to the Line" from The Thin Red Line make it disqualified for Oscars? Hans Zimmer composed both of those scores, so it may not be an issue.
I REALLY hope HttyD gets the win this year. The score was just so amazing and fit in so well for the length of the entire film. It also had clear themes which were used throughout the movie in a very excellent manner.
That just sucks. Now i need to re-think my Best Score pics for my next roundtable with my friends. Hmm, my new picks are:
127 Hours – A.R. Rahman
How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell
Inception – Hans Zimmer
The King's Speech – Alexandre Desplat
TRON:Legacy – Daft Punk
What i don't understand is why Toy Story 3 isn't eligable
Shit, didn't read the whole article and didn't see that The King's Speech isn't eligable. Hmm, Rachel Portman's score for Never Let Me Go will fill it's place.
With so many heavy-weights out… I guess it's Rahmaan time again…
Is Tron eligible? If so many are knocked out, maybe they slip in a nomination.
It's just such a shame no one appreciates the year best score in my opinion, which is Alexandre Desplat's thrilling work for Polanski's "The Ghost Writer". It's a movie music at its best, worthy of the statuette, not to mention a nomination among such a restricted choice.
Inception's use of "Non je ne regrette rien" is very little. It's just the opening cue and its really slowed down. It's just a small nod to a song, but doesn't use it at all.
I would be very disapointed if Inception's score is ineligible, since its my favorite this year.
And I think The Social Network follows the same argument from The Kids Are All Right, isn't? It recognized a lot of famous songs in it – and I wouldn't doubt there are more that I don't know of.
The Academy needs to change these ridiculous, out-dated rules. The two best scores of the year – Black Swan and Inception – aren't eligible? A joke.
Inception is actually still eligible.
D'oh! Hopefully it stays that way.
You're right. The rules are outdated. Remember when Tron was disqualified for having computer effects? How did the idiots not know that computer effects was the future of cinema?
I'm shocked nobody mentions the score Alexandre Desplat made for Harry Potter.. It's really amazing IMO, especially the track called 'Obliviate'.
I agree.
guess this means we need a "Best Manipulated Score" category?
i think black swan should win. those rules are bs. but now this gives my fav score of the year, never let me go, a running chance! horrayyy!
Should be Tron all the way! If not, Inception should take it.
More love for Daft Punk, I suppose… #fingers crossed
if we talk about originality of music then there's no comparison to 127 hours(A R RAHMAN) the slumdog millionaire composer.every instrumental there is used profoundly and with deep sense of music. the music reach to it's cresendo with "IF I RISE" and "ACID DARBARI" one of the finest music by A R RAHMAN. the music is very much related to the character of the film.also it makes difficult for composer to set the perfect tune when the camera is static at one place fro whole movie and that too precisely on actor's face. A R RAHMAN a very strong contender and likely winner of best original score 2011 at oscar.