Nominees World Soundtrack Awards 2008 Announced

Posted by Jorn Tillnes

August 22, 2008

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The nominees are:

FILM COMPOSER of the YEAR
(award can be presented in respect of one film or a body of work in the year)

o ALEXANDRE DESPLAT (THE GOLDEN COMPASS)
o JAMES NEWTON HOWARD (CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, MICHAEL CLAYTON, I AM LEGEND)
o ALBERTO IGLESIAS (THE KITE RUNNER)
o DARIO MARIANELLI (ATONEMENT)
o JOHN POWELL (THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM)

I guess Alexandre Desplat and Dario Marianelli is a given here. I assume that they are chosen because of the work on the albums in the parentheses, otherwise it makes no real sense to include Alberto Iglesias for example even though he did a great job on The Kite Runner. The big surprise is John Powell, but it is a welcome surprise. The Bourne Ultimatum is a really good score, maybe Powell’s best, and I am glad he is getting some recognition. James Newton Howard is a composer liked by all academy’s and even though he is incosistent, he produces great work at times. I think Alexandre Desplat might win it, although I hope for John Powell or Dario Marianelli.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE of the YEAR

o 3:10 TO YUMA BY MARCO BELTRAMI
o ATONEMENT BY DARIO MARIANELLI
o THE KITE RUNNER BY ALBERTO IGLESIAS
o THERE WILL BE BLOOD BY JONNY GREENWOOD
o WALL-E BY THOMAS NEWMAN

Atonement will win again it seems, and I am glad that There Will Be Blood is here after the Academy Award farse earlier this year. 3:10 To Yuma and The Kite Runner are strong contenders and Wall-E is a great little score that deserve a place here. Perhaps it’s a hint for next year’s Academy Awards. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Wall-E among the nominees.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG WRITTEN DIRECTLY FOR FILM

o ‘DESPEDIDA’ from Love in the time of cholera
Music by: Antonio Pinto and Shakira, Lyrics by: Shakira, Performed by: Shakira

o ‘DOWN TO EARTH’ from Wall-E
Music by: Thomas Newman and Peter Gabriel, Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel, Performed by: Peter Gabriel

o ‘DO YOU FEEL ME’ from American Gangster
Music and Lyrics by: Diane Warren, Performed by: Anthony Hamilton

o ‘GUARANTEED’ from Into the Wild
Music and Lyrics by: Eddie Vedder, Performed by: Eddie Vedder

o ‘A HERO COMES HOME’ from Beowulf
Music and Lyrics by: Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, Performed by: Robin Wright Penn / Idina Menzel

An interesting mix of songs, quite unlike the various awars earlier this year. From this mix of songs, who knows who will win. My tip is Down To Earth by Peter Gabriel, a great song placed at the end of the Wall-E soundtrack. Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder is another tough contender.

The winners will be announced on Saturday, October 18th at the end of the Ghent International Film Festival. They will also announce the discovery of the year 2008 in a later announcement.

Stay tuned for more news…