Kicking off awards season, the Golden Globes will be presented on Sunday, January 15th. As previously mentioned in the 2011 Golden Globes for Best Score, the Golden Globes are often viewed as a foreshadowing to the nominees and winners of the Academy Award. This year's Golden Globe nominees are easily recognizable - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (winners of last year's award), Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings), John Williams (Star Wars), and Abel Korzeniowski (A Single Man). But there's one nominee you may not know - Ludovic Bource. If I were a betting man, I'd place all my chips on Bource's original score to The Artist. Find out why below!
1. The Artist - Ludovic Bource (WINNER)
Sony Classical
Without a doubt, Ludovic Bource's original score to The Artist deserves to win the Golden Globe. His classic composition embodies all that was great about Hollywood's golden era of silent film. With a similar light-hearted quality as Michael Giacchino's Up, the winner of both the Golden Globe and Academy Award in 2010, Bource's score can change your being in an instant. Who needs the colorful world of Oz when you can recapture the softened tones of old black and white Hollywood?
2. W.E. - Abel Korzeniowski
Sadly, this is the only album I could net get my hands on. I've heard a few snippets of the soundtrack from various websites, but due to its limited release, an official soundtrack yet to be issued. If it's anything similar to Korzeniowski's work A Simple Man, which was nominated two years ago for the Golden Globe, I have no doubt it will be superb. In fact, when producing the movie, Madonna used tracks from A Single Man in the rough cut of her film. (Watch the trailer for the film, W.E.)
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
The Null Corporation
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have created another work of art with their edgy and industrial score to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The duo's score for The Social Network earned them an Academy Award in 2011. Reznor and Ross's soundtrack encapsulates the film's chilling and harsh crime-ridden reality. I find it cold and depressing, nearly devoid of any human emotion. Which, ironically, is brilliant given the movie's subject. But because of this, it's not something I'm going to want to listen to endlessly on repeat, like Bource's The Artist.
4. Hugo - Howard Shore
2011 Howe Records
Howard Shore's Hugo is a beautiful original score worthy of its nomination. Hugo takes place in early 20th century Paris. It's not hard to hear the French influences and flourishes make their appearances throughout the score as each lends to the overall thematic arc. Because the movie is in 3D, Shore composed the orchestration as deep as possible by employing the use of an 88 piece orchestra. This large ensemble allowed him to create a greater musical depth with limitless layers of sound and texture.
5. War Horse - John Williams
Sony Classical
Based on a children's novel and stage production, Steven Spielberg's War Horse tells the story of a young boy's horse, sold to the calvary to fight in World War I, and its journey of serving on both sides of battle before ending up alone. Though the movie takes place during the war, and the orchestra is made with a larger brass section, the music is often soft and gentle with warm and rounded tones - something uncharacteristic with war related movies. Like any other Williams' score, expect to hear beautifully grand, sweeping thematic passages adjacent to calm and introverted melodies.
