Countdown to Oscar Night: Music

Best Original Score
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

I gotta admit scores were a bit disappointing this year. A great score can take a great movie and make it timeless, and I just felt that the movies of 2019 either rehashed familiar themes (Star Wars, Marvel, Disney movies) or went with quiet elevator music (1917). Randy Newman's beautiful theme from Marriage Story was my early pick in this category, but Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score for Joker is one of the main elements that elevates the movie above our usual comic-book normalcy. It's a shame more people haven't seen The Last Black Man in San Francisco because it has the best music moments of the year.

My Ballot
Joker
Marriage Story
Little Women
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
1917

My Pick to Win
Joker

Shamefully Snubbed
The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Best Original Song
"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" - Toy Story 4
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" - Rocketman
"I'm Standing With You" - Breakthrough
"Into the Unknown" - Frozen 2
"Stand Up" - Harriet

Ugh.... this category....  What should be one of the my favorite categories is so troubling every single year: Forgettable songs from familiar faces in Toy Story 4 and Rocketman; terrible films like Breakthrough being recognized on Hollywood's biggest night; and the worst song from Frozen 2. Cynthia Erivo's powerful ballad from Harriet is really the only deserving nominee, but none of these nominees include the best music moments of 2019 because they aren't "original" songs ("Being Alive" from Marriage Story and "Wayfaring Stranger" from 1917). I'm pretty sure this is a two-horse race between the uber-catchy five notes of "Into the Unknown" and the Academy's unrelenting desire to see famous non-movie people accept this award. I'd actually be disappointed when Elton John gives his acceptance speech if they had nominated the real best original song from 2019: "The Next Right Thing".

My Ballot
"Stand Up" - Harriet
"Into the Unknown" - Frozen 2
"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" - Toy Story 4
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" - Rocketman
"I'm Standing With You" - Breakthrough

My Pick to Win
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" - Rocketman

Shamefully Snubbed
"The Next Right Thing" - Frozen 2