The Gold Rush
Everything you better know about this years awards season race.
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Prior to that, Newman was known for his work in the 80s doing mostly teen comedies.
(It actuallysounds like autumn.)
Well, it sounds like every movie trailer produced for the rest of the decade.
I couldnt tell you what it was about, just that it starred Andie MaCdowell and Michael Richards.
But I hated it with such an intense childhood passion that my hatred became a long-running family joke.
(Is X worse thanUnstrung Heroes, my brother would often ask.)
Yet revisitingthe scorefor the first time in 25 yearsalmostmakes me want to watch it again.
But the nomination helped him get noticed by an up-and-coming director named Sam Mendes.
It was one of the things that inspired his sense of who I was, he recalls.
More time is not necessarily better time, he tells me.
The more time you have, the more time you ponder your identity.
When I tell him this, he doesnt disagree.
(Nemo Eggis practically a lullaby.)
Listen closely, and youre underwater.
2004
Nominated for:Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate EventsThe Oscar went to:Jan A.P.
But take a look at its competitors!Most of the nomineesfor Best Original Score that year were bizarre.
Wheres Jon BrionsEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
Wheres Rolfe Kent forSideways?
Wheres Michael GiacchinosThe Incredibles?
Heck, wheres Clint Eastwoods sparse piano plinking fromMillion Dollar Baby?!
What a strange year.
But his fear was unwarranted.
Just listen to Kurfurstendamm and try not to picture an old Universal logo.
2008
Nominated for:WALL-EThe Oscar went to:A.R.
Rahman forSlumdog Millionaire
Aaaaaandwere back to the Newman we know and love.
(Down to Earth even earned Newman an additional nod for Best Song.)
The franchise will win out over the individual.
Of course I do.
Did I tell him that?
And after name-checkingAngels in Americaand all of his scores for Mendes, he interrupted himself.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
That one I particularly enjoy listening to.
Its just a really fun CD for me to put on.
Because Thomas Newman makes the whole thing feelso damned lovely.
Newman spoke lovingly ofthe momentduring the end titles when the orchestration references Dick Van Dykes one-man band inMary Poppins.
You could kind of see the light come over peoples eyes when they heard that, he said.
Those things are wonderful to evoke.
But, five years later, the score forBridge of Spiesremains exciting.
Drenched in patriotism, it concludes with a jolt of wistful Spielbergian triumph.
2016
Nominated for:PassengersThe Oscar went to:Justin Hurwitz forLa La Land
Oh,Passengers.
Acting-wise, Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence have no chemistry.
Story-wise, their relationship is built on an ethical quandary that absolutely shouldnt be rewarded with chemistry.
So think of this as a collection of its B-sides.
2019
Nominated for:1917The Oscar went to:TBD
And now we come to the end.
2019s1917: Newmans 14th nomination and, very possibly, his first win.
(Hell have to beat his cousin,Marriage Storyscore composer Randy Newman.)
His answer to that question may in fact end his losing streak.
