Alert: The Academy reverses itself on "Dark Knight" score

My sources say the Motion Picture Academy has reversed its decision to disqualify the score for "The Dark Knight." Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, who collaborated on the music, will now be able to compete in the best original score category. The Academy had ruled the score ineligible last month, saying there were too many composers--five, in all--listed on the music cue sheet. I can't get the Academy's executive director Bruce Davis on the phone, but I've seen an Academy release saying its music branch executive committee voted to change the decision last Friday. When Davis and I spoke earlier last week, he was still defending the decision, saying that the Academy's music branch "sees this as an award, like cinematography or directing, where you want to award a single creator. This isn't like visual effects. Except for extraordinary circumstances, it's an award that should go to one person."

If the Academy has caved in, this should be a sweet victory for Zimmer and Howard, who were also disqualified in 2005 for their previous collaboration on "Batman Begins." They are both seven-time nominees, Zimmer having won best original score for "The Lion King."   

Comments

[Evania]

This makes me happy.

[Rachel]

I don't know why you wouldn't want to award collaborations in music. It's wonderful when artists and musicians find value in eachother's work, and set aside their own ego to realize that maybe a piece of music or art would be better with a collaborator. I'm glad that at least in this case, they're reconsidering. I just think they should re-think their rules for future cases.

[David]

I agree with Rachel. Why would they penalize team work like this? This score was actually a bit revolutionary. Since when has a blockbuster action movie like this include a film score with no recognizable melodic theme? It's all repetitive ostinatos (sp?) and sustained notes. Pure tension. I thought it was pure awesomeness!

[Mark]

There have been plenty of action films without themes. Just look at the last 20 years of film music. I think the music branch had it right at first. If they want to give out 5 oscars to 5 different composers than fine even though I doubt it will win. It's not the work of just 2 composers and that's what they had a problem with.

[Angelo]

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences: Putting the "I" in "Teamwork"

[Paul]

> Since when has a blockbuster action movie like this include a film score with no recognizable melodic theme?
Many times - The Matrix for starters.

Why on Earth does this score need *five* composers? Hans Zimmer and his Media Ventures gang (now known as Remote Control Productions) are the only composers I'm aware of who frequently collaborate with each other. And I suppose it's fair enough if two composers want to work together - as I believe that Zimmer and Howard have wanted to for a while - but what could the fifth composer possibly bring to the score that the other four couldn't?

You wouldn't get a painting painted by five artists, or a novel written by five authors - unless it was an experimental work where the combining of the talents of five people was the entire point, which it isn't in this case.

[banesto]

well.. what about "last emperor"? there were 3 composers and ir won an oscar for best score! so what's changed?

[Doug Krentzlin]

John Ford's "Stagecoach" (1939) won the Oscar for Best Music Score and that was credited to five composers.

[sma]

I have the soundtrack and personally I do not find it Oscar worthy. Though I do find it stupid that they would think of saying it was disqualified because there were too many composers.

[claire Groft]

I may be thinking of the Emmys, but what about when a whole crew of people come onstage after they've won something--and I'm not talking about the cast. I can distinctly remember--though what category I'm not sure--several people walking up the stage to receive an award. I'm so glad they're reversing their previous decision; it was basically saying, "Okay, so because it took five people to come up with something not even resembling a theme, we're punishing you by not allowing you all to be eligible to receive an Academy Award." Like, why can't we all get along? Hopefully this decision will prove that the Academy needs some brighter thinkers.