Film buffs around the world wait for February every year to see which movies will be awarded the highest prizes in the industry. The Academy Awards ceremony is the largest celebration of filmmakers in America as young directors, actors, cinematographers, and more strive to achieve excellence in their respective categories at the event. While they've gotten some decisions wrong, the Academy usually ends up choosing the most innovative movies of the year to showcase during their yearly tradition. As we near the upcoming show, shortlists have been announced for some of the most important categories, including score and original song.
2018 was a special year for soundtracks as it seemed each curator was dead-set on upping the ante each time. Kendrick Lamar did a phenomenal job with Black Panther, which was followed up by The Greatest Showman. Now, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's song from A Star is Born is one of the biggest tracks in the world. Included in the shortlist for Best Original Song are Kendrick Lamar & SZA's "All The Stars," Sampha's "Treasure," Sade's track from Widows, and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's collaboration.
The shortlist for Best Score features some serious contenders in Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, BlacKkKlansman, and more. The official nominees will be named on January 22. Who are you rooting for?
Shortlist for Best Original Song:
Willie Watson, Tim Blake Nelson and Willie Watson – “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings”(The Ballad of Buster Scruggs)
Sampha – “Treasure” (Beautiful Boy)
Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “All The Stars” (Black Panther)
Jónsi and Troye Sivan – “Revelation” (Boy Erased)
Dolly Parton – “Girl in the Movies” (Dumplin’)
Arlissa – “We Won’t Move” (The Hate U Give)
Emily Blunt – “The Place Where Lost Things Go” (Mary Poppins Returns)
Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda – “Trip A Little Light Fantastic” (Mary Poppins Returns)
Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan and Mark Ronson – “Keep Reachin’” (Quincy)
Jennifer Hudson and Diane Warren – “I’ll Fight” (RBG)
Gal Gadot and Sarah Silverman – “A Place Called Slaughter Race” (Ralph Breaks the Internet)
The Coup and Lakeith Stanfield – “OYAHYTT” (Sorry to Bother You)
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” (A Star is Born)
Thom Yorke – “Suspirium” (Suspiria)
Sade – “The Big Unknown” (Widows)
Shortlist for Best Score:
Annihilation
Avengers: Infinity War
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Crazy Rich Asians
The Death of Stalin
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
First Man
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns
A Quiet Place
Ready Player One
Vice