Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Original Score

The competition: Avatar, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, Sherlock Holmes, Up

Previous winners: Slumdog Millionaire, Atonement, Babel, Brokeback Mountain, Finding Neverland
My winner: A Single Man
Who should win: Up
Who will win: There are several notable things about the history of this category. For the past six years, the winner has been a Best Picture nominee. In the past five years, every winning composer was a first-time nominee (though Gustavo Santaolalla did win two years in a row), and this award often serves as a consolation prize for a Best Picture nominee that takes home no other awards. Still, it’s really the quality of the score that matters most, evidenced by wins for “The Red Violin” and “Frida.” The race this year is pretty much down to “Avatar” and “Up,” and I am well aware that there more than a few people who detest the former score. Additionally, James Horner already won for “Titanic” back in 1997, and Michael Giacchino, nominated in 2007 for scoring “Ratatouille,” should repeat with the recognition he got and deserved at the Golden Globes and take home this trophy for Up.