Denise: No Trent Reznor and Atticus Finch in this category?  I cry foul!  But with these nominees it’s gonna be tough to beat The Artist here.  This movie relied on it’s musical score to tell the story, and it did so brilliantly.  That said, this category is usually John Williams’ to win, so it should make for an interesting competition.

Rock: Now this is my category.  I am a HUGE fan of film compositions and a voracious collector of them.  Don’t get me started.  Compositions are so hard to make and pivotal for a films success in committing scenes to audiences memory (That’s a whole ‘nutha column right there).  John Williams will win for sure and  because he’s an Academy favorite having done the music for the show at least 3 times over the years, the question is which one will they gravitate towards? Hmm… I want Williams to win for TinTin.   It was wild and visual.  He’s a good film composer…not great like Hans Zimmer or Thomas Newman, but good.

Matthew: The Artist

Tatiana: I second that Denise. I can’t believe the Reznor/Finch team didn’t even get a nomination! I’m opting out on principle alone.

Score card…
Denise – The Artist
Rock – The Adventures of Tintin
Matthew – The Artist
Tatiana – opted out
Alex – The Artist

MUSIC (SONG) …the nominations go to:
‘Man or Muppet’ from “The Muppets”
‘Real in Rio’ from “Rio”

Denise: Are you *bleepin’* me?  No Chris Cornell’s “The Keeper” from Machine Gun Preacher?  No Mary J. Blige’s beautiful “The Living Proof” from The Help?  What is the Academy thinking? Between these two lackluster-in-comparison nominees, I’ll go with “Real in Rio”.  Though with this half-baked nominee list of two, it’ll probably go to the Muppets.  Sigh.  Another year of amazing songs that the Academy bypasses.  And some folks wonder why many feel the Academy is out of touch….

Matthew: The Muppets

Rock: It’s gotta be The Muppets.  My oldest boy and I have been doing the duet for the past two weeks, he keeps requesting it on the drive to school.  It’s an awesome song, and shows yet again Segel’s imagination and skill as a writer.  I love the success he’s seen, and I’d love for him to snag a statue.  If you haven’t seen the film, at least catch the scene where the duet plays out – it’s classic.

Tatiana: I’m going to go with “Real in Rio.” There’s something about birds in Brazil…

Alex: I’m going to give the nod to The Muppets here. Great song that is catchy and full of life and great tunes. Rock summed it up best wit his comments regarding Segel’s imagination and skills as a writer.

Score card…
Denise – ‘Real in Rio’ from Rio
Matthew – ‘Man or Muppet’ from The Muppets
Rock – ‘Man or Muppet’ from The Muppets
Tatiana – ‘Real in Rio’ from Rio