Stop Rewarding the Loudest film scores

Ava Peters  

Music Journalist 

Music is an essential aspect of movies; it shapes how we experience them. Yet when it comes to award recognition, not all film scores are valued equally. The loudest and most recognizable scores are typically the ones that win the most rewards. Are awards honoring the most effective film music, or the loudest? 

The Oscar-winning One Battle After Another perfectly demonstrated how music can quietly elevate a film. Its score, composed by Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead, avoids obvious themes in favor of themes that create an atmosphere. Greenwood, who is also known for working on Phantom Thread and There Will Be Blood, builds tension slowly.  

Greenwood created a score that climaxes at the big and explosive action sequences. He uses music as a tool to ramp up the tension gradually. It creates a sense of unease that increases over time. However, it does this subtly; there are no instant memorable melodies. Greenwood’s music is deeply embedded in the film’s atmosphere. 

In addition to the original score, the movie used many popular titles such as “Dirty Work” by Steely Dan, “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes, and “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. These songs function differently from the original score. While Greenwood’s score is designed to fit the film’s structure, pre-existing songs bring their own identity into a movie. They stand out rather than blend in.  

There is a broader issue with how film music is evaluated. The Academy Awards category for Best Original Score is meant to recognize composition as a craft, but subtle scores can be difficult to stand alone from the movies they support. The awards process favors certain types of scores; those that are more recognizable and catchier. The retrained, gentle scores like that of One Battle After Another may be overlooked because the score works quietly.  

This year, Ludwig Göransson won his third Oscar for Best Original Score at the Academy Awards for his work on Sinners. The score is layered, dynamic, and forceful. It is the kind of music that announces itself. That visibility is part of why it succeeds during awards season.  

The differences between subtle and powerful have defined film scoring. Many of the most celebrated composers, such as John Williams, have built their reputation on recognizable themes. These are themes audiences can recall immediately. This makes them memorable during the award season. The genre can also have an influence on score recognition. Epic action films often have loud scores that naturally draw attention.  

One Battle After Another proves that music does not have to be loud to be powerful. The music is less likely to stand out to voters at the Academy Awards; however, its success is in its invisibility.  The most impactful scores are sometimes the ones that stay in the background. The scores that are the least noticeable in the moment, because they merge into the film.