Is this the year of Alexandre Desplat’s first Oscar win? Read my full analysis of the Oscar score and song conversation for 2014 in the magazine. In the meantime, here are my predictions and recommendations:
 
Best Original Score

Most Likely
Alexandre Desplat—The Imitation Game
Alexandre Desplat—Unbroken
Alberto Iglesias—Exodus: Gods and Kings
Jóhann Jóhannsson—The Theory of Everything
Hans Zimmer—Interstellar
 
Good Shots
Danny Elfman—Big Eyes
James Newton Howard—Maleficent
Thomas Newman—The Judge
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—Gone Girl
Howard Shore—The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
 
Long Shots
Gustavo Dudamel—The Liberator
Jonny Greenwood—Inherent Vice
James Newton Howard—Nightcrawler
Clint Mansell—Noah
Steven Price—Fury
 
For Your Consideration
Marco Beltrami—The Homesman
Alexandre Desplat—The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alex Ebert—A Most Violent Year
Rachel Portman—Belle
Howard Shore—Rosewater
 
Original Song
“Big Eyes” from Big Eyes
“Everything Is Awesome!!!” from The Lego Movie
"Lost Stars" from Begin Again
“Mercy Is” from Noah
"Split the Difference" from Boyhood