78th Academy Awards Nominations

This morning, the nominations for the 78th Academy Awards were released; here are the soundtrack related categories and nominees:

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score):
1. “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features) Gustavo Santaolalla
2. “The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias
3. “Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) John Williams
4. “Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) John Williams
5. “Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):
1. “In the Deep” from “Crash” (Lions Gate)
Music by Kathleen “Bird” York and Michael Becker
Lyric by Kathleen “Bird” York
2. “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from“Hustle & Flow” (Paramount Classics, MTV Films and New Deal Entertainment)
Music and Lyric by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
3. “Travelin’ Thru” from “Transamerica” (The Weinstein Company and IFC Films)
Music and Lyric by Dolly Parton

I heard a couple pieces from "Brokeback Mountain" and was very impressed but I am unfamiliar with both "The Constant Gardner" and "Pride & Prejudice" and I have never heard any of the songs nominated. I may have to hunt those down and check them out.

Once again, I am a huge John Williams fan and "Memoirs of a Geisha" was one of my favorite scores last year; I also really enjoyed his music for "Munich". After winning the Golden Globe for "Memoirs", I hope that score takes the Oscar as well. Good luck JW!

You can check out the nominees in all categories by clicking here. The 78th Academy Awards will be held and televised on ABC on Sunday, March 5th.