Friday
Jan182019
The Film Bitch Awards begin: Score, Song, and Sound
Friday, January 18, 2019 at 2:00PM 
Illustration © Tom Ralston. See more of his work here.Yes, we're finally starting! Since Oscar nominations are next week, we have to get through the parallel categories quickly, before we can dive into the crazier stuff (which we always have fun doing). First up the five sound categories. A reminder that we have two score categories since there are so many movies each year that rely as much on their soundtracks as their instrumental scores, or use a great deal of pre-existing material within their score.
On the sound pages you'll find honors for You Were Never Really Here, Annihilation, Mary Poppins Returns, First Man, Roma, A Star is Born and more so have a look, won't you?
Reader Comments (36)
I'm so shocked that "Crazy Rich Asians" wasn't even a semi-finalist for adapted score/combination song/score! Its use of old and new Chinese pop songs helped give the film its style and feel.
I just saw El Angel, Argentina's submission for Best Foreign Film and its Score was fantastic, an inspired blend of instrumental and contemporary (1971) pop songs.
OYAHYTT from Sorry to Bother You is my favorite movie song of the year
I don't think you've seen Blindspotting, but I think the sound design is worthy. Don't know if it'd break thru but think it would get maybe a mention.
So weird to see Adapted Score...especially when an original score is included. Obviously just not a category I'm used to, and I'd probably struggle with making.
But the You Were Never Really Here nods are absolutely great. Didn't know you had seen it.
Thank you for the Hereditary nod! I have no idea why it seems to have fallen out of the conversation. Incredible sound design in that film.
I like the Song choices I know - have to look one up - but "Revelation" was among my faves. I hope it sneaks in. Suggestion for the show: they could open with a gorgeous "All the Stars" performance that leads into the other four, and knock the performances out at the top. Who needs a host? Can you imagine Gaga, Hudson, Sivan and the lovely "Lost Things Go" following? It could be their best opening ever.
Hair
Body
Face
fo ya
Nice. Although excluding "Ready Player One" from sound mixing/editing seems an oversight.
Wait...Disobediance over First Man and Beale St for Original Score? Say what?
No "The Big Unknown" from Widows in Best Original Song is the only glaring disappointment I see :(
@Raul you know why. I know why. They know why. The same reason they get so angry that M Night Shyamalan is still making movies and that Bollywood movies will forever outgross their epitome of white mediocrity like The Favourite. They're just not very big fans of Asians on this website unless it's been given a pass by a white person.
I'm glad The Old Man and the Gun got a runner-up mention in Score. I listen to film scores at work and it's my favorite of the year. Daniel Hart will break out eventually.
I know it's your personal awards but Star taking up three spaces in the original song category is as offensive as the women of The Favourite taking a quarter of the spots in supporting actress.
So, you’ve clearly SEEN The Ballad of Buster Scruggs...
But, overall? Solid as always. Love the love for YWNRH.
I still maintain that "Hearts Beat Loud" the song is right up there with any songs from A STAR IS BORN.
And yes regarding Raul's comment... the score/soundtrack to Crazy Rich Asians (and if I may add Spider-Man Into the Spiderverse) were amazing.
I liked the score for Collette and The Favourite.
TR; nominees are in alphabetical order.
Are the songs committing category fraud, /3rrful? Bad analogy. And I don't love all the songs.
@R; You're trying too hard.
R -- you must have us confused with another site. We love Asian cinema here. If you need some history here you go
"Always Remember Us This Way" not making the top 5... I'm not talking to you until Sunday at least.
I'm pretty sure "R" thinks there is one big racist organization called "the white internet" of which TFE is apparently a part.
“Shallow” may be THE moment of A Star is Born, but “Always Remember Us This Way” is the best song and perfect in my eyes. Disappointed it didn’t make the top 5!
My darling Anna and the Apocalypse, you will be recognized some day, just not today. Truly, no such thing as a Hollywood ending. Ooo woah, ooo woah.
Happy to see Thom Yorke and "Suspirium" made your semi-finalists!
Yeesss! Look forward to the Film Bitch Awards all year!
Honestly with how disappointing/mind boggling this award season has been, the Film Bitch Awards are what this world need right now
I adored the sound design of Suspiria. The final act felt like an actual descent into hell. A cinema experience unlike any other this year.
That Britell score to "If Beale Street Could Talk" is so lovely. Every time I hear snippets of it it evokes the whole movie.
The soundtrack of COLD WAR was one of the most impressive of the year. The music was one of the main characters.
Impeccable picks for Best Original Score.
Co-sign the love for Crazy Rich Asians' adapted score. The use of Chinese songs only (and the use of Yellow in particular) was ballsy yet so effective and rewarding.
"I'll Never Love Again" is a legit mediocre song and ruined the ending of the movie for me. Total pageant cheesiness wannabe Bodyguard nonsense. I would have picked "Always Remember Us This Away" instead.
Loving the inclusion of the DISOBEDIENCE score, my favourite of the year.
Adam -- all i know is for me it played spectacularly and i was so choked up. In this category when in doubt I err on the side of songs that have narrative import.
/3rtful -- I was tempted to give A STAR IS BORN 4 of the 5 slots :) sorry, not sorry!
Devin D -- to my surprise i really liked BUSTER SCRUGGS but what kept it from being excellent for me was the relentless pessimism, misanthropy. Not one of the short stories could have had a moment of grace/happiness that wasn't punctured by violence?
Raul & Kin -- I love reading what you wrote about CRAZY RICH ASIANS. It's possible that I just didn't have enough context to appreciate that fully as I dont know anything about chinese pop music. I like the movie a lot but have only seen it once. Eager to revisit when this awards season dies down.
Nat, here's a nice article on the music of CRAZY RICH ASIANS.
https://www.motherjones.com/media/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-shines-a-spotlight-on-chinese-musicians/
Nathaniel - Okay, I get that. But Coens will be Coens. However, in the interest of the Film Bitch Awards, I would have you keep Kazan, Nelson, and Waits in mind when you get to the acting categories. Just a suggestion, especially since not a single performance in the film has gathered the least bit of traction all season. Too bad, too, since I think some of the best work was done in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. (Don’t even get me started on The Sisters Brothers.)
As in you liked The Sisters Brothers?
Me - I LOVED The Sisters Brothers.
Devin D; Ahh I see, was a little unsure but thought that's what you meant.