News

Academy Reverses Decision on Dark Knight Score

The executive committee of the music branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has reversed a prior decision that made the score to The Dark Knight ineligible for an Oscar nomination due to a minor technicality.

The score was rendered ineligible in the Best Original Score category because too many composers were involved in the writing process. The Academy only considers scores that are credited as the work of just one or two composers and usually shuns those with multiple writers. The decision was originally handed down on November 10. However, after reviewing the submission, the committee accepted the score as eligible, acknowledging that Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard are the main composers, despite receiving additional support from others. Since ballots have yet to be mailed, the decision is not expected to affect the voting process.

In other Dark Knight news, the film cleaned up with six nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, along with Slumdog Millionaire and Doubt, each of which also received six nods. Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button topped the list of nominees, grabbing eight nominations a piece. The Broadcast Film Critics Association represents more than 200 critics from North America, including Canada. The Critics Choice Awards are often considered a precursor of Oscar nominations.

Ten films received Best Picture nominations. In addition to the five aforementioned films, Changeling, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, WALL-E, and The Wrestler also received top nods. The awards will be handed out on January 8 in Los Angeles. Also, WALL-E was selected as Best Picture by the Los Angeles Critics Association.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
12.10.08