Film composer Alexandre Desplat finally picked up an Oscar last night, after his seventh and eighth nominations, for “The Imitation Game” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” He was recognized for his quirky, disjointed and fun score for the latter, which is distinguished by its use of folk instruments such as the balalaika, mandolin and alphorn.
Of course, I can’t help but feel he coasted to victory on the coattails of the classic Mercury Living Presence recording of “Kamarinskaya,” made by the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra, which is used during film’s end credits. It was quoted on at least one occasion last night when an award recipient approached the stage.
Still, there’s no denying Desplat worked very hard this past year, having written the scores for six films, including “The Monuments Men,” “Godzilla,” “Unbroken” and “Suffragette.” I had an inkling that he was going to win, but wondered if the double nomination would split the vote.
I can’t say I was all that impressed with most of the nominees, though Gary Yershon’s score for “Mr. Turner” does kind of stick with me, in a desolate, artsy kind of way. At any rate, any year that Hans Zimmer loses is a good year.
Congratulations, Alexandre Desplat.
Desplat’s score for “The Grand Budapest Hotel”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZM7Iz3eDNU&list=PLlq1il6oOJt0EBgxghlYV-Hk1d5YcUegJ
Gary Yershon’s music for “Mr. Turner”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZlrVf3q3Mc&list=PLZeZu8hkpymOOpWl_smRZEZXoi6NrtxEo
“Interstellar,” by The Great Satan, Hans Zimmer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXtOsmwfQXg&list=PLQmB7XebboHxEQ56JWiYGGsTPDyboZsAK