Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Original Score

The competition: The Book Thief (John Williams), Gravity (Steven Price), Her (William Butler and Owen Pallett), Philomena (Alexandre Desplat), Saving Mr. Banks (Thomas Newman)

Previous winners: Life of Pi, The Artist, The Social Network, Up, Slumdog Millionaire, Atonement
My winner: Rush
The facts: Williams holds the record for the most nominations, with a staggering 44 as of this year, with five wins, most recently twenty years ago, for “Schindler’s List.” Newman is the most nominated living composer never to have won, with eleven career nominations. Desplat has amassed his six nominations over the past eight years and has yet to win. Price and the duo of Butler and Pallett are new to this category. In past years, first-time nominees have managed to win for standout scores.

Who should win: “Gravity”
Who will win: It could be “Philomena” or “Saving Mr. Banks,” but I think first-timer Price takes it for Gravity.