Oscar Winner Predictions: Best Original Score

The competition: Jackie (Mica Levi), La La Land (Justin Hurwitz), Lion (Dustin O'Halloran and Hauschka), Moonlight (Nicholas Britell), Passengers (Thomas Newman)

Previous winners: The Hateful Eight, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Gravity, Life of Pi, The Artist, The Social Network, Up, Slumdog Millionaire
My winner: To be announced soon!
The facts: So here’s a crazy statistic: only one of these nominees is a returning Oscar contender, and he’s actually the most-nominated living person not to have won this award. This is Newman’s thirteenth bid, and he was up most recently in 2012 for “Skyfall” and 2013 for “Saving Mr. Banks.” Hurwitz is also nominated this year for writing the music for two original songs, and took home the Golden Globe award in this category.

Who should win: I remember really not liking the music in “Jackie,” and unfortunately I haven’t seen “Passengers,” though the pieces of the soundtrack I’ve listened to do seem strong. After seeing the films, I’ve had the chance to listen again to “Lion” and “Moonlight” and liked them, but nothing compares to the totally catchy, wonderful “La La Land” score.
Who will win: It could be any of them, but I think La La Land is far enough ahead.