Can you even begin to imagine Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” without John Williams’s chugging theme? I bet you can’t. Williams’s creation of a character – the shark – through music is just one example of how, when utilized creatively and to its full extent, original music can bring a film to a level it never would have reached otherwise.

The music branch in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives out two awards each year – Best Original Score and Best Original Song. The former is one of the more high profile “tech” races on Oscar night. Precursor awards-dishing organizations like the BFCA and the HFPA give out awards for original score, and in recent years, the Academy has specifically showcased the five nominees for this award as they have done for directors and actors. I consider that a nice touch.

The category is nevertheless one of the most difficult to predict. Year after year, the branch seems to care little about what the precursors say. Nominees in the category tend to be an interesting mix of blockbusters, comedies, Best Picture nominees and serious-minded films not included in the Best Picture race.