> Life of Pi isn't exactly 'dull' or 'nondescript' but it's also not
> the sort of film score that grabs you by the lapels.

Funny coincidence, because I was just listening to LoP a few days ago. I've had the score for three years now, but for the life of me, I cannot remember any of the themes. Only now did I pay close attention to them and how Danna alters them through the course of the album, but even so, they are quite slight, and more like extended motifs in my ears. It's more of a textural score, as is often the case with Danna. And it doesn't have the glorious highlights of, say, Ride with the Devil or The Nativity Story.

> In terms of Oscar winners I'd put it in the same sort of category as
> Atonement or Finding Neverland or Grand Budapest
> Hotel...nice music, nothing to complain about, but is it really the
> best of its year? Or even close? I think not.

I would argue that LoP is much more ambitious than Finding Neverland, and possibly Atonement, too. GBH is just such an oddball of a score, but it's both memorable and a great fit for the movie. That Desplat managed to pull off a win from his double nomination is...well, due to a big bunch of luck, probably (but then again, it did win both a Grammy and a Bafta). Quick list again:

2014: Grand Budapest Hotel - fine
2013: Gravity - fine
2012: Life of Pi - fine
2011: Artist - "unfair" advantage
2010: Social Network - go boil your head (or theirs, preferably)
2009: Up - fine
2008: Slumdog Millionaire - "unfair" advantage/sweep of the movie
2007: Atonement - fine
2006: Babel - burn Gus' guitars already!
2005: Brokeback Mountain - ech
2004: Finding Neverland - fine, even though it was the weakest of the nominees
2003: Return of the King - my pick as well
2002: Frida - fine, but with an advantage of many songs in the movie
2001: Fellowship of the Ring - fell of the couch I was so happy
2000: Tiger/Dragon - ech

So on a whole, AMPAS hasn't "wronged" me all that much/often, but when they're wrong, they're SO wrong they drag the two preceding and following years down with them.

Yes, Vikram, you heard me.