Best Original Score Oscars Reveal Genre-Rich Musical Field

Gigantic space operas, frozen Cold War thrillers, claustrophobic westerns are just among a few of the options that members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be choosing from this year in the genre-rich category of Best Original Score.

Film music commentator Dr. Scott Stewart just got back from the red carpet world of the West Coast, and came back buzzing about the range of options that could win the gold statue next month.

Stewart joined Lois Reitzes for a sampling of the soundtracks nominated. This year’s nominees are Thomas Newman for “Bridge of Spies,” Johan Johannsson for “Sicario,” Carter Burwell for “Carol,” Ennio Morricone for “The Hateful Eight,” and John Williams for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”