Birdman has been doing fairly well this year, both among critics and with accolades. Already the recipient of several awards, including dozens of nominations and wins, the film is an absolute frontrunner for several statues at this year’s Academy Awards. But sadly, Antonio Sanchez’s extraordinary improvisational, jazz-based drumming score will not be one of them.
As reported by The Guardian, Birdman’s score, written by first time composer Sanchez, has been banned from competing for the Oscar due to a very specific technicality. That technicality deals with the use of previously recorded classical music cues… which make up about 17 minutes of Sanchez’s total score. The Academy’s rules for eligibility state: “Scores diluted by use of tracked themes or other pre-existing music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible.”
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu reportedly campaigned heavily for the inclusion of his compadre’s music, and despite the fact that Sanchez’s original compositions make up over 50% of the total music in the film, the Academy refused to budge on their decision, denying the Birdman composer’s entry.
Sanchez shared some of his thoughts on the Academy’s unfortunate decision. “Another thing they said was the biggest dramatic moments of the film were underscored by classical music. I disagree, because the most memorable moments are scored by drums,” he said in a recent interview. “…To not be able to even participate, to not be on the list, that’s what’s so disappointing. If I’m on the list and I don’t get nominated, so be it. To not be able to participate with this thing we put our hearts into … it’s disappointing.”
Birdman is one of the best films of 2014 (read review here). The film was recently nominated for seven Golden Globes including a nod for Antonio Sanchez’s for Best Original Score.
William Fanelli is a regular contributor to Flickering Myth – You can follow him on Twitter
You can listen to the Flickering Myth Podcast review of Birdman using the player below:
Originally published December 23, 2014. Updated July 3, 2023.
