Oscar-nominated Film Scores Push Boundaries

Soundcheck | May 3, 2010
Jonny Greenwood's score for "There Will Be Blood" has won critical praise but it was shut out of Oscar consideration due to a technicality. Nevertheless, the nominees for best original score at this Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony are notably diverse: "Atonement," "The Kite Runner," "Michael Clayton," "Ratatouille" and "3:10 to Yuma." Today we handicap the nominees. Also: The first album in four years from the Magnetic Fields is called "Distortion" — and for good reason. Every song on it is soaked in reverb and feedback. The group's leader, Stephin Merritt, joins us to perform live.

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