The competition for the Academy Awards’ Original Score category is heating up with 84 film scores eligible for inclusion – yet one film’s inclusion as potential nominee may have barely squeaked in despite the Academy’s staunch rules on eligibility.

Variety is reporting that Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog‘ has been placed on the “reminder list” which is mailed out to the 234 members of the Academy’s music branch. This, despite the “diminished impact clause” which prohibits the inclusion of “scores diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs” from entering into competition for original song score. Under the specifics of this clause, Andrea Guerra’s score for ‘Nine’, as well as the score for the film ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ were formally disqualified. ‘The Princess and the Frog’ features seven original songs by Randy Newman, as well as a piece by Ne-Yo for the film’s end credits.

From Variety, “The rule was instituted in the mid-1990s, after wins by four Disney animated musicals in The category designed to reward “dramatic underscoring,” not multiple songs. So a possible win for “original score” by a Disney animated musical this year would be ironic considering the origins of the rule.”

However, ‘Princess and the Frog‘ may not be completely exempt. Variety also reports that it’s believed that a last-minute disqualification of the film score may eventually happen.

Source: Variety/Broadwayworld.com
Photo credits: Disney