Trent Reznor Scores His Way In As An Academy Award Winner For Best Original Score

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Rock fans rejoice!

The integral frontman of Nine Inch Nails (among many other projects) Trent Reznor and his long time music collaborator Atticus Ross brought home the Oscar for Best Original Score for The Social Network!

But really, we can’t say that we’re surprised. We knew Reznor had this in the bag pretty much since the day it was announced David Fincher brought him on board as the musical puppet master to propel the emotional components of the film.

We can practically hear the soft tears of Hans Zimmer weeping inside right now from being upstaged by the technological genius that is Trent Reznor.

Previously taking home the Golden Globe for Best Original Score – Motion Picture, Reznor and Ross were highly favored for another triumph in the same category for the Academy Awards. As first-time contenders in the Oscar race, the two defeated seasoned Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman for the golden statue.  For once, the Oscars were worth watching just to see these musical innovators being recognized for their solid achievements in digital composing.

Giving a hug and kiss to his wife (and How To Destory Angels partner), Mariqueen Maandig, Reznor and Ross walked up to the stage to accept the award.

“Wow, is this really happening,” Trent said. “When we finished work on The Social Network, we were very proud of our work and happy to just be involved in this film. And to be standing up in here in this company is humbling and flattering beyond words. I’d like to especially thank the academy and David Fincher…David Fincher thank you so much, thank you for this opportunity.” 

Ross had a condensed acceptance speech due to the time saying, “Thank you to David and everyone who brought this film to life. Trent, I think you’re a genius and a great friend.”

The pieces for this project seemed to fall into place effortlessly. Reznor — a pioneer of incorporating computers for 20 plus years into his music that initialized an entire genre of rock, which he continually evolved as others were just beginning to embrace the digital age.

And Fincher – an imaginary director who was on the forefront of embracing digital cinema for feature films. He adapted this story of the young founder of Facebook into a dark, gripping film about a rebellious programming genius that sacrifices relationships to launch a new social networking site that forever changed how we connect with each other.

There couldn’t have been a better pairing in our minds; Reznor and Fincher have worked together in the past with the innovative director using Reznor’s music in the opening credits of his cult classic Se7en. Fincher also directed the ambitious music video to Nine Inch Nails’ 2005 hit “Only” from With Teeth, which gave us a glimpse into what Fincher’s work set to Reznor’s music would be like.

Both Reznor and The Social Network’s protagonist Mark Zuckerburg are the quiet masterminds whose revolutionary contributions speak for an entire generation. As our own Nicole Alvarez so eloquently put on why Trent Reznor is so deserving of the Oscar, Reznor helped “create the score of a movie based on a world that he helped to create. A world he knew existed way before most people recognized any signs of life.”

So congratulations to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on this huge accomplishment. You have opened the door to a whole new partnership of contemporary music and film and successfully changed the game of film scoring. Reznor has officially established himself as a driving force in music, and all eyes and ears will be focused on his next endeavor with Fincher as he prepares to score the anticipated film The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.