Unless Giacchino surprises me with Rouge One, my pick for best original score of 2016 goes to... The Jungle Book. Would this be eligible for the Oscars considering it borrows themes from the animated film? I'm a bit conflicted because Doctor Strange is my other favorite score of the year, and it's not derivative of another composers work.
If you want the best ORIGINAL score then Andy Hull and Robert McDowell's SWISS ARMY MAN is hands down 2016's winner.
But my FAVOURITE is a toss up between SWISS ARMY MAN, GODS OF EGYPT by Marco Beltrami, TALE OF A LAKE by Panu Aaltio, DARK WAVES by Alexander Cimini, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE by Bear McCreary, PAPER LANTERNS by Chad Cannon and THE RED TURTLE by Laurent Perez Del Mar.
ABZU by Austin Wintory is my favourite game score
Ramin Djawadi's sixth season of GAME OF THRONES is my favourite TV score.
Best Song “Bifröst” from Birkebeinerne (The Last King) performed by Helene Bøksle.
I know most people weren't crazy about it, but I really enjoyed the Civil War score. Not that I'm saying it's the best, but it's one of my favorites. Also Magnificent Seven and bits of Batman v Superman, mostly the new Batman march.
I would have to imagine that the re-use of themes would keep "The Jungle Book" out of the running, as you suggest solium. (I thought that score was fine, but I never got as excited about it as others have.)
There are definitely some scores I liked this year, but I can't think of one that's made me think "This one deserves an award!"
THE FINEST HOURS - Carter Burwell. A gorgeous throwback to the glory days of 90s thematic orchestral scoring:
First delicate appearance of the stunning main theme:
Rousing action scene cue:
The epic, thematic 10 minute finale cue:
I cannot FATHOM how Burwell was allowed to write and record a score this thematic in today's climate that favors bland soundscapes. He was forced to dump a lot of it in the end, and his orchestrator was brought in to compose more generic replacement music for about 1/3 of the film, but Burwell was able to release his intended music on the album.
