In 2002, Randy Newman got best original song for “If I didn’t Have You,” which is mediocre, to be generous. But in 2000, he lost despite having a really great song, “When She loved Me.” It looks like the Academy sometimes makes its decisions by taking into account prior bad decisions.
Randy Newman’s work on “The Natural” was really good as well. I wonder if that earned a nomination at least. One reason why “The Natural” is one of my favourite sports flicks, lol.