(London, UK): German-born film composer Marc Streitenfeld has been nominated by the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) in the category of Best Music recognizing his score to \"American Gangster\" for director Ridley Scott. The score, over 100 minutes of music, marks Streitenfeld’s seventh consecutive music collaboration and second film score with Scott.
Set in the Seventies, the crime drama follows a detective (Russell Crowe) who works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a Harlem kingpin who smuggles heroin into the country by hiding it in the coffins of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War. The dark subject matter required a score that could support the tension and add impact to the intense drama. Streitenfeld\'s approach was to utilize an 80-piece orchestra as well as numerous acoustic pre-records, mostly performed by Streitenfeld himself. \"The orchestra is only one element of many,\" explained the composer at a scoring session at the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City, CA.
Streitenfeld just returned from Morocco where he reteamed with Scott on his post-9-11 spy thriller \"Body of Lies.\" Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, tells the story of a CIA operative sent to Jordan to track a high-ranking terrorist. The spy is aided by the head of Jordan\'s covert operations in an uneasy alliance that leads to cultural and moral clashed between the men. \"Body of Lies\" is currently in production and set to be released by Warner Bros. October 10, 2008.
The score CD to \"American Gangster\" is set for release by Varese Sarabande February 19. The 60th Annual Orange British Academy Film Awards take place Sunday, February 10 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.