At first glance, Juno, Atonement and August Rush don’t have much in common. Yet these three, despite their stark differences in style, have a common aspect that has caught the attention of critics and moviegoers alike — their music.

All three have received Oscar nominations for their soundtracks — Juno and Atonement for Achievement in Music (Best Original Score) and August Rush for Best Original Song.

Juno was not only the indie hit of the season (it even scored a Best Picture nod), but its soundtrack is currently the number one downloaded album on iTunes. A mixture of indie and folk sounds, along with classic rock and some tunes reminiscent of children’s songs, each track on the Juno soundtrack is carefully selected as if from Juno’s personal music library.

Anyone who has seen the movie can attest that the music brings it together — and this is evident in the soundtrack, as well. By simply listening to it, one is able to relive the entire film, from its quirky characters and situations to the heartfelt emotion that it carries below its comedic surface. The songs not only complement the film’s unique lighthearted quality, but also make a good compilation of sounds that one can enjoy at home.

The Moldy Peaches track “Anyone Else But You,” which also appears on the album as a duet sung by Ellen Page and Michael Cera (the endearingly quirky young couple the movie is centered around), will have you humming it all day after hearing it. Some songs, such as those by Moldy Peaches co-creator Kimya Dawson — “Tire Swing” and “Loose Lips,” with their light, childlike guitar melody and seemingly thrown-together lyrics may be a little too odd for some, but for anyone who enjoys indie music and light, delightfully odd sounds, the Juno soundtrack is a must.

Atonement, another Best Picture Oscar nominee, probably doesn’t strike most viewers as a movie that would be noticed for its music; after all, most of the audience is there to see the epic romance and the sex scene in the library. But with an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score, its soundtrack deserves a listen. After the first three tracks, one can feel how composer Dario Marianelli captures the essence of the film’s story, and by the end of it, you’re immersed in the same emotions found in the film. With tracks that go from urgent and aggressive to the more soothing romantic sounds of compositions like “Robbie’s Note,” there is little to complain about on the Atonement soundtrack. Unlike the other two movies’ soundtracks, Atonement’s is mostly instrumental, but the music is beautiful and emotional, perfect for studying or playing in the background of a fancy dinner party.

August Rush, a movie centered around the power of music, doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its soundtrack, which, after watching the music-filled film, one pretty much already knows by heart. From “August’s Rhapsody,” a beautiful composition featured at the end of the film, to Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ rock numbers and the gospel choir rendition of “Raise it Up,” the music of August Rush truly conveys the film’s message: Music moves people from within. Its “Main Title” track includes an amazingly composed compilation of sounds, as it begins with the film’s introduction alongside the sound of violins, moving on to Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ contrasting rock beat. With a Best Original Song nomination for “Raise it Up,” August Rush gives its audiences an appreciation for what music is capable of.

This Oscar season includes romance, action, drama and comedy — a wide range of genres, each requiring a very different type of soundtrack. Whether the Oscar goes to the quirky indie tunes of Juno, the powerful melodies of Atonement, or the dynamic compositions of August Rush, the nominated films’ soundtracks have proven that it’s not only the acting, directing and cinamatography that lead to these films’ success; it’s the music that makes the movie.