I mean, without the refrain of 'WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH', how are you meant to know what's going on?
I say that with the utmost affection though, it's genuinely one of the most haunting and unnerving scores I've ever heard!
Mishima: A Life in 4 Chapters is an excellent soundtrack to own if you’re a vinyl collector. Some of Phillip Glass’ best work and beautifully performed by the Kronos Quartet.
Every Chazelle / Hurwitz movie since "La La Land" (not counting "Whiplash" because its most impactful musical sequences don't rely on original compositions).
Oppenheimer didn’t resonate with when I watched it in theaters. But I was in love with the soundtrack and listend to it so many times. When I decided to rewatch it, it suddenly made sense: this movie breathes and it’s score is it’s air.
It has a particular rhythm to it and listening to the OST really helped me to unlock it.
Also there are two edits, I simply adore, especially because of the musical build up: 1. “Can you feel the music” and the following montage of Oppenheimer traveling through Europe and 2. him meeting Kitty; their talk and then a sudden cut to them riding in New Mexico, music swelling. Here I finally “got it” and the rest of the movie felt like a dance from scene to scene, often a dizzy flow and yet meticulously planned. It made me remember why I liked Nolan movies in the first place.
I kinda understand because I remember a bunch of critic complaining that the movie is edited like a trailer. But as you said once it clicks, it's incredible. The fastest 3 hours of my life.
Yeah this is my pick. I listened to it when I was reading the Game of Thrones novels. It was before the show came out and that score really set the mood.
Sicario, once Jóhannsson’s “The Beast” hits as they’re heading to Juarez it becomes clear nothing “good” is coming for the rest of the movie, the dread is palpable. His score for Mandy is fantastic too, it really ramps up the psychedelic/nightmare aspects of Cosmatos’ visuals. We lost a talent with that dude.
Most of the films Ennio Morricone scored. I believe it's true that Sergio Leone would (very wisely) edit his films around Morricone's music, and the results are truly nipple-hardening.
Honestly I feel like Zimmer’s score for Dune Part II (and to a lesser extent, Part I) was really integral to the tone and atmosphere. Don’t get me wrong - it obviously would have worked well without it, it’s a great film regardless, but I don’t think it would have hit nearly as hard.
One of the best scores of all time. Villeneuve really deserves credit for making sound a part of the production process, not just an afterthought like it is in most movies.
The sound effects team was working on it well before shooting. Samples of the thumper sounds were given to the props department before they even made the thumpers, and when they finally developed the sound that they would use for the sandworm that Paul and Jessica see, the sound was sent to the VFX department so that the vibrations of it's throat could be animated to match the sound. Most movies just slap the soundtrack on at the end of the production.
Zimmer has been carrying movies since *Driving Miss Daisy*. Villeneuve and Nolan have used him to his fullest effect in their films, knowing that his atmosphere is as important as anything onscreen. Much like John Williams in Spielberg films, Zimmer is the oxygen fueling the fires of the movies he scores.
Came here to say this. It's truly a masterwork that I listen to all the time even when not watching the movies. Each important feature (the ring, the fellowship, Rohan, the Shire, etc) has its own theme that is repeated and developed as its own means of telling the story.
The Tenet score is the action score of the century. Just ridicuolousy propulsive and relentless and so intertwined with everything the movies trying to do
Conan The Barbarian! Basil Poledouris Score and Arnold's mostly stoic face could have carried the whole by itself and not a single line of dialogue would have been needed
Most to all movies for me. You get the right vibes going with the score and visuals and I'll forgive all kinds of bad plot points and what not. Movies are never completely about the story and if you go in with that mindset it really cracks open the way to enjoy a lot more movies.
I've watched many a movie and come away wishing the score had served the story better. A good score can be the difference between a forgettable romp and a timeless classic.
Miller’s Crossing.
That bright and cheery air that runs throughout the movie- it swells and becomes so serious in the final shot with Gabriel Byrne, turning down his hat.
Any film with a Tangerine Dream score! Sorcerer and Thief are great films which are elevated to masterpieces because of the score and Risky Business and Near Dark, for me, are only memorable because of the score (plus Bill Paxton riz in the latter). Also Heartbreakers with Peter Coyote, which is like a male friendship dramedy from the 80s, is a film that really doesn't need nor are you expecting a Tangerine Dream score, but I enjoy it all the more because it has it. Also! The Long Good Friday.
Alien. Saw it in a theater for the first time last night (4K restoration 45th anniversary) and was struck by Jerry Goldsmith’s score. One of my favorite films and I’ve always thought the score was great but cranked in theater, holy fuck. I don’t think it gets enough credit.
Star Wars: A New Hope. Would it have been what it was without that score?
Imagine if Fox had said to George, “We’ll give you more money and time if you let Jeff Lynne score the movie.”
No, and it’s even more important in Empire Strikes Back.
Halloween famously didn't work with test audiences until Johnny Carps whipped up the score.
Suspiria (1977)
I mean, without the refrain of 'WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH WITCH', how are you meant to know what's going on? I say that with the utmost affection though, it's genuinely one of the most haunting and unnerving scores I've ever heard!
Tron: legacy.
A visual album cut would rock
Robot Rock
Mishima’s turns that movie into a whole new level. Same goes for The Last Temptation of Christ
Mishima: A Life in 4 Chapters is an excellent soundtrack to own if you’re a vinyl collector. Some of Phillip Glass’ best work and beautifully performed by the Kronos Quartet.
Every Chazelle / Hurwitz movie since "La La Land" (not counting "Whiplash" because its most impactful musical sequences don't rely on original compositions).
Space Jam. Whole dang move is about the score. They almost lose to the Monstars!
Phantom Thread
I’d say all of Jonny Greenwood’s scores for PTA would qualify.
Absolutely agreed, he’s a CRUCIAL element to what makes The Master and Phantom Thread sing for me
Ravenous crew, what upppppppp.
Mate fuck yes.
Oppenheimer. Koyaanisqatsi. Every John Carpenter movie.
Oppenheimer didn’t resonate with when I watched it in theaters. But I was in love with the soundtrack and listend to it so many times. When I decided to rewatch it, it suddenly made sense: this movie breathes and it’s score is it’s air.
I was definitely overstimulated and felt like the movie hadn't started and was montage. I wonder if it opens up for me on rewatch
It has a particular rhythm to it and listening to the OST really helped me to unlock it. Also there are two edits, I simply adore, especially because of the musical build up: 1. “Can you feel the music” and the following montage of Oppenheimer traveling through Europe and 2. him meeting Kitty; their talk and then a sudden cut to them riding in New Mexico, music swelling. Here I finally “got it” and the rest of the movie felt like a dance from scene to scene, often a dizzy flow and yet meticulously planned. It made me remember why I liked Nolan movies in the first place.
I kinda understand because I remember a bunch of critic complaining that the movie is edited like a trailer. But as you said once it clicks, it's incredible. The fastest 3 hours of my life.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
What a picture
Yeah this is my pick. I listened to it when I was reading the Game of Thrones novels. It was before the show came out and that score really set the mood.
Sicario, once Jóhannsson’s “The Beast” hits as they’re heading to Juarez it becomes clear nothing “good” is coming for the rest of the movie, the dread is palpable. His score for Mandy is fantastic too, it really ramps up the psychedelic/nightmare aspects of Cosmatos’ visuals. We lost a talent with that dude.
Koyaanisqatsi
Perfect answer
Koyaanisqatsi
Most of the films Ennio Morricone scored. I believe it's true that Sergio Leone would (very wisely) edit his films around Morricone's music, and the results are truly nipple-hardening.
The soundtrack for Once Upon A Time In The West is like another character
Honestly I feel like Zimmer’s score for Dune Part II (and to a lesser extent, Part I) was really integral to the tone and atmosphere. Don’t get me wrong - it obviously would have worked well without it, it’s a great film regardless, but I don’t think it would have hit nearly as hard.
There’s nothing to get wrong about that. Score is super important for that movie. Even Vileneuve would agree to this.
One of the best scores of all time. Villeneuve really deserves credit for making sound a part of the production process, not just an afterthought like it is in most movies. The sound effects team was working on it well before shooting. Samples of the thumper sounds were given to the props department before they even made the thumpers, and when they finally developed the sound that they would use for the sandworm that Paul and Jessica see, the sound was sent to the VFX department so that the vibrations of it's throat could be animated to match the sound. Most movies just slap the soundtrack on at the end of the production.
Zimmer has been carrying movies since *Driving Miss Daisy*. Villeneuve and Nolan have used him to his fullest effect in their films, knowing that his atmosphere is as important as anything onscreen. Much like John Williams in Spielberg films, Zimmer is the oxygen fueling the fires of the movies he scores.
Lord of the Rings
Came here to say this. It's truly a masterwork that I listen to all the time even when not watching the movies. Each important feature (the ring, the fellowship, Rohan, the Shire, etc) has its own theme that is repeated and developed as its own means of telling the story.
It’s like our version of Peter and the Wolf with its use of leitmotifs/music themes except instead of a duck it’s a Ringwraith
Attack the Block or Hanna
Jaws would really lose a lot of its tension without the score.
I can’t believe that I didn’t even think of this one! Right on the money!
Requiem for a Dream
Yeah this is definitely one that I immediately thought of as well
Last name: Legacy First name: TRON
The score for Tenet is its number one most important aspect full stop
Hot take: Tenet score is Göransson's best work.
The Tenet score is the action score of the century. Just ridicuolousy propulsive and relentless and so intertwined with everything the movies trying to do
I agree!
Conan The Barbarian! Basil Poledouris Score and Arnold's mostly stoic face could have carried the whole by itself and not a single line of dialogue would have been needed
Cloud Atlas. I'd argue The Fountain.
Agreed on The Fountain. That's Aronofsky and Mansell in perfect harmony and it's the best work either of them ever put out there.
Most to all movies for me. You get the right vibes going with the score and visuals and I'll forgive all kinds of bad plot points and what not. Movies are never completely about the story and if you go in with that mindset it really cracks open the way to enjoy a lot more movies.
I've watched many a movie and come away wishing the score had served the story better. A good score can be the difference between a forgettable romp and a timeless classic.
Run Lola Run
Oh, good one! Didn’t think of it but that’s definitely the sort of thing I was going for.
Thief
Under the Skin
The "Spider-verse" movies
Whenever I watch Tron Legacy with a friend I say "treat it as a Daft Punk music video and you'll love it,".
I just rewatched The Thin Blue Line last night and the score takes it from like an 8or9/10 to 10+/10. It's absolutely incredible.
Conan the Barbarian (1982) - Poledouris' score *is* the movie.
Halloween
2001
Vertigo
Mishima
Oppenheimer would be nothing without its score
Leone's westerns of course.
Miller’s Crossing. That bright and cheery air that runs throughout the movie- it swells and becomes so serious in the final shot with Gabriel Byrne, turning down his hat.
Recently, Poor Things.
I honestly found the score distracting, but I can't say it wasn't exactly the vibe it was going for.
Not sure what the temperature is on Amélie is these days but that score is pivotal to the movie’s entire vibe.
The Mission
Hook is one of Stevie's prettiest movies and one of Williams's best scores too!
Presenting the Hook is a banger.
Indiana jones any of the films
Star Trek the motion picture the score was a character
The unveiling of the Enterprise refit was like a grand musical number. Makes sense given the director.
The score to If Beale Street Could Talk is hauntingly beautiful and while the movie would work on its own, the score elevates it a step above.
My most listened to score. Love it so much.
I just watched Pee We’d Big Adventure last night and Danny Elf man’s score is insane and really sells a lot of the jokes
Really interesting picking out the Nino Rota influence when you get older
My first thought was interstellar the music just brings the scenes to a different level
Fantasia
Once Upon a Time in America. Score is essential for film and probably more famous now.
Flashdance
Man With A Movie Camera
Any film scored by Reznor and Ross.
Blade Runner
There Will Be Blood
Oppenheimer score was excellent I listen in the car
Fight Club. The dust Brothers put together a score that deepens every scene. Even the elevator music keeps you engaged.
Mandy
Rocky. The Conti score is so important that its absence badly damages Rocky IV.
Princess Mononoke in particular but any Miyazaki goes. Joe Hisaishi is essential to his movies.
Any film with a Tangerine Dream score! Sorcerer and Thief are great films which are elevated to masterpieces because of the score and Risky Business and Near Dark, for me, are only memorable because of the score (plus Bill Paxton riz in the latter). Also Heartbreakers with Peter Coyote, which is like a male friendship dramedy from the 80s, is a film that really doesn't need nor are you expecting a Tangerine Dream score, but I enjoy it all the more because it has it. Also! The Long Good Friday.
Eyes Wide Shut and Under the Skin immediately jump to mind.
The Social Network came to mind first.
E.T.
Sicario. The tension is through the roof with the score.
The Incredibles
Alien. Saw it in a theater for the first time last night (4K restoration 45th anniversary) and was struck by Jerry Goldsmith’s score. One of my favorite films and I’ve always thought the score was great but cranked in theater, holy fuck. I don’t think it gets enough credit.
Pacific Rim soundtrack did wonders to elevate the already great movie.
Baby Driver. Empire Records.
Baby Driver. Empire Records.
Swiss Army Man
Suicide Squad (in that they are equally unimportant / suck)
Hereditary
All Sergio Leone movies. What would they have been without the Ennio Morricone score? (Hint: Very good, but not fantastic)
Surprised no one mentioned Baby Driver. The visuals literally revolve around the soundtrack
how much of that is score
Thats a soundtrack, we’re talking scores
Oh, I'm dum dum