Guitar and the scores (Photo credit: annilove)
The greatest movies ever made can be identified by their music scores alone. If stripped of the power and eminence of their skilled composers, many timeless cinema classics would suffer in a serious way. Unlike compilation soundtracks, film-scores are purpose written for a specific film and therefore embody the context and gravity of the film in music.
Film composers have produced some the most prolific and recognisable music in the entertainment industry. Just read the word ‘Jaws’ and try not to daah-dum, daah-dum, daah-dum. Dahdumdahdumdahdumdahdum!
Anyway, here’s a round-up of some of the finest film-scores ever written. Sure, it’s a subjective list, but these have been selected based on quality, timelessness and their power as stand-alone work. Ultimately, these film-scores rise above the confines of the film they were written for and have become musical masterpieces in their own right.
American Beauty – Thomas Newman (1999)
This score was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Grammy. It won the latter two. Celebrated for its ambient minimalism, Thomas Newman managed to capture the sense of imprisonment and fantasy in the movie without becoming epic or overtly Hollywood. Masterfully capturing the discontent of a generation, this film-score still resonates with meaning today.
The Graduate – Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
Although some would say this is not strictly a film-score, Simon & Garfunkel’s soundtrack was written for the film and not the other way around. Not to mention the fact that it took Simon & Garfunkel to the heady heights of their hey-day and embodied the soft-core hippie folk-fest of the late 60’s. To this day, music fans are still captivated by the Sound of Silence, a testament to its constancy and worth.
Princess Mononoke – Joe Hisaishi (1997)
Probably one the greatest animated films of all time and unarguably superior to anything Disney has ever churned out, Princess Mononoke brings to life the contemporary turmoil between man and nature. Hisaishi, who has composed the film-scores for almost all of Hayao Miyazaki’s (Studio Ghibli) animated movies, produced an orchestral work of art that managed to illuminate the spiritual elements of the forest whilst telling of the cruelties of war.
The Fountain – Clint Mansell (2006)
Most films’ scores are composed in post-production, however, Mansell’s score for The Fountain was composed alongside the film, growing with it and changing as the film took shape. As a result, the film-score seems to understand its context like no other. “It’s instinct,” Mansell said in an interview, “[I’m] listening to what the film is telling [me] it needs.” Impressively, the composer collated six years of writing material for The Fountain, and with it crafted a film-score of drama and desperation. Despite its close formation with the film, it still manages to be a profoundly influential body of music and typifies the musical dexterity of its composer.
#1 – Schindler’s List – John Williams
This wouldn’t be an article about film-scores without John Williams. Yes, it’s tempting to overlook him and search for something a bit less neo-romantic, but Williams has set the industry standard for adventure scores and without him, we wouldn’t have the catchiest themes in history. Remarkably, John Williams holds the record as the most nominated person alive, with 47 award nominations to his name.
And it’s clear why.
He wrote the film-scores for the Indian Jones films, the Harry Potter series, Superman, Star Wars and, of course, Jaws. In this case, however, Schindler’s List goes down as his finest achievement. It exemplified Williams’ mature and understated orchestral gift because it was such a challenge, and one that he absolutely rose to. This score is, in keeping with the film, desperately sad and yet, at the same time, seeped in brooding subtlety. An absolute triumph from a composing legend.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
