Favorite Soundtracks

[rimbaud]

I would like to hear some people opinion about how important a good soundtrack is to them, and does it make a difference in the movie.
Also which are your favorite?

[DanielBenoit]

My all time favorite soundtrack has to be without a doubt the single zither in The Third Man. No other film has ever used a soundtrack like it, and escpecially when it was conventional to use an orchestra at the time. The zither is so perfect, for it completely reflects the atmosphere of the film; quirky, cynical, confused, lonley.

Now as for original orchestral scores I think the obvious choices are anything by Bernard Herman, from his haunting score in Vertigo to his jazzy and solitude ridden score in Taxi Driver.

As for soundtracks with music made prior to the production, I would have to say that anything made by Stanley Kubrick or Martin Scorsese. Nobody knows how to use pre-recorded music in a film better than those two guys. Prime examples are 2001: A Space Odyssey and Mean Streets.

[Babbalanja]

I love Jerry Goldsmith's dodecaphonic soundtrack to the original Planet of the Apes. It's an accomplished piece of music as well as an appropriately disturbing soundtrack to the sci-fi movie.

As for soundtracks with music made prior to the production, I would have to say that anything made by Stanley Kubrick or Martin Scorsese.

Scorcese's The Departed, though, had a soundtrack of instantly-recognizable classic hits more fitting for an SUV commercial. Which, come to think of it, the movie itself was no better than.

Regards,

Istvan

[DanielBenoit]

Scorcese's The Departed, though, had a soundtrack of instantly-recognizable classic hits more fitting for an SUV commercial. Which, come to think of it, the movie itself was no better than.

Regards,

Istvan

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Scorsese's use of recognizable classic hits are used because it associates the audience with a time and place. Pop soundtracks have been used since the 60's and not only by Scorsese.

I love the soundtrack to M*A*S*H: Endless bickering and mumbling

[rimbaud]

Scorcese's The Departed, though, had a soundtrack of instantly-recognizable classic hits more fitting for an SUV commercial. Which, come to think of it, the movie itself was no better than.

Regards,

Istvan

I loved the departed soundtrack, especially Gimme Walter, comfortably numb and shipping out to boston

[Babbalanja]

I loved the departed soundtrack

I prefer the sparse, eccentric soundtrack to After Hours. As well as the movie itself.

Regards,

Istvan

[Eryk]

A few Favorites:

28 Weeks Later

Fight Club

Mulholland Drive

[Lokasenna]

The only movie soundtrack I've got on my PC is Stardust, which was a fantastic film. I also used to have the soundtracks to Kill Bill and 28 Days Later but lost them in a format... they were good stuff.

Oh, I've also got the various soundtracks to the revived Dr Who - Murray Gold is an incredible composer.

[DanielBenoit]

Mulholland Drive

Ohh, almost forgot. Almost all David Lynch films have great eerie soundtracks.

[Janine]

Happen to watch Vertigo last night and it's the first time I actually was swept away by that soundtrack. It might be because this is a new release and restoration and I was listening on headphones. Yes, I agree, Daniel, when you say:

"Now as for original orchestral scores I think the obvious choices are anything by Bernard Herman, from his haunting score in Vertigo to his jazzy and solitude ridden score in Taxi Driver."
I recall that Taxi Driver also had a great soundtrack!

Now this is one of my favorite subjects - soundtracks! Most of you have all mentioned the edgy, tense, erie type soundtracks and for my own general enjoyment when not viewing the film I can't listen too long to those without getting a bit depressed or edgy myself. However, I do find myself going back to certain artists and their soundtracks. I guess I like more romantic ones, but with a lot of variation thoughout...nothing sappy, mind you. I love John Williams, Patrick Doyle, John Barry, and many more composers. I collect as many soundtracks as I can. I will find my list and list some here when I have the time. I also love any of the Broadway show soundtracks. I have collections of each - film and shows.

[Dirtbag]

Edward Scissorhands
The Virgin Suicides
Pan's Labyrinth

Sound is a powerful tool. It doesn't need to be used to make a good movie but it can be used to strengthen the effect of what's being expressed visually. In my opinion, that's what a moving film score does.

Apart from music, movies have also made custom sounds that have helped make fictional objects and characters seem more real. I think Pan's Labyrinth did an amazing job with it's creaky faun and creepy blind guy....

[Helga]

virgin suicides definitely
and Magnolia.... love amy mann
oh and legend of 1900, lovely piano and jazz

[Shalot]

The Skeleton Key Soundtrack is good

Wristcutters

Zac and Miri Make a Porno (Pixies, Primus and there's a Live song on there...I never really cared for Live all that much but it takes me back to the '90's.)

[skib]

Favorite soundtrack: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer hands down.

Favorite movie. Hmm. Depends on the day. It's a three headed coin toss up between State of Play, The Chronicles of Riddick, and Perfume.

[The Comedian]

I've always enjoyed the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" soundtrack in its own right.

As for a soundtrack's relationship to film -- well, I know many of the movie fans here would likely disagree with me, but I think the soundtrack is THE most important element to modern film. A soundtrack either outright creates the emotional elements of a film or catalyzes them from inert to hyperactive.