A great score can elevate a whole movie to heavenly heights if given to the audience at the right moments. Soundtracks, on the other hand, impress moviegoers with recognizable music, or unrecognized music that everyone really ought to recognize. From classical compositions to eclectic swirls of different genres and styles, music is just as important to delivering superb visual storytelling. Here are just a few movies where the soundtrack or score brought an extra kick to the production.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – Score by Alexandre Desplat with Songs by Jarvis Crocker
With a brilliant blend of quirky instrumental scoring by Desplat with a healthy mix of original songs by Crocker and several songs from well-known bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys, lightheartedness and whimsy is sure to follow!
It Follows (2014) – Score by Disasterpeace
With a heavily ’80s horror-inspired score, this soundtrack features brooding synthesizers, frantic instrumentals and booming basses for an extra layer of suspense. John Carpenter would be proud of this horror film score masterpiece by Disasterpeace!
Whiplash (2014) – Score by Justin Hurwitz
Easily one of the best jazz scores to grace the screen in the past decade, Hurwitz, along with several pieces by well-known jazz artists like Hank Levy and Duke Ellington, drafted an exciting and intense score to match the drama of this film’s ferocious story.
Phantom Thread (2017) – Score by Jonny Greenwood
A beautiful orchestral score follows this masterful film by Paul Thomas Anderson. If a pleasant coffee shop had music playing overhead, this piano-laden, jazz-fueled score has got to be in the running for the best score to play in that setting. This is a wonderful soundtrack to play while reading a nice book!
Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack) (2019) – Various Artists
While the score by Daniel Pemberton is good, the star of this movie’s sound belongs to the motley collection of music taken straight from a teenage boy’s music playlist. Featuring XXXTentacion, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Post Malone among many others, this film’s playlist allows the viewer a look into the main protagonist’s musical world.
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (2019) – Various Artists
Unlike the other movies in this post, this film features a soundtrack composed entirely of songs from the 1960s. Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Dee Clark and many, many others are included on this soundtrack. This soundtrack is a portal into 1960s radio and music, and it is absolutely glorious.
If you would like to watch these films and experience their wonderful soundtracks for yourself, all movies listed on this post are available to borrow from select Orange County Libraries. You can also find the CDs for these soundtracks at select libraries as well. If you have a favorite film soundtrack, feel free to post in the comments below! I wish you luck in all your listening endeavors!
