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And Now My Top 10 Film Scores!Sep 03 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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I should preface this Top 10 by telling you how I came up with this list. First, I made a distinction between film scores and film soundtracks. I consider the score to be the orchestral music written specifically for the film itself and the soundtrack to be a compilation of songs or "temp-track" music that comes from a variety of previously recorded sources. Many of the best-written film scores have had the misfortune of being coupled with not-so-great films and vice versa. Unfortunately, it is more often the success of a movie rather than the quality of the music itself that can help put a composer's career on the A-list in Hollywood alongside John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Maurice Jarre and Hans Zimmer amongst others. Take one of Hans Zimmer's earlier scores for the South African set film, Power of One, in which you can almost hear the foundation for much of the music in the Lion King. It's a wonderful feel good, uplifting score but the film itself wasn't exactly a box office hit and as a result not many people even know this score exists. There are a lot of scores that are generic sounding. Many of these could be used for any one of dozens of other films out there. The composers in this list not only did an exquisite job of creating an atmosphere uniquely fitted to the film in question, but also gave voice and dimension to the myriad characters and plot devices where none previously existed. That said, the list below consists of scores that are also perfectly tailored to the film they accompany like a well-tailored suit should fit a person. The high caliber of musicianship in these scores also allows them to stand as great musical achievements on their own. I hope you agree! (One notable score I left off my list is Lawrence of Arabia. Before you start poo-pooing my list let me say that yes, I’ve heard the music. No, I’ve not actually seen the movie so can’t really attest to its ability to complement the movie it was composed for. After all the accolades it’s received, I’m sure it’ll make my Top 10 when I get around to seeing it!) #10 Halloween Composed by John Carpenter Carpenter is the only filmmaker I can think of who also scores his own films. When Carpenter first screened this film for Hollywood execs without the music, it was seen as a complete dud that had little chance of ever getting made. After he added the spooky, unsettling 5/4 piano score they loved it and audiences since then have been scared out of their wits. What astonishes me is the effectiveness of the music with the use of little more than a piano and simple synthesizer. I still get goose bumps when I play this CD. #9 The Color Purple Composed by Quincy Jones Breaking from tradition, Spielberg chose Quincy Jones instead of John Williams to compose the music for this moving film about a woman's struggles growing up in the Deep South during the early part of the 20th century. Especially successful are the period pieces Jones wrote to be integrated into the action of the film such as the rousing gospel hymn God Is Trying to Tell You Something and the song Sister which was nominated for an Oscar for best song in 1985. #8 The Mission Composed by Ennio Morricone Some would call Morricone one of the greatest film composers of all time. I couldn't agree more. The opening track helps set the mood for the entire movie that explores the European incursion into native lands south of present day Florida. One particularly effective track features what are supposed to be Native Americans singing Latin church music. Realizing that the indigenous population probably didn't exactly sound like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Morricone chose a more raw mixture of voices that when combined as a full choir sends a shiver down your spine. You can almost hear the sadness in their voices. #7 The Red Violin Composed by John Corigliano This score won an Oscar just a couple of years ago and deservedly so. The last time Corigliano was up for an Oscar was for his equally superb score for the film Altered States done back in 1981. Though I felt it was the clear winner that year, he was snubbed and he only scored one more film between then and the Red Violin. This film traces the provenance of a valuable violin from its creation in the 18th century up to the late 20th century. Music is central to the film’s plot. Corigliano composed a stirring theme for the violin itself that is played in styles to match the various time periods throughout the movie. #6 Schindler's List Composed by John Williams This is one of the most haunting and emotionally moving scores ever written for film. Williams has paid homage to Spielberg’s masterpiece with a superb score that is both restrained and dignified in its underscoring of one of the most horrific events in human history. Famed violinist Itzhak Perlman gives a stunning solo performance on a couple of tracks. This CD, when listened to on its own, may bring tears to your eyes especially if you are familiar with the film’s stark, black and white images. #5 E.T. Composed by John Williams For a feel good score that makes you want to get up and clap at its end, look no further than E.T. Not only does the music perfectly complement the film, but it also stands alone as a triumph of musical achievement in its own right. The whole score has an uncanny ability to heighten your emotions at just the right moments. I especially love the track Over the Moon with lush, beautiful piano arpeggios being played as E.T. and Elliott soar over the treetops. This score earned Williams a well-deserved Oscar back in 1982. #4 Planet of the Apes Composed by Jerry Goldsmith The bizarre and unfamiliar sounding main title of this cult classic leaves the viewer unsettled and serves as a harbinger for things to come. It tells you that the movie you’re about to watch is anything but ordinary. You are left feeling as equally lost and as apprehensive as Heston and his crew. Goldsmith’s crowning moment in this film is “The Hunt” when the audience first sees the apes hunt down their human prey. Though not exactly music to come home and relax to, I couldn’t imagine a more appropriate score for this film. #3 Once Upon a Time in the West Composed by Ennio Morricone From the beautiful opening female vocal to the track Man With the Harmonica, this entire score not only puts the viewer squarely in the Old West mentally but also does so with an originality that is without parallel in the Western genre. On its own the music is great to listen to, but it should (as with all film scores) be listened to with the film to fully appreciate its ability to amplify what the director could not say in pictures or words. Morricone has excelled at this in more ways than one in this score. #2 Jaws Composed by John Williams Who doesn’t think of shark infested waters when they hear the main title of this score? And who would’ve though that music consisting of just two modulating notes could conjure up so much frightening aquatic imagery? Spielberg himself said that the film’s success is due in large part to the chilling music. The music often suggests what the viewer only gets tiny glimpses of, for example, in seeing a single fin slicing through the water. It invokes not only the presence of the shark itself but simultaneously conjures the terror running through all the characters’ hearts as they swim for their lives. #1 Star Wars Composed by John Williams I can think of no other film score than the one for Star Wars that immediately brings an entire movie franchise to mind to anyone listening to the music. That alone is a powerful testament to Williams’ ability to craft a powerful score that is uniquely Star Wars and is probably the most recognizable score ever written. The rousing opening still makes fans old and young scream and cheer on opening night even after the 5th installment. Williams makes great use of leitmotifs (assigning musical cues to each character) to foreshadow, accentuate and even create characters. Take, for example, the short theme composed to represent “the Force”. Next time you watch the film (as well as the other movies in the series) make note of when this theme is played and how it can let you know, for example, what is going on inside Luke’s head. This is film scoring at its absolute finest. And the Runner-Ups are (in alphabetical order)... American Beauty Thomas Newman Empire of the Sun John Williams Glory James Horner Legends of the Fall James Horner Malena Ennio Morricone Nightmare Before Christmas Danny Elfman Out of Africa John Barry Pink Panther Henry Mancini Shadowlands George Fenton Terms of Endearment Michael Gore  |
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