1. The Fugitive (1993) Composed By James Newton Howard
This has to be the ultimate score for me; it evokes all the aspects of the film, the emotion, the drama, and the action. Howard has created the perfect score to accompany a film, his mixture of slow jazz pieces and up- tempo orchestrations fit Andrew Davies’ movie like no other score has. This was one of the first CD soundtracks I owned and has contributed to my love of scores and classical music is a huge way. I bought the score shortly after watching the film, which was an amazing experience in the cinema. I quickly came to realize how much the score contributed to the suspense of the film; the pieces that play against the action of the film have become particular favourites, especially to drive to! James Newton Howard has since gone on to compose some of the best film music to be scored, in particular his work on Signs narrowly missed a place in this list. To any score fanatic I strongly recommend.
Essential Listening
Track 3. “Kimble Dyes His Hair”
Track 4. “Helicopter Chase”
For a taste click this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKwD90aUMRA
2. Batman (1989) Composed By Danny Elfman
Tim Burton’s Batman was seen very much as the reinvention of the comic book adaptation, I believe one of the biggest contributors to this was Danny Elfman’s score. Prior to composing the score for Batman Elfman had worked on some major films, most notable being Scrooged and Beetlejuice, both these scores were dark and brooding in tone but often interlaced with very playful elements. He has scored all but two of Burton’s films but has never bettered his work than on this score. The compositions were perfect for a superhero comic book adaptation with grand orchestrations full of gothic themes, the addition of choral elements only increasing the scores stature. Elfman has become the man to call for comic book movies, he has scored Spider-Man, Hulk and this summer has two films out Wanted and Hellboy II both comic book adaptations. His style was never more tailored for the story of Batman, the darker elements for the protagonist and the playful manic themes for The Joker.
Essential Listening
Track 1. “The Batman Theme”
Track 10. “Descent Into Mystery”
For a taste click this link -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hm87mh3hEVo&feature=related
3. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial Composed By John Williams
John Williams is the greatest film composer of all time – fact. Nearly everyone you meet will be aware of one of his themes and probably be able to hum it for you. In particular when working with Spielberg he is able to create some of the most unique pieces of music ever made for film. So why choose E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, I think it was the time when both director and composer hit their top game, Spielberg has never made a better film and Williams’ score is the best element of the film. Spielberg was in fact criticised for re-editing the last ten minutes of the film to fit the best take by the orchestra, this is insane if you have the greatest composer working on your film everything else follows. The music easily captures the magic of the film, but I especially like the suspense attached pieces like “Far From Home/ET Alone” this music accompanies most scenes of E.T. being hunted and adds such a level of tension to viewing the film. The 15-minute opus of “Escape/Chase/Saying Goodbye” has more themes and moments of genius than any other single piece written for a film, you will be straight to your BMX for a ride round the streets.
Essential Listening
Track 2. “Far From Home/ET Alone”
Track 20. “Escape/Chase/Saying Goodbye”
For a taste click this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le7zzdOKUdg
4. Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) Composed By Howard Shore
So I have cheated a bit by classing this as on listing, but I would have had to list all three films and would have monopolized the Top ten. The one thing that amazes me about film scores is how consistently composers are at the top of their game when working with a director who is at the top of theirs. Shore has created an outstanding body of work for Peter Jackson’s trilogy and whereas his work has always been good, he has never made such an achievement as he did with LOTR. I could write pages on all the different themes he created, the wonderful choral pieces and rich wealth of instruments used. I will just list the two most note worthy tracks, “The Breaking of The Fellowship” has such extremes of emotion in its composition, the exceptional way in which it gives you the feeling of conclusion, something that was needed as the story was far from over at this point. Secondly from “Return Of The King” we have “The Black Gate Opens”, this piece has such a huge range from a grand foreboding theme to the quiet beauty of the music that accompanies the Hobbits desperately trying to get up the mountain. This is now one of the most popular soundtracks of all time, with film score fans and general music lovers; its crossover is obvious in its brilliance.
Essential Listening
Disc 1, Track 18. “The Breaking of The Fellowship”
Disc 2, Track 16. “Forth Eorlingas”
Disc 3, Track 15. “The Black Gate Opens”
For a taste click this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sGJPyGFgIU
5. Field Of Dreams (1989) Composed By James Horner
This score comes from my favourite film of all time. I’m not sure if the makes me prejudice to the score but I do know it is one of the main elements that made me fall in love with the movie. James Horner is often referred to as a self-plagiarist, his themes often appear in more than one film, re-cycled to fit the film (see Aliens and Star Trek II). Elements of this score have also been used elsewhere, however when the music is this good who cares? The compositions build slowly with the film to the wonderful climax, first employing just keyboards and panpipes, then the piano pieces come in and finally we have the grand orchestral themes of the conclusion. Horner has since worked on some major pictures, especially after the huge popularity of the Titanic score, but in my view was never more competent than with Field Of Dreams.
Essential Listening
Track 10. “Night Mists”
Track 12. “The Place Where Dreams Come True”
For a taste click this link – http://youtube.com/watch?v=UDise3S1TAc
6. Dances With Wolves (1990) Composed By John Barry
John Barry has nearly fifty years of experience in writing music for films, from Zulu to Out of Africa, with numerous Bond films along the way. However I believe his crowning achievement to be “Dances With Wolves”. The themes he created for this film have become an important part in my love affair with scores; I even had it on cassette before I owned a CD player. Barry’s exceptional composition lends so much to Costner’s film; it transforms it into the Oscar winner with themes that so stirring it is impossible to forget them. Through all the music behind the drama and action the love themes are excellent and convey the romance of the two leads. This is essential for any score collection, just make sure you get the extended release which has 20-minutes of extra music on it.
Essential Listening
Track 4. “The John Dunbar Theme”
Track 15. “The Love Theme”
For a taste click this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJLPckUEcao
7. Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace (1999) Composed By John Williams
The second John Williams score in my list made it here for one reason “Duel Of The Fates”. This is truly one of the greatest themes ever composed for a film, the biggest surprise being that by this point in his career you could hardly believe that Williams had yet another theme of this magnitude in him. I am a big Star Wars fan and enjoy all the music related to the films, but this theme out does all the others, I know it is reprised in the subsequent films but it is at the heart of The Phantom Menace. The strong choral elements of the piece take it to such a dramatic level leaving you enthralled after listening to it, all you want to do is pick up a lightsabre and swing away! The rest of the score is also excellent, the obligatory open/end title pieces, Williams also weaves pieces from the original trilogy into new themes, most notably “Anakin’s Theme” which uses elements of “The Imperial March”. There are so many fine John Williams scores, he is easily the most consistent of all film composers and is sought by the best directors, I could list all the great themes he has made but I’m sure you all know them!
Essential Listening
Track 1. “Star Wars Main Title”
Track 2. “Duel Of The Fates”
For a taste click this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaiEHNv2g6w
8. Doc Hollywood (1991) Composed By Carter Burwell
Now this is a score you will not often see on top lists. The film just happens to be my favourite romantic comedy and I believe that all great composers are those who have pulled off a good, original romantic score. Carter Burwell is most famous for scoring the Coen Brother’s movies; here he added his great talent to a small comedy scoring the film with quirky original themes, which also packs an emotional punch. The film tells the tale of Ben Stone, played by Michael J Fox, a doctor who is forced to do community service in a small southern town whilst on route to L.A. where he hopes to become a plastic surgeon. Of course Ben slowly falls in love with the town and one of the residents. The love theme in the movie (“Slow Squash Love”) rates as one of the best romantic themes I’ve heard, also Burwell creates a real sense of character in the town with the themes he uses to represent it. Burwell has also composed other great scores, The Hudsucker Proxy and Miller’s Crossing being the most notable.
Essential Listening
Track 9 “Slow Squash Love”
Track 21 “Back To The Interstate, Ben Stone”
For a taste click this link – http://youtube.com/watch?v=woVBnQDpHLI
9. The Thin Red Line (1998) Composed By Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer is mostly known for scoring big summer films, The Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy, Gladiator, M:I 2 to name a few, but I believe when he works a smaller films that he composes his best work. Not that The Thin Red Line is a small film; it is however far removed from your average summer blockbuster. On scoring this film Zimmer met the full potential that he had shown with films such as True Romance and Rain Man. He evokes such a level of emotion with the music as to compliment the awesome cinematography and direction that are evident in the film. Where as in other films he has composed stand out noticeable themes here everything is far more subtle, tracks slowly build into an emotional crescendo, leaving the listener quietly moved. This is without a doubt Zimmer’s best work, I know many people love the themes from Gladiator, but here you will witness a far greater body of work.
Essential Latinising
Track 3. “Journey To The Line”
Track 10. “God U Tekem Laef Blong Mi”
For a taste click this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G58ItEz2Sc
10. Amelie (2001) Composed By Yann Tiersen
When I first saw Amelie I did not even note that the score was so impressive, this is probably due to the fantastic visuals that bombard you throughout. On subsequent viewings I realized that the score was probably the greatest element of the film, helping to bring out the emotion of the story whilst adding to the off the wall attitude of the titular character. I must admit like many I had not heard of Yann Tiersen before seeing the film, much of the work in the film are versions of tracks off his solo albums. The minimalist style immediately reminded me of Philip Glass of whom I am a fan. Tiersen plays many of the instruments himself on the score, which include piano, harpsichord and accordion. The score portrays the melancholy of the story fantastically with a slow piano piece (“Comptine d’un autre été: l’après-midi”); also we build to the romance and elation of the conclusion of the film that is perfectly scored with a full orchestra (“La valse d’Amélie”). All of Tiersen’s skill helped make this one of the most perfect scores I’ve heard, after listening to it I defy you not to go and skim stones!
Essential Listening
Track 4 “Comptine d’un autre été: l’après-midi”
Track 11. “La valse d’Amélie (Orchestra Version)”
For a taste click this link – http://youtube.com/watch?v=aip3836VtZ0&feature=related
Filed under: Reel Scores, Reel Top 10's
