Movie composer doc sucks

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Film scores and their composers (and their relationships with directors) could make for a fascinating multi-part series. It's therefore dispiriting to read that Dan Lieberstein's Lights! Action! Music!, a doc that airs tonight on New York's WLIW , is, in the opinion of N.Y. Times critic Stephen Holden, "a fluffy, disorganized, woefully incomplete compendium of interviews and film clips about movie music...a sampler for a larger and deeper exploration....even on its own terms, a frivolous diversion."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 6, 2007 at 11:00 AM

comment #1

Thrudvangar says ...

Hi Walter.

Posted by Thrudvangar at August 6, 2007 11:43 AM

comment #2

DarthCorleone says ...

What a sad, lonely, unpopulated thread. O.k....

My five favorite film scores (with no more than one per composer):
1) John Williams - The Empire Strikes Back
2) Vangelis - Blade Runner
3) Bernard Herrmann - Vertigo
4) Maurice Jarre - Lawrence Of Arabia
5) James Horner - Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Posted by DarthCorleone at August 6, 2007 2:06 PM

comment #3

Eddie says ...

I don't have a favorite score. Though I'll always have a soft spot for Elfman's Batman, because that was the movie that got me interested in film score to begin with.

My favorite film composer is Carter Burwell, who never seems to get the love he should.

Posted by Eddie at August 6, 2007 2:16 PM

comment #4

christian says ...

this thread count is too low.

top 5 scores:

J.Williams - Star Wars (the first record i ever bought)

Bernard Herrmann - 7th Voyage of Sinbad

John Barry - On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Jack Nietzche - The Razor's Edge

James Horner - Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

i'm with darthcorleone on most of 'em. but gawd, too many to count...like a good thread.

Posted by christian at August 6, 2007 2:31 PM

comment #5

Edward says ...

Ennio Morricone's score for "Once Upon A Time In The West."

Posted by Edward at August 6, 2007 2:32 PM

comment #6

Edward says ...

I've grown to dislike John Williams and his overblown scores, but Star Wars did rock. If you want music to hit you over the head, hire John Williams.

Posted by Edward at August 6, 2007 2:36 PM

comment #7

christian says ...

oh shit. i forgot OUATITW.

next to STAR WARS one of the most perfect marriages of image and music.

Posted by christian at August 6, 2007 2:39 PM

comment #8

Edward says ...

Kubrick's "2001", "A Clockwork Orange" and "Barry Lyndon" are great examples of perfect marriages of image and music; even though there are no "film" composers involved.

Posted by Edward at August 6, 2007 2:57 PM

comment #9

source188 says ...

Gattaca - Michael Nyman
The Fountain & Requiem for a Dream - Clint Mansell
Taxi Driver - Bernard Herrmann
Blade Runner - Vangelis
Mulholland Drive - Angelo Badalamenti

Posted by source188 at August 6, 2007 2:59 PM

comment #10

bmcintire says ...

I used to be a big fan of John WIlliams, though since the late 80's, my interest in his film scores dropped off considerably. My favorites include JAWS (and JAWS 2, God help me) and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. Also love me some Maurice Jarre, especially THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY.

Posted by bmcintire at August 6, 2007 3:00 PM

comment #11

source188 says ...

also

You Only Live Twice - John Barry
Once Upon a Time In America - Ennio Morricone

Posted by source188 at August 6, 2007 3:04 PM

comment #12

BurmaShave says ...

Randy Edelman & Trevor Jones' score for Mann's THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS is, in my mind, one of the best ever.

Posted by BurmaShave at August 6, 2007 3:04 PM

comment #13

Mr. Peel says ...

I'd like to also mention Once Upon A Time In The West, but has anyone noticed the front page of Warners' official 300 website? A few days ago the following message was posted:

---Warner Bros. Pictures acknowledges and regrets that a number of the music cues for the score of "300" were, without our knowledge or participation, derived from music composed by Academy Award winning composer Elliot Goldenthal for the motion picture "Titus." Warner Bros. Pictures has great respect for Elliot, our longtime collaborator, and is pleased to have amicably resolved this matter.---

Posted by Mr. Peel at August 6, 2007 3:06 PM

comment #14

BurmaShave says ...

I noticed the TITUS music. Which reminds me, I was very saddened when I saw the actual movie and realized they weren't going to use NIN and other rock music. That was so historically inaccurate it was basically science fiction, it's not like the anachronism would have hurt.

Also, the score to RAVENOUS is one of my personal favorites and I think it far transcends the film, which itself I still like more than most people do. I want to say it was done partly by Damon Albran of Blur and Gorillaz, but I might be making that up.

Posted by BurmaShave at August 6, 2007 3:11 PM

comment #15

bmcintire says ...

I also used to listen the the soundtrack to THE SHINING a lot as a kid (I still have the vinyl LP somewhere). The Penderecki and Bartok surely had my parents conviced that I was going to grow up to be a homicidal maniac.

Posted by bmcintire at August 6, 2007 3:19 PM

comment #16

worrywort says ...

The Uk singles chart says this week "One of the week's biggest climbers is Hans Zimmer's Spider Pig - taken from the soundtrack of The Simpsons Movie - which has risen 82 places to 24."

Posted by worrywort at August 6, 2007 3:33 PM

comment #17

Howlingman says ...

"Also, the score to RAVENOUS is one of my personal favorites ... I want to say it was done partly by Damon Albran of Blur and Gorillaz, but I might be making that up."

No, you're correct -- it was Damon Albarn and Michael Nyman. The soundtrack, like the film, is an unsung classic.

Posted by Howlingman at August 6, 2007 3:40 PM

comment #18

Mr B says ...

you can argue about the film but I love the Conan the Barbarian soundtrack. Also, if you like Damon Albarn, check out 'The Good, the Bad, and the Queen' , another side project of his, really great stuff.

Posted by Mr B at August 6, 2007 3:55 PM

comment #19

hatchetface says ...

Ditto on RAVENOUS, it's a fantastic soundtrack.

ONE Ennio Morricone mention? For shame. SHORT NIGHT OF GLASS DOLLS, BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN, HITCH-HIKE, DIABOLIK, DEATH RIDES A HORSE.. B-films, sure, but he really is the greatest composer for film, ever.

Other greats: BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, YOJIMBO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, KOYAANISQATSI, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, TAXI DRIVER, CONAN, HAUTE TENSION, IKIRU, everything Angelo Badalementi's done for David Lynch.. damn, I wish I wasn't at work.

Posted by hatchetface at August 6, 2007 3:57 PM

comment #20

Balthazar says ...

oooh, I'll play:

My favorites, in no particular order

------------

Ennio Morricone: Once Upon a Time in America

Bernard Herrmann: Vertigo

Randy Newman: The Natural

John Williams: Superman (but there honestly could be a six-way tie for first)

Jerry Goldsmith: Hoosiers

Michael Kamen: Die Hard

Jon Brion: Magnolia

Posted by Balthazar at August 6, 2007 4:07 PM

comment #21

BurmaShave says ...

Newman's THE NATURAL has personal appeal to me, because whenever I touch anything it sparks and explodes and that music plays.

Also I like that sight unseen, merely based on one review, Wells called this post "doc sucks".

Posted by BurmaShave at August 6, 2007 4:38 PM

comment #22

T. S. Idiot says ...

Top 14, in no particular order:

Hermann, The Day the Earth Stood Still
Herrmann, Vertigo
Herrmann, North by Northwest
Herrmann, Taxi Driver
Nyman, Draughtman's Contract
Mancini, Charade
Goldsmith, Chinatown
Morricone, Once Upon a Time in the West
Morricone, Two Mules for Sister Sara
Barry, Ipcress File
Barry, Body Heat
Jarre, Lawrence of Arabia
Rosza, Spellbound
Rosza, Killers

Posted by T. S. Idiot at August 6, 2007 4:39 PM

comment #23

RoyBatty says ...

A tip of the hat and deep bow to DarthCorleone for such a great list.

I'd probably pull Hermann for Newman's THE NATURAL which I loved long before it became the most overused trailer and commercial music cue in history (just behind COME SEE THE PARADISE).

Jack Nietzche - STARMAN, as much as have a personal attachment to THE RAZOR'S EDGE, is a much better marriage of image, music and emotional response.

Barry's BODY HEAT - excellent, excellent shout out.
Mark Knopfler needs some love here too: LOCAL HERO
Eric Serra - THE BIG BLUE which I came to love because the owner of Film Center Cafe in NYC played it all the time.
Gabriel Yared - BETTY BLUE

And pretty much everything Williams (Star Wars trilogy, SUPERMAN, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, JAWS, RAIDERS) and Goldsmith (100 RIFLES, PATTON, ALIEN, CAPRICORN ONE, STAR TREK - THE MOTIONLESS PICTURE) did from late 60's until mid 80's.

Posted by RoyBatty at August 6, 2007 5:24 PM

comment #24

arch451 says ...

The Empire Strikes Back and Vertigo are the all-time greatest film scores.

Call me a fag, but I also like James Horner, especially his score for A Beautiful Mind.

And I think you have to discount other music adopted in film, which is what Kubrick mostly used. (Otherwise, the greatest soundtracks ever would be Immortal Beloved and Amadeus.)

Posted by arch451 at August 6, 2007 5:42 PM

comment #25

lawnorder says ...

John Barry - Frances
John Barry - Out of Africa
John Barry - Body Heat
John Barry - Diamonds are Forever
Shit, just about everything John Barry
Alexander Desplat - Birth
Jerry Goldsmith - Chinatown
Mark Isham - The Black Dahlia
Mark Isham - The Cooler
Mark Isham - Afterglow
Mark Isham - Point Break
Morricone and the films of Guiseppe Tornatore
Morricone and the films of Sergio Leone
Pino Donaggio and his collaborations with De Palma
Basil Poledouris - Farewell to the King
Basil Poledouris - Cherry 2000

Posted by lawnorder at August 6, 2007 6:28 PM

comment #26

PerfectTommy says ...

What? No love for Elmer Berstein? The Magnificent Seven is the best, but I really like The Great Escape and The Hallelujah Trail as well.

Jerry Goldsmith's score for Under Fire is another favorite of mine.

Posted by PerfectTommy at August 6, 2007 9:02 PM

comment #27

christian says ...

odd men out:

bernard hermann - MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
henry mancini - THE PARTY; THIEF WHO CAME TO DINNER; SILVER STREAK
e.bernstein - HEAVY METAL score
goldsmith - both FLINTS; TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE
j.carpenter - ASSAULT ON PRECINT 13; HALLOWEEN
j.barry - MONTE WALSH; QUILLER MEMORANDUM; GAME OF DEATH
jerome moross - VALLEY OF THE GWANGI
e.morricone - DUCK YOU SUCKER
wendy carlos - THE SHINING
phillip glass - MISHIMA
mark lindsey - SHOGUN ASSASSIN
cliff martinez - SEX LIES & VIDEOTAPE; THE LIMEY
angelo badalementi - THE STRAIGHT STORY

Posted by christian at August 6, 2007 9:25 PM

comment #28

DarthCorleone says ...

Glad I could spur this whole thing and get a few recommendations and reminders out of it.

There's no question Williams isn't what he once was, but in his prime (1975-1993, in my opinion) he was simply masterful. He could endow a single film with so many original and fitting themes, and he was capable of highlighting moments with the appropriate subtlety.

Anyway, I am a fan of many of these others y'all mentioned - lots of good composers and scores here. Poledouris, Bernstein, Goldsmith, Morricone, Barry...I just arbitrarily restricted myself to five.

I did dig Elfman's Batman score quite a bit, and I spun that Last of the Mohicans soundtrack many times. I remember not liking Ravenous and only watching it the once, but now that you mention it I do seem to recall thinking the music stood out.

Christian, good call on Goldsmith's Twilight Zone score. That bit at the end of the kid's tale sends chills up my spine, and the violin crescendo accompanying Lithgow's attempt to ignore the monster outside his window is one of my all-time favorite scored moments.

Posted by DarthCorleone at August 6, 2007 11:22 PM

comment #29

RoyBatty says ...

PerfectTommy (great name btw - Where's our damn sequel already!!)

Mark Isham - THE HITCHER has to go on that list.
Basil Poledouris - QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER, CONAN.

Speaking of Westerns, always thought Bruce Broughton did a great job on the SILVERADO score.

I would have listed LAST OF THE MOHICANS, but I'm on vacation and don't have my copy handy to credit which composer with their proper tracks. But I did wear that CD out at one point.

Posted by RoyBatty at August 7, 2007 4:43 AM

comment #30

Balthazar says ...

Somebody mentioned Horner and the one I'd put on my list from him is "Glory"

Posted by Balthazar at August 7, 2007 5:41 AM

comment #31

carla kolchak says ...

RUN LOLA RUN.

Posted by carla kolchak at August 7, 2007 6:48 AM

comment #32

source188 says ...

Perfume: Story of a Murderer - Tom Tykwer

Posted by source188 at August 7, 2007 7:02 AM

comment #33

MarkVH says ...

Actually Tommy, I'd go with To Kill a Mockingbird as Bernstein's best score (though Magnificent Seven and Great Escape are both right up there). I can't make it through the first track without getting a little misty-eyed.

Also for me, Bernard Hermann's work for On Dangerous Ground and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir represent two of his best and most underappreciated works.

And I've posted it before, but Miklos Rosza's recently re-issued complete score to Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is breathtaking, an absolute revelation.

Posted by MarkVH at August 7, 2007 7:12 AM

comment #34

christian says ...

they finally released The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes soundtrack? awesome. i only recently saw it last year and my first thought was, whoa, great music.

Posted by christian at August 7, 2007 8:29 AM

comment #35

MarkVH says ...

Christian,

The complete score was re-recorded by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and is available exclusively through UK distributor Tadlow music. A little pricey ($30 or so US), but worth every penny. The packaging and liner notes are absolutely first-rate.

http://www.pragueorchestras.com/sherlock.htm

Posted by MarkVH at August 7, 2007 8:32 AM

comment #36

T. S. Idiot says ...

"Bernard Hermann's work for On Dangerous Ground and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir represent two of his best and most underappreciated works." Benny always said in interviews that Mrs. Muir was his favorite of his scores.

Posted by T. S. Idiot at August 7, 2007 8:44 AM

comment #37

Craig Kennedy says ...

Great thread. Eddie rules for shouting out Carter Burwell. Source188 wins for mentioning You Only Live Twice and Taxi Driver. Christian, OHMSS loses a couple of points for the execrable "Do You Know How Christmas Trees are Grown?" Still my favorite Bond soundtrack overall, but that song is almost as bad as that ghastly Paul McCartney x-mas tune.

Did anyone mention Henry Mancini for anything?

Posted by Craig Kennedy at August 7, 2007 9:37 AM

comment #38

Craig Kennedy says ...

Also, John Carpenter's simple theme for Halloween makes that movie.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at August 7, 2007 9:42 AM

comment #39

mario says ...

I'd have to put The Empire Strikes Back at the top of my list. I'm not crazy about everything Williams, but I felt his score for War of the Worlds was his best in a long time.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Elfman's Edward Scissorhands yet. I also really like his Darkman score.

I may be weird but I think Goldsmith's score for Total Recall is awesome. He gets the orchestra to sound like a giant churning machine.

I'd also put Lalo Schifrin's THX 1138 score and Georges Delerue's Contmpt up there too. And its not for a movie but Michael Giacchino's music for the Medal of Honor: Frontline video game is quite nice.

Posted by mario at August 7, 2007 9:59 AM

comment #40

RoyBatty says ...

cjkennedy - bravo on the Carpenter shout out, although my fav of his is (done with Morricone) is THE THING.

Posted by RoyBatty at August 7, 2007 10:04 AM

comment #41

christian says ...

cj, i shout out mancini and carpenter in my list above. gawd people. i sweat to list and get dissed.

and many appy polly loggies, but i adore Do You Know How Christmas Trees are Grown? if only because it just sounds like a xmas tune from 1969. OHMSS is the only seasonal bond film and the soundtrack relects that well. it's still easily barry's greatest bond score.

john barry's THE KNACK is his coolest.
elfman's BEETLEJUICE score is terrific.
i love horner's score for ALIENS.
jerome moross again for THE CARDINAL.
b.hermann's great DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

Posted by christian at August 7, 2007 10:27 AM

comment #42

Craig Kennedy says ...

Roy as a complete score, I agree with The Thing...but as a tune? Halloween.

Christian. See this is what happens when I arrive late to a good thread. There's just too much crispedy crunchedy chocolately goodness and I invariably miss something in my enthusiasm to join in. I'll never learn.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at August 7, 2007 11:19 AM

comment #43