Soundtracks/Scores, and their effect on a film

[DeadlyDynasty]

Just curious if you guys have ever seen a movie that was good, but the soundtrack ruined it for you...or a bad film where the soundtrack made it passable?

[CuckingFunt]

Just curious if you guys have ever seen a movie that was good, but the soundtrack ruined it for you...or a bad film where the soundtrack made it passable?

Never the latter, but often the former. Though perhaps "ruin" is too strong. If the movie is good for other reasons, an annoying score probably won't make it any less good, but it can definitely get in the way.

For me, the best scores are the ones that don't call attention to themselves, but that just support/enhance the mood and atmosphere of what's happening on screen. (Which, for the record, does not mean only scores that are sparse or meek. For instance, I think Elfman is quite good at putting together scores that are plenty bombastic but that don't feel out of place.) In that sense, even a great score isn't going to elevate much of anything if what it's supporting sucks.

[DeadlyDynasty]

^
I agree with the second paragraph. There Will Be Blood is the perfect example of that...it just fits the movie to a T.

In Drive, it's quite obvious they wanted you to notice the Jan Hammer-ish 80's-like music--although I thoroughly enjoyed it, being the cheesy 80's music fan that I am.

[CuckingFunt]

In Drive, it's quite obvious they wanted you to notice the Jan Hammer-ish 80's-like music--although I thoroughly enjoyed it, being the cheesy 80's music fan that I am.

I remember the soundtrack for that one more than I do the original score. I think Refn is flawed as a filmmaker, but I love his use of existing music. The music is great in Bronson, too.

[silverblk mystix]

The soundtrack to Moonlight Mile made me remember the movie-where I would have forgotten the movie within 5 minutes without the soundtrack.

Once upon a time in America was perfect all the way around. Great movie with a masterpiece soundtrack/score.

[Lincoln]

The soundtrack to inception is probably one of the best soundtracks around imho

[CuckingFunt]

For the sake of clarity, "soundtrack" and "score" aren't interchangeable.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Once upon a time in America was perfect all the way around. Great movie with a masterpiece soundtrack/score.

+1

Ennio Morricone is the GOAT

[CubanSucks]

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: good movie with stupid modern music. I can't remember specifically what songs to complain about cause it's been so long but I remember having a "what the is this ?" reaction.

Gallipoli: weird ass 80s electro music in a WW1 movie...re ed. Especially the scene with Mel Gibson's character running to tell the general to stop the charge. Still the saddest ending I've ever seen.

[CubanSucks]

I get super goosebumps to some soundtracks:

the ending to Lawrence of Arabia right before it goes to credits with the melancholy look. 5:35


the lighting of the beacons in Return of the King
especially when it hits at 1:57


and my favorite, the Rohirrim charge in Return of the King


actually, my favorite might be the showdown in The Good Bad Ugly. The whole scene is good but 1:46 and 3:47 are when the chills hit you

[DeadlyDynasty]

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: good movie with stupid modern music. I can't remember specifically what songs to complain about cause it's been so long but I remember having a "what the is this ?" reaction.

Gallipoli: weird ass 80s electro music in a WW1 movie...re ed. Especially the scene with Mel Gibson's character running to tell the general to stop the charge. Still the saddest ending I've ever seen.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

[silverblk mystix]

For the sake of clarity, "soundtrack" and "score" aren't interchangeable.

Edumacate me here...

You can have a soundtrack and a score in the same film right?

[Lincoln]

I think a score is just one song while soundtrack is a collection of scores

[silverblk mystix]

I think a score is just one song while soundtrack is a collection of scores

Well I thought a score was the music you hear during a scene like strings or orchestral music whereas a soundtrack were songs written for the movie by artists or borrowed from songs already out?

[ChumpDumper]

It's been awhile, but I seem to remember The Graduate almost being ruined by playing that one song over and over.

[CubanSucks]

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

THAT'S it! WTF indeed

[CubanSucks]

It's been awhile, but I seem to remember The Graduate almost being ruined by playing that one song over and over.

I'm the exact opposite. I think Scarborough Fair made it even better

[silverblk mystix]

It's been awhile, but I seem to remember The Graduate almost being ruined by playing that one song over and over.

The Graduate might have been Simon and Garfunkle's best music ever. I thought the soundtrack was perfect. The scarborough fair song when hoffman stalks the girl at the berkeley campus was classic...

[CuckingFunt]

Edumacate me here...

You can have a soundtrack and a score in the same film right?

Score is the supporting music written specifically for the film. It's usually intended to enhance the mood/storyline of the film and is composed for dramatic effect. Danny Elfman, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, etc., all compose original scores.

Soundtrack includes all of the other the songs used throughout the film, whether pre-existing or written specifically for the film.

Most films usually use both, but the process/goals/effect is different.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Didn't like Scarborough Fair on repeat either, but I'm not a huge fan of that song anyways. I like Sound of Silence, though.

[silverblk mystix]

Score is the supporting music written specifically for the film. It's usually intended to enhance the mood/storyline of the film and is composed for dramatic effect. Danny Elfman, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, etc., all compose original scores.

Soundtrack includes all of the other the songs used throughout the film, whether pre-existing or written specifically for the film.

Most films usually use both, but the process/goals/effect is different.

Ok. Thanks.

Pretty much what I thought.

[CubanSucks]

I get super goosebumps to some soundtracks:

the ending to Lawrence of Arabia right before it goes to credits with the melancholy look. 5:35


the lighting of the beacons in Return of the King
especially when it hits at 1:57


and my favorite, the Rohirrim charge in Return of the King


actually, my favorite might be the showdown in The Good Bad Ugly. The whole scene is good but 1:46 and 3:47 are when the chills hit you

and from my favorite movie..dat feel..dat emotion
0:32

[silverblk mystix]

How many film scores tug the heartstrings as much as this one?

[CubanSucks]

How many film scores tug the heartstrings as much as this one?

that movie sucked ass, dude. I love long movies and I love Sergio Leone, but he ing blew it on that one

[pawe]

Not a film but the HBO series Carnivale was greatly improved by the score and soundtrack.