Movie Score Monday

I’ve been watching some Reelz Channel this weekend, mostly out of extreme boredom. I didn’t even realize I had the channel at all, and only discovered it after doing a DVR search and realizing one of the results was from a channel that wasn’t programmed into my favorites.

It seems like a mix of E!, VH1 & G4. Or at least an incredibly watered-down version of them. Imagine ‘I Love the 80s’ but with less amusing commentary and – inexplicably – Wil Wheaton. I actually like the guy, but I swear he’s on every show. Maybe he’s a human easter egg, and they just slip him in to see if people notice.

In addition to serving as a reminder that LEONARD MALTIN CANNOT BE TRUSTED, it also reminded me how much I love a good movie soundtrack. And by soundtrack I don’t mean a collection of unrelated songs that several record labels paid to be featured in a hot movie. Not that those types of soundtracks don’t have value or that they can’t show creativity, because they can. But in this particular case, I’m referring to the film’s score.

Everyone knows a good score can make or break a movie. It doesn’t matter how great a story you have or how good your actors are – if the music is a dud, so’s your movie. I know I’ve picked on Watchmen lately, but to me, that’s a perfect example of a movie that simply didn’t understand how to use music effectively. Of course, in that case I’m referring more to the soundtrack, as the score (when it was used) wasn’t too bad. But it was also overpowered by the goofy pop music choices, so I suppose my criticism remains.

I think the measure of a classic film score is its ability to move you outside the context of the movie. When you listen to it without the benefit of the images, does it still conjure them up in your mind? Does it create new ones? Does it still have a substantial emotional impact?

I figured that while I had all of this on the brain, I’d dig out some snippets from my favorite film scores and share them with you. In fact, maybe I’ll do this every Monday.

THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
This is still one of my favorite films of all time (Russians with Scottish accents aside), and a big part of that has to come down to the absolutely stunning score by the late Basil Poledouris. Believe it or not, his Red October Hymn wasn’t made from an existing Soviet anthem – it’s completely original material. In the spots where it doesn’t conjure up images of Red Russia, it plays like a ballet, which is equally appropriate. Listening to it makes me feel like I’m at sea, and despite my fear of water, it’s a good thing.

Basil Poledouris – Hymn To Red October (Main Titles)

THE FIFTH ELEMENT
I love science-fiction (obvs) and this movie features so many hat tips to the classics it’s difficult not to like it. Plus, it has Bruce Willis sort of mocking his typical action-hero role, and who doesn’t like a future where fashion models populate the service industry in even the most menial roles? Or a past where Luke Perry is an archaeologist? But moving on to the music – my favorite piece on here has to be the concert by Plavalaguna. It’s a trippy mix of classic opera and modern pop. It was totally atypical compared to anything I was hearing in movies at the time. I still dig it. And you just have to marvel at the fact that Inva Mula is actually singing the piece. There are no manipulations to her voice – she can really hit those notes! It’s outstanding.

Eric Serra feat vocals by Inva Mula – Lucia De Lammemoor & The Diva Dance

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA
Even though Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves were less than stellar choices for the roles of Mina & Jonathan Harker, Gary Oldman’s scene-stealing (as well as scene-chewing) is really something to behold. As is the score by Wojciech Kilar. Like Poledouris’ efforts for HFRO it features the use of a choir in many tracks, but where HFRO uses the singing in much the way the USSR itself did (to pump up, to excite and motivate the homeland), the use here is more moody and reflective in nature. It’s dominated by Gothic, religious overtones – more than appropriate given the plot. I still hear pieces of this score used in film trailers to this day.

Wojciech Kilar – The Storm

Okay, now that you have some of my favorites, I’ll turn the tables – What are some of your favorite movie scores?

FOR NEXT WEEK: AMELIE, LEGEND and STAR TREK II/ALIENS

Tags: movie score monday, Movies & TV