Inspiring Soundtracks

I am one of those moviegoers who, no matter what, always prefer to watch a good movie at the cinema instead of anywhere else. I doubt there are many other options that can match the feeling you get inside a true movie theater when it comes to audio and video quality, without sacrificing affordability. I believe watching an audio-video spectacle inside a good cinema is one of the finest experiences that modern technology can provide. This time, I'd like to focus on the audio part of that experience - the soundtrack, the music of the films.

I would say there are three categories of movies with respect to their soundtrack: first, there are movies that have little or no music at all. Although rare, the best example that comes to mind is "No Country for Old Men" (2007), which has no soundtrack at all, but it's an omission that doesn't impair it in any way. Then there are the vast majority of the movies, those that use music moderately frequent, in order to emphasize certain portions or moments of the story. Here, the soundtrack is usually not the main focus of the experience - not to imply necessarily that the quality and the efforts involved are not extensive - and probably a large part of the audience will remember little if any of the music heard throughout the view. And finally, there are the movies for which the soundtrack is an integral part of the experience, an essential element that gives an extra dimension and impact to the story, a piece that, if stripped from the movie, would probably make it unrecognizable. For these films, most if not all of the audience will remember the soundtrack long after the view and identify it as one of the key and most powerful characteristics of the film. It is this type of films that I want to discuss about in today's blog post. So, without further ado, I'd like to list my favourite movie soundtracks:

1. Tron: Legacy

If I had to name my top favourite movie soundtrack, it wouldn't be very easy, but this would be it: "Tron: Legacy", a top-notch sci-fi audio-visual spectacle that looks and sounds incredibly good. The soundtrack is the main reason why I've been to the cinema 3 times to re-watch this movie: it's the greatest combination of symphonic and electronic music I've heard so far. I had no idea the Daft Punk duo were capable of approaching this direction - boy, I couldn't have been more wrong. Together with an 85-piece orchestra and influenced by Hans Zimmer, they've managed to create a soundtrack that I have absolutely no reluctance at all to call a masterpiece. It's a really successful experiment of blending two different styles of music, not by simply superimposing one on the other, but by creating a perfect synergy that gives a whole new dimension that probably neither of the two styles could attain on its own. It's still a relatively rare new breed, but it's a direction that I would absolutely love to hear more and more in modern music.

Soundtrack highlights:
The Game Has Changed
Encom - Part I
Disc Wars

2. The Dark Knight Rises

Hans Zimmer. I first became familiar with his work after the 2nd part in Christopher's Nolan relaunch of the new Batman series - "The Dark Knight". Then I got really impressed by his work on the "Inception" soundtrack. And then, last year, I was struck by what I consider to be his ultimate masterpiece: the soundtrack to the series' conclusion, "The Dark Knight Rises". His inimitable blend of sharp, flawless electronic music (which puts most of electronic music producers out there to utter shame) and orchestral music is definitely one of my favourite listening experiences, an amazing symphony of emotion which perfectly fits and greatly enhances the impact of the movie, which is an extraordinary achievement itself.

Soundtrack highlights:
Imagine the Fire
The Fire Rises
A Storm is Coming

3. Unbreakable

"Unbreakable" is one of my favourite films. I could watch this movie daily without ever getting bored of it. And much of this impression owes to its sublime soundtrack. The M. Night Shyamalan / Bruce Willis duo "strikes" again, fortifying Bruce's position as one of my favourite actors and Shyamalan's as a very imaginative director. Throw in Samuel L. Jackson too, who I really like as well and has great chemistry with Bruce Willis, and you've got a memorable experience - at least for me. James Newton Howard cements it all with an unforgettable soundtrack, my favourite of all his work. At first, the main musical theme fades in and out throughout the movie, a bit shy and not fully shaped, much like the protagonist's knowledge about his true identity and capabilities.

But then, at the climax of the movie, it hits in full strength, mercilessly, during a scene where the hero experiences the epiphany of who he really is, in a crowded train station, where the mundane contact with random strangers reveals the true, dark side of reality. The firm, electronic tones suddenly reveal to the viewers his powers - without this touch of genius from J.N. Howard, this scene would be null. What an amazing moment! Definitely one of the most touching films I've ever seen.

Soundtrack highlights:
Unbreakable
Reflections of Elijah
The Wreck

4. The Fountain

Clint Mansell is already a legend for many. His work on the soundtrack for "Requiem for a Dream" - a cult classic -, most notably the famous "Lux Aeterna", needs no introduction. My favourite work of his is on "The Fountain": a profoundly sad and beautiful movie, and the soundtrack perfectly captures this feeling. What I find unique about this soundtrack, or at least don't recall being so well outlined in others, is the so-called "crescendo". It starts simply, with few instruments, and as the story progresses and becomes more emotionally involving the layering becomes more complex, the intensity more powerful. Then there are short interludes, followed by repetitions of the main theme together with new themes as well, each time more and more powerful than the previous episode. It's a very engaging and tensioned progression towards the climax of the movie, at the perfect pace. This is by far my favourite pattern that I look for in music. I would really love to experience something similar in other movies too.

Soundtrack highlights:
Death is the Road to Awe
The Last Man
Finish It


5. Drive

"Drive" is one of the strangest movies I've seen. By the time I finished watching it, I had realized I really like it, with no idea why. Now that I think of it, everything in it just fits together, sewing a very cohesive style. The protagonist performs some of the oddest social interactions you'll ever see, and on many occasions his thoughts, feelings and attitude are expressed through the movie's soundtrack, ranging from synth-pop tunes that emulate the '80s atmosphere to abstract, modern electronica. On the one hand, the synth-pop music suits quite well the character's style and makes me enjoy them much much more than I probably would have if hearing them first outside the context of the film. On the other hand, the contrasting abstract electronica inflicts a strange yet pleasant hint of confusion to the whole movie, as if you're actually experiencing a weird surrealist dream. A very original movie!

Soundtrack highlights:
Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx - Nightcall
The Chromatics - Tick of the Clock
Cliff Martinez - Wrong Floor

6. Inception

"Inception" OST - Hans Zimmer's modern classic, a work that sets a new landmark in film soundtracks, with already countless attempts to imitate it. Love it or hate it, the well-known "horn of doom" sound has become a trademark of this movie. But far from being the only trait of the soundtrack - Hans Zimmer is highly adept at creating diverse dream soundscapes, you could almost say he's in his natural element, skillfully playing with electronic instruments as well as with classical ones. The movie trailer also featured a great soundtrack, which unfortunately misses from the full album but perfectly fits the style of the film.

Soundtrack highlights:
528491
Mombasa
Half Remembered Dream

7. The Hobbit / Lord of The Rings series

I find it very difficult to find a more beautifully crafted film than any in the "Lord of the Rings" (and more recently, "The Hobbit") trilogy. "The Lord of the Rings" features an iconic soundtrack, whenever you hear it it brings back to memory all those spectacular landscapes and the epic adventures. And now, "The Hobbit", bringing it all back on the big screens, together with a fitting soundtrack that caught my attention as soon as I watched the trailer for the first time. I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy!

Soundtrack highlights:
Misty Mountains
Opening Theme
The Bridge of Khazad Dum


Video Game Soundtracks

The soundtrack experience can get even more personal when it comes to video games, where you have interactivity with the player, as opposed to movies, which (at least for the moment and excluding some rare experiments) lack this element. Below is a list of my favourite game soundtracks:

Machinarium - this lovely game takes place in an 'old-school' tech universe, where everything is mechanic and the only inhabitants are robots. The music does a terrific job of imbuing soul to the robotic characters and immersing the player into the story and the universe. This game is a little gem that everyone should try.

Mirror's Edge - a very dynamic and visually stunning game. The bright, clean colors of the futuristic cityscape contrast strongly with the totalitarian regime controlling it. The soundtrack is produced by one of the most appreciated ambient/chillout music producers in the world (Solar Fields), masterfully combining action music with chilled down passages, in perfect sync with the game. Running across the rooftops and performing intricate acrobatics while being carried around by the soundtrack remains one of my favourite gaming experiences to date.

Limbo - a very intriguing artistic experiment. Both visually and sonically. The game soundtrack's creator adopts a technique known as "acousmatic music", where various objects in the environment participate together to create the musical background. Combined with abstract synthesizer sounds, it creates a very twisted and interesting image of an ethereal, irrational and menacing place.



I can not stress enough how important I feel music can and should be to a film, video game, or by extension to any visual experience. The examples above are subjectively the finest I can think of and they are my favourites. I would really like to know your preferences as well, below in the comments section, a suggestion for a movie soundtrack that I can (re-)watch or listen separately is welcome!