I've been thinking a bit about movies that have really astounding music lately, and I'm curious what films have particularly standout musical scores.

First to mind for me is A Beautiful Mind, composed by James Horner, which has the curious ability of being urgently upbeat whenever the main character, John Nash, is deep in thought, and can also be slow and mellow, yet without it feeling like the general aesthetic of the score has changed at all. A very unique talent. Another Horner soundtrack from another Howard film, Apollo 13, was also quite good, but I think it seemed a bit too hung-up on the main theme to branch out much.

Also to mind is the score from WALL-E, composed by Thomas Newman. It's so brilliantly cinematic and captivating without being too brash, and it contains what is still my favourite original Pixar song, Peter Gabriel's "Down to Earth". The score and the song would have walked away with the Oscars if Slumdog Millionaire wasn't there.

pulp fiction

Pi
Requiem for a Dream
Moon

All by Clint Mansell, utterly genius

the brave little toaster

The Shawshank Redemption

Quote from: Chaotic Silly Putty;1650096pulp fiction

Probably any Quentin Tarantino movie as well.

Movie Scores are often either really good, non-existent or utter crap

Quote from: TequilaClock;1650135The Shawshank Redemption

Probably any Quentin Tarantino movie as well.

Except that scores and soundtracks are different things?

I actually don't remember any of his films having a score apart from Kill Bill

Quote from: Chaotic Silly Putty;1650096pulp fiction

Soundtrack ≠ score.

Quote from: TremcladClock;1650110the brave little toaster

Excellent.

Quote from: GearBoxClock;1650139Movie Scores are often either really good, non-existent or utter crap

There's no such thing as a movie score that's just okay?

Quote from: SnakeClock;1650172There's no such thing as a movie score that's just okay?

So far I haven't heard any actually.
Also the score on the animated Hercules movie is one of my favorites from my childhood.

Quote from: TabascoClock;1650181So far I haven't heard any actually.

I just got back from District 9, the score was passable if not extraordinary.

Also, the score from Up, while alright, couldn't touch WALL-E's for me.

Quote from: SnakeClock;1650172Soundtrack ≠ score.

Yeah, that was the joke.

Ah I get it now. Damn I suck.

Chariots of Fire.

Don't me wrong, often a soundtrack is just as good in places
Like, I couldn't believe that the music in The Life Aquatic when they see the shark was a sourced track, it fit too well