Three West

Podcast: Download

Music can turn even some of the most uninteresting movie scenes into dynamic works of art. It isn’t until you become a filmmaker that you truly realize how important music is to a film. When you are shooting scenes, it’s just people talking. So if you think about what that looks like after it’s been shot it’s… well boring no matter how great the acting is. Even scenes without music have cleverly mastered sound design.

I’ve decided to make a list of 15 16 movies I feel have outstanding soundtracks. This means I feel that not only did the soundtrack create the magic the viewer experiences by watching the film but that the soundtracks are just as powerful and entertaining alone.

1. Ray

Fantastic music hands down. I could listen to it every day. I actually had no idea how great Ray Charles’s music was until this film. I was a child of the 80′s and the only time we saw Ray Charles was when he was slamming his hands down on the piano and kicking his legs up from side to side while playing some jingle or what not. Like my new found love for the music of James Brown, I was delighted to hear some of his more soulful music that truly reflected his talents.

2. Wild Orchid

I love most music with trumpet melodies and I was immediately mesmerized by this one. This soundtrack is extremely powerful not only because of the fantastic theme song that featured an outstanding trumpet melody but combined with amazing Brazilian rhythms it was absolutely perfect for the movie. Wild Orchid was such a wonderfully unique story it was only right that the music be equally so.

3. Siesta

Two words. Miles Davis. This soundtrack is just hauntingly beautiful. My favorite song from the soundtrack is Los Feliz. It is “Siesta” summed up into one song. Amazing move. Amazing soundtrack. I’ll be learning how to play this one for sure.

4. 5th Element

This soundtrack has a sexy mix of charged rhythms and delightfully elegant opera. Opera is another favorite of mine and a singing style I happen to be pretty good at. So I have quite a bit of fun singing along with Lucia Di Lammermoor performed by Inva Mula-Tchako. Overall this soundtrack is extremely inspiring if you are a filmmaker and is perfect for sitting around on a rainy day putting together a large puzzle.

5. Alien 3

Ahhh where do I begin? Well the movie was so horrible, it was the first time I wanted to riot after a film. However, the sound track is by far the most amazing thing I’ve heard. I can’t even be specific about why this soundtrack is amazing other than it’s moving and for a creative person such as myself, it really provides fuel for my imagination. I can instantly think of at least ten stories that would fit this soundtrack. I live for that!

6. Collateral

This soundtrack really solidified my love for jazz. More Miles Davis. I love it! Boy did this soundtrack have a sexy & eclectic mix of music.

7. Yesterday

Moving music for a moving film. The guitar pieces in this film were just beautiful.

8. Coffy

This is one of my all time favorite films featuring Pam Grier. The first time I watched this film I knew I had to have the soundtrack. The main theme song is HOT! It made me want to dance and dress badly and throw a house party where everyone else dresses and dances badly too. This soundtrack is packed with gems from the 70′s. I love it! Original Radio Advertisement for “Coffy”

9. Tsotsi

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful soundtrack, just like the movie.

10. Beat Street

The most appropriate thing to say about this soundtrack is “Oooooh Snap!”. This one takes me way back and I love it! It reminds me of all the fun music that came out of the 80′s and a lot of fond memories I have of break dancing and having music be at the forefront of my life.

11. Snatch

There is a lot of different music styles on this soundtrack and it works well. It either makes you want to party or sit around with a cigar and a glass of wine.

12. Monsoon Wedding

This film had AMAZING music. There were different styles; different energies… just wonderful. This really belongs in the top 5. This soundtrack is nothing but the truth in music.

13. Blue Streak

This soundtrack is slammin. I remember going to see the movie when I lived in Idaho (yeah I can’t believe I lived there either) and I couldn’t wait to get the soundtrack. It featured songs from many of my favorite rap & R&B artists and I played it until the CD couldn’t be read anymore. Mmmhmmm sure did.

14. Casualties of War

This is another rainy day soundtrack, however it would not be wise to listen to this when you are not at your emotional best. This soundtrack was simply an absolutely brilliant match with the film and I think without it, it definitely wouldn’t have been such a moving film. Elegy For A Dead Cherry is just simply classic cinematic scoring. It’s absolutely moving. It reminds me of all the great films I’ve seen growing up when filmmaking was still an art.

15. The Signal

One day I stumbled upon this film and was like “Whoa! Where did this gem come from?”. Not only was The Signal a fantastic movie but on some level I found myself watching it more than once just so I could listen to the music. This film has a very skillful mix of music types that really makes the film and soundtrack standout. Heaven’s “Leave” is featured prominently in this movie and although it is a rather simplistic song, it’s absolutely addicting. I believe I listened to that song every day for over a month after watching the move.

16. Hannibal

This was a last minute addition to this list. I can’t believe it wasn’t the first soundtrack I thought of. I LOVE to sing along to Vide Cor Meum on this soundtrack. I was not a fan of the movie. The filmmakers dove into the abyss with this one. However the soundtrack, like that of Alien 3, is just outstanding. I listened to it for a good year on a near daily basis. Again, it was fuel for my creative mind. I can dream up wonderful stories listening to this.