Arvo Part is great. he also did Carlos Reygadas’s last scene in Japon..
My Bloody Valentine is one of my favourite bands of all time, so I have to say Lost in Translation.
The soundtrack was vital to IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
I LOVE the jazzy track that’s played during the party scene of THE TENANT – there’s no record of it anywhere but I will give a big kiss to the the person who can identify it for me!
Obviously the PIANIST has wonderful music that is tragically poignant and brilliantly-timed
BARRY LYNDON makes good use of classical music that’s pertinent to the period and has enduring appeal
Ahhh, yes to WKW’s In the Mood for Love! Shigeru Umebayashi is brilliant.
I was going to say though… Claire Denis’ 35 Shots of Rum. I can’t stop thinking about the music/songs in it. I want the soundtrack, which doesn’t seem like it’ll be released… Unless someone knows otherwise. :(
A few of my favourites:
1. Kikujiro No Natsu – The whole score by Joe Hisaishi but agree with Narda about the opening scene when Masao is running across the bridge. Reminds me of when I was a kid.
2. Dead Man – Neil Youngs detuned guitar is perfectly suited.
3. Dazed & Confused – That Pontiac at the start looks even sexier with Aerosmith’s ‘Sweet Emotion’ in the background.
4. Requiem For A Dream – Love the build up throughout the film by the Kronos Quartet until the cathartic release in the last scenes.
5. Lost in Translation – ‘Alone in Kyoto’ by Air mirrors the melancholy beauty of the film.
Great thread. I think the placement of a well-chosen song really enhances a film. So many of my choices have been selected already but here’s some favorites of mine.
The Creation’s ‘Making Time’ popping up in Rushmore.
Lulu crooning the title track in To Sir With Love.
Jagger’s disturbing ‘Memo From Turner’ as the centerpiece to Performance.
Donna Summer’s ‘On the Radio’ showing up during the more melchonic bits in Foxes.
The entire Movern Callar soundtrack was very effective through-out the entire film.
Kris Kristofferson’s songs made a rather ordinary counter-culture flick like Cisco Pike stand apart of the pack.
Last but not least, Curtis Mayfield’s wonderful score completely elevated Superfly.
just off the top…
the “first sleep” scene in soderbergh’s solaris
the scene in fear x when the hooker comes to john turturos’s room (brian eno is a genius)
the opening and ending of funny games (either version) set to john zorn
the train sequence in stalker (when they finally reach “the zone”)
krs one’s “outta here” used during the scene in clockers when tyronne does the drive-by on the bike
opening credits of lost highway set to david bowie
camilla rhodes audition in mulholland drive (i honestly cant explain why that scene gives me chills)
ghost dog making the homemade silencer set to wu-tang
val kilmer’s final scene in “heat” when he’s driving off
the end of heat with pachino and deniro
the intro to rushmore, right after brian cox says “he’s one of our worst students”
all the scenes in mean streets that take place in the bar
final credits in inland empire
strange love scene in inland empire (especially the part when she puts her hands over her eyes and then opens them again
the end of strozeck (dancing chicken)
Elvira Madigan chasing butterflies to Mozarts 21st
The oil well scene in There Will Be Blood had that crazy tense thumping and rattling music. Awesome.
Louie Armstrong’s “what A wonderful World” in Good Morning Vietnam.
the theme music from Plattoon
little Child running wild from superfly
the music from the Third man
almost all of Scorcese’s films, my favorites being Layla from Goodfellas
and House of the rising sun from casino.
the use of music in Tender Mercies specifically the scene where Duvall sings the lullaby he just told his daughter he couldn’t remember.
There’s so many more but these just off the top of my head or the bottom whatever.
Were a lot of favorites but now I think music shouldn’t play such important role in films.like it actually does.
Edwin N
I like Harold and Maude’s score,even though I don’t really like the film.Cat Stevens is a genius.