Movie Score(s) A Day

I don't know how this entry would be totally related to my blog, but I have to take some time out tonight to write about one of my favorite elements in production: the score. Music is art as well, right? :-)

I can't remember the exact moment when I decided to actually look up composers and find out what kind of work they'd done, but I was always taken aback by music that helped stories be told. My favorite scores have to include Gladiator (Hans Zimmer is definitely in my top 5), The Dark Knight (which I watched just earlier tonight and remembered how good it was), Star Wars Episode II (John Williams' love theme for Padme and Anakin hehehe), The Holiday (which interestingly is a movie about a composer!), The Island (which sounds like Gladiator's!! But I can't complain. The scene where the clones finally escaped was made beautiful and moving not only because of trademark Michael Bay sunset shots, but because of an amazing score at its backdrop), Transformers (Steve Jablonsky and only the first one -- they completely drowned it out in the second one with the awful Linkin Park instrumental), Atonement, and Pride and Prejudice (these last two by Dario Marianelli, whose scores I also love but only when he works with director Joe Wright).

My sister referred a tumblr website to me a couple of days ago -- a site called Movie Score(s) A Day. I browsed through, and recommend it to anyone who loves scores as well! Or to anyone who is just curious. :-) I just added it to my Daily Reads list --->.

In this website, I was able to catch up with my number one favorite composer: Clint Mansell. I first came across his work when I watched The Fountain. It was one of the first times I googled who wrote the music upon getting home from the movie. Since then, there have been many nights of my staying home and youtube-ing his scores instead of listening to my regular iTunes list. I've even watched his movies just to listen to his work (which was the case when I watched Smokin' Aces -- I was so confused at its ending, but at the same time, I also thought it was some awesome revelation because the background music was so bad ass). If I'm not mistaken, his most popular composition is the score for Requiem for a Dream, and I admit, I've heard it in a lot of trailers too.

Movie Score(s) A Day had a sample of his latest work, the score to Moon, a movie I'm not familiar with, but will definitely look for soon. I would have to recommend the listen for the ambience the music creates is definitely of another world. Here are some samples of his other scores as well. Enjoy!

Welcome to Lunar Industries by Clint Mansell

Moon (2009)

Together We Will Live Forever by Clint Mansell

The Fountain (2006)

Dead Reckoning by Clint Mansell

Smokin' Aces (2006)

Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell

Requiem for A Dream (2000)

For more information, you can refer to Clint Mansell's IMDB page. And don't forget: http://moviescore.tumblr.com. :-)