So last month I talked about John Williams and his fantastic film scores. It’s only fair to point out that there are other amazing artists who have done some fantastic movie work. And Alan Silvestri is another favorite. His filmography is just amazing! He has been doing these scores since the 80’s and is still going strong! The one problem with this list is that some of the movies Silvestri has done are not quite as iconic as John Williams. So obvious choices may be missing simply because I never saw the movie. But I think I covered the big one’s.
Here are my ten favorites :
#10.Romancing the Stone
I’d been wanting to talk about this movie because it’s one of those 80’s films that has not passed the test of time. Who remembers it? I saw it and hardly remember it. This was Silvestri’s first movie score, and his first collab with Robert Zemeckis, and it kind of shows. The score is nice by doesn’t really fit the film, being more romantic than action oriented. This was a good movie and it’s long overdue for a re-watch.
#9.Delta Force
I wanted one on here from a movie I wasn’t familiar with, and damn is this a good score! It’s impressive with all the soft scores he does just how action packed this one. It’ rocks!! This is a heavy action Chuck Norris movie which I honestly may have seen, a long time ago.
#8.Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Silvestri was amazing at period music. His score for Young Guns makes you feel like you’re in the wild west, and his music here truly captures the feel of that 40’s era Hollywood that the movie is set in. Just beautiful. The following is called “Eddie’s Theme”, guess there wasn’t a main score.
#7.Practical Magic
I’ve told the story about how I have seen this a few times thanks for my wife who loved this movie. Did I mention she was my ex-wife now? Seriously though this is a great score and it shows that Silvestri is just as good doing light melodies as he is doing big dramatic one’s.
#6.Death Becomes her
This was the slot hardest to fill but I went with this one for two reasons. One is that this is not the biggest movie out there, and Silvestri did a lot of work on movies which weren’t that popular. More importantly, Silvestri usually does big broad scores so it’s awesome to hear something whimsical and silly. It reminds of Beeteljuice a little. Makes sense since the movie is a dark comedy in that same vein.
#5.Polar Express
I normally do not talk about Christmas stuff when it’s not December, but this list would have been incomplete without this one. Though I am stopping short at also discussing Disney’s Christmas Carol (FYI the music was the only thing I loved about that one). Most people think of Josh Groban’s song with this movie, which is great, and overlook that amazing score which sends you to another place all by itself! Actually his scores all do that, it’s actually the thing Silvestri excels at, when you think about it.
#4.Father of the Bride
Some may find it a surprise to see this on here, especially so high, but I have always had a soft spot for this movie and the score is a big part of it. As I noted it’s amazing how he can do great scores for massive epic’s and small family movies, like Stuart Little!
#3.The Avengers
Not gonna lie, this is easily one of my favorite music from any superhero movie. Oh sure the classic Superman and Batman films were great but this one comes close to topping even them. The thing I like about it is that it isn’t too epic, on fact it almost sounds standard, until it hits that big fanfare and…I love it! Perfect theme for what was a pretty epic film.
#2.Forrest Gump
I love this simple and sweet score. It doesn’t even really sound like a movie score, which is probably one of the reason it works. It just fits into the simpleness of the movie so lovely. It was the only one of these I didn’t have to listen to again to know I loved it. Well, ok except one other…….
#1.Back to the Future
Was there any doubt? I wish I could convey just how much this music means to me. I adore it. Probably more than any other theme. Not only does it fit into the movie flawlessly, but it’s just a great composition! Heck even Nostalgia Critic put it at #1 on his list of movie themes. And why not? It hits every note and does it fantastically. Yeah you have Huey Lewis in the first movie and ZZ Top in the second movie giving great songs to their respective films but for me, it all starts and ends with this kickass theme!!!
I concluded my John Williams article with his TV work, and it’s only fair I do the same here. Before he broke out into film scores he did the theme for a popular 70’s series. A theme I know very well despite never watching the show. Here it is..
And finally, a little more recent….
Lots I missed from The Abyss to Castaway to Lilo & Stitch to Captain America. Comment and let me know which is your favorite!
No comments:
Post a Comment