[1] The Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
From one of the greatest superhero movies of all time comes the greatest superhero movie soundtrack of all time. Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's The Dark Knight soundtrack is a brooding, menacing masterpiece. Much like in the movie itself, The Joker steals the show on this soundtrack. "Why So Serious?," the album opener, is the perfect opening track for a score that does as great of a job of familiarizing the listener with the characters as the film itself.
[2] The Fifth Element - Eric Serra
This crazy surreal science fiction comedy comes with a soundtrack that is not a joke. Eric Serra outdid himself creating a fusion of all different possible styles to represent the multicultural-influenced environments presented in the movie. From opera and lieds to reggae, arabic world music, electronica, industrial, orchestrations, and even pop/rock, he does it all! Serra showed off his capabilities as an infinite music machine, and the results are impressive. Surprisingly, all these different genres are consistent as a whole, wrapped in a vibe that becomes his signature sound.
[3] Casino Royale - Chris Cornell
A great movie topped with superb score, and a Chris Cornell single. Casino Royale was a pleasant surprise to someone like me. I was never a James Bond fan, maybe because I’m too young to have lived in the golden age of the franchise, and the latest flicks with Pierce Brosnan. Don’t get me wrong, Pierce Brosnan is a cool guy – but that spy kids thing going on with all the little scientifically implausible gadgets, and Bond’s unreal bullet dodging abilities while keeping the cool matador look? I’m sorry, who wrote that crap? The new Bond is a bad ass, but he also panics, sweats, makes mistakes and gets tired, like a real human being! Plus, the revised orchestral score is absolutely kick ass.
[4] Kill Bill
Quentin Tarantino's vinyl dealer does it again, throwing together Nancy Sinatra, panpipes, a 10-minute Latin version of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and a badass piece called Battle Without Honour or Humanity.
[5] Blade Runner - Vangelis
How could you possibly come up with a soundtrack to match a sci-fi masterpiece so stylish and melancholic and noir? Vangelis did.
[6] Manhattan - George Gershwin
Woody Allen shows us the New York cityscape to the indolent beat of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and presents it as if it was the first time anyone had ever thought of it. Well, in 1979, Allen was the first one to think of it.
[7] Pulp Fiction
Classics from Kool and the Gang, Dusty Springfield and Al Green are accompanied by lesser-known, but no-less-great, soul-'n'-surf grooves and snippets of Tarantino dialogue on this definitive document of 1990s retro-cool.
[8] The Piano - Michael Nyman
Either loved or hated by pianists and composers, there is no doubt that Michael Nyman caused an impression with his piano-based score for this movie. The Piano, a brilliantly written drama, winner of 3 Academy Awards, shows off a best-selling soundtrack with profound melodic and rhythmic arrangements. Sure, Danny Elfman did a great job in the pianos of The Corpse Bride, but this one takes the prize for the way it paints a landscape so unusual and deep.
[9] Meet Joe Black - Thomas Newman
This is without a doubt, the album that started it all... my obsession with original film scores. Thomas Newman, a Hollywood heavyweight composer, has composed music for many movies, including Wall-E, American Beauty, Finding Nemo, and The Green Mile. Newman has a unique style of writing, and once you are familiar with it, it's easy to recognize. He composes in themes and reintroduces them in new ways - sometimes lighter, sometimes deeper. Because Meet Joe Black is about death, the soundtrack is somber and reflective, with lyrical melodies and lush symphonic orchestrations.
[10] Amelie - Yann Tiersen
This delightful French film has a soundtrack that is rather unique. Its french flair and instrumentation are far from cliché. Employing a variety of instruments from accordion to solo piano, this score encompasses the film's fluttery charm and nature. How refreshing!
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