Director who best uses Music in their Movies? (1 Viewer)

[Hov34]

I guess you could interpret this however you'd like - whether that means popular music or whatever.

 

[Mohawk]

For my money it's the Coen Brothers, if only for O Brother Where Art Thou?

I really liked Francis Ford Coppola's use of music in Apocalypse Now, as well.

 

[TenTimes]

Lately it's the Nolan/Zimmer combo for me

Brothers in BRONG

 

[The General]

Taratino

John Carpenter

Scorsese

David Fincher

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I always appreciate Scorsese and Tarantino in this regard.

 

[Fiddles]

good lists so far ill add wes anderson

 

[rockaction]

Darren Aranofsky and Clint Mansell together

 

[Spike]

For my mind, no one kills it like Tarentino.

 

[zamboni]

Cameron Crowe is pretty good.

 

[shuke]

John Carpenter

I love those 80's John Carpenter scores. So creepy and cool.

 

[The General]

John Carpenter

I love those 80's John Carpenter scores. So creepy and cool.

Agreed.

Next time you see Escape From New York on stop and listen to the soundtrack for a bit, it's really good.

 

[Insein]

I always appreciate Scorsese and Tarantino in this regard.

These are the easiest to choose because they are right.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Michael Mann

 

[saintfool]

errol morris, if you like Phillip Glass.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Wes Anderson

 

[KarmaPolice]

Wes Anderson

PT Anderson

 

[36th Chamber]

John Carpenter

I love those 80's John Carpenter scores. So creepy and cool.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Good ones so far with Carpenter and Coens (Blood Simple theme = speed) and Aronofsky/Mansell

also not mentioned, Guy Ritchie

 

[The_Man]

Scorsese is kind of the gold standard, IMO. I love how he flat out uses rock songs to score the movie, rather than having a tune playing on our character's car radio or something so it can be included on the sound track album.

I also felt like the score to The Social Network was truly genius. Other than The Magnificent Seven, I can't think of another example where the score shaped my overall experience watching a movie as much.

 

[Keith R]

Agree that Scorsese is the top with Tarantino 1A. Also liked the nod to Paul Thomas Anderson.

Not my favorite director as a whole but Robert Zemeckis used music very well in Back to the Future and Forrest Gump.

 

[PIK95]

Cameron Crowe is pretty good.

Almost Famous had a great flow.Not to go all TV but the music for n the Newsroom was pretty solid.

 

[tdoss]

No one beats John Carpenter in this category.

Dude was consistently awesome.

Halloween alone would seal this for him but the fact he knocked it out of the park in most of his films...wow.

Listen to The Thing...amazing.

 

[Apple Jack]

Wes Anderson

Agreed. The songs and mothersbaugh's scores.

 

[The General]

Scorsese is kind of the gold standard, IMO. I love how he flat out uses rock songs to score the movie, rather than having a tune playing on our character's car radio or something so it can be included on the sound track album.

I also felt like the score to The Social Network was truly genius. Other than The Magnificent Seven, I can't think of another example where the score shaped my overall experience watching a movie as much.

Totally agree on The Social Network, really perfect for the movie. Actually made the movie better in parts IMO. They also did an awesome job on Girl With the Dragon Tattoo also with David Fichner.

 

[Shane Falco]

Jim Jarmusch

Dead Man among other flicks

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

also not mentioned, Guy Ritchie

Top notch

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

also not mentioned, Guy Ritchie

Top notch

He directs Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?

 

[shuke]

John Carpenter

I love those 80's John Carpenter scores. So creepy and cool.

Agreed.

Next time you see Escape From New York on stop and listen to the soundtrack for a bit, it's really good.

This may be my favorite.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Sometimes I wonder how much credit a director deserves for the score. The Social Network is a good example. The music was right out of Trent Reznor's wheelhouse.

 

[zamboni]

Sometimes I wonder how much credit a director deserves for the score. .

Fair point - this is where Cameron Crowe shines using his background as a music writer. And he's always spot-on accurate in his research.

And before anyone mentions "Kashmir" from Fast Times At Ridgemont High, it was an intentional blunder.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

John Carpenter

I love those 80's John Carpenter scores. So creepy and cool.

Agreed.

Next time you see Escape From New York on stop and listen to the soundtrack for a bit, it's really good.

This may be my favorite.

Going back to the point of how much input a director has on the music - Carpenter obviously was at least tied for the most since he wrote everything himself.

 

[Doug B]

The top directors have been tabbed, but Alan Parker is worth a mention:

Midnight Express

Pink Floyd - The Wall (kind of a gimme )

Fame

The Commitments

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Stacy Peralta - Dogtown and Z boys

 

[FUBAR]

Alfred Hitchcock

and whoever did guardians of the galaxy

 

[ffldrew]

David Lean

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Darren Aranofsky and Clint Mansell together

This x1000.

 

[Insein]

Darren Aranofsky and Clint Mansell together

This x1000.

Clint Mansell is one my favorite composers. He did Mass Effect 3. The music just oozes emotion.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Darren Aranofsky and Clint Mansell together

This x1000.

Clint Mansell is one my favorite composers. He did Mass Effect 3. The music just oozes emotion.

Even when he does a big dumb action movie (like that one he composed for where The Rock was just killing a bunch of guys for revenge) he creates an awesome atmosphere with the music.

I could listen to The Fountain soundtrack on repeat and of course the Requiem Theme has been used in about 1000 movie trailers since the movie came out.

 

[GregR]

Not a movie, but whoever was responsible for the music in Halo gets a

 

[17seconds]

Gotta go with Tarantino. He's so brilliant at it you can't wait to hear what obscure cool song he's going to use next.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Stacy Peralta - Dogtown and Z boys

Damn good posting.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Wes Anderson

PT Anderson

Didn't you watch There Will Be Blood? Possibly the most distracting, worst soundtrack ever.

Tarantino, Michael Mann and Sergio Leone are all good choices.

 

[Insein]

Not a movie, but whoever was responsible for the music in Halo gets a

Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori

 

[KarmaPolice]

Wes Anderson

PT Anderson

Didn't you watch There Will Be Blood? Possibly the most distracting, worst soundtrack ever. Tarantino, Michael Mann and Sergio Leone are all good choices.

I actually listened to the score while falling asleep the other night.

 

[Arizona Ron]

Taratino - his music almost never "fits" with the scene but works every time.

One of my favorite examples.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Anybody who is smart enough to use John Williams. He is the king of transcendent memorable scores.

Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters, Superman, Indiana Jones, ET, Born on the 4th of July, Hook, JFK, Jurassic Park, Sleepers, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, Harry Potter, and on and on

So add Spielberg to the list as he's used him for pretty much everything.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Anybody who is smart enough to use John Williams. He is the king of transcendent memorable scores.

Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters, Superman, Indiana Jones, ET, Born on the 4th of July, Hook, JFK, Jurassic Park, Sleepers, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, Harry Potter, and on and on

So add Spielberg to the list as he's used him for pretty much everything.

i think Spielberg over uses score myself. Too much "cue music to tell audience how they are supposed to feel now", especially in his newer movies like Warhorse.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Anybody who is smart enough to use John Williams. He is the king of transcendent memorable scores.

Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters, Superman, Indiana Jones, ET, Born on the 4th of July, Hook, JFK, Jurassic Park, Sleepers, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, Harry Potter, and on and on

So add Spielberg to the list as he's used him for pretty much everything.

i think Spielberg over uses score myself. Too much "cue music to tell audience how they are supposed to feel now", especially in his newer movies like Warhorse.

I think John Williams is great but having the same composer do every one (OK, all but 1) of Spielberg's films is a mistake as certain scenes sound about the same. Especially the "heartwarming" scenes, which I think KarmaPolice is referring to.

 

[tdoss]

Sergio Leone deserves mention...