It’s Thursday and I’m back with a new Thursday Movie Picks feature post. This series is hosted by Wandering through the Shelves and offers you a weekly prompt to post some movie recommendations/talking points according to the theme. Usually, you are supposed to post about 3-5 examples, which I find a very manageable amount.
This week is once again part of the Oscar Winner Edition, which will continue to be a reoccurring theme during each month. As was evident from the post title, we are dealing with Best Original Song and Best Original Score this time around – another two for one post! Music is such an important component to filmmaking, as is sound design in general. I’m looking forward to diving into some good music today!
Best Original Score
Soul
(Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & Jon Batiste)
Soul was a beautiful movie that lived off of music, so it only makes sense to mention it here. Jazz in general might not be for everyone, but I’m sure it can enchant you here. (Also, it’s not like it’s all “just” jazz.)
Black Panther
(Ludwig Göransson)
I’ve mentioned Black Panther a lot for these posts, but 1) I’m happy when superhero movies get recognition from the Academy and 2) the movie was fantastic/iconic/a whole movement. If I hear a certain rhythm of tribal drums, I immediately think of Wakanda and/or the Dora Milaje. The score did THAT!
Finding Neverland
(Jan A. P. Kaczmarek)
I was obsessed with this movie when I was like 11 years old. I’m sure I watched it 20+ times and I cried every single one of them. To me, that movie was pure magic and my Peter Pan loving heart was all in.
Best Original Song
Man or Muppet (The Muppets)
(music and lyrics by Bret McKenzie)
Is this song ridiculous? Absolutely! Did it still get stuck in my head? Yes, it sure did!
Remember Me (Coco)
(music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez)
My favorite song from Coco is actually “Un Poco Loco”, but this one made me tear up in the end. So, it deserves to be on this list.
Falling Slowly (Once)
(music and lyrics by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová)
I just love the song! All the more for getting covered on a show I love (Good Trouble), but that’s another story.
You’ll Be In My Heart (Tarzan)
(music and lyrics by Phil Collins)
I love the whole soundtrack. Phil Collins doing all the songs in dozens of languages, despite not speaking them, was just the cherry on top. I will admit to having grown up with mostly the German versions of the Tarzan songs, but it is (next to the Anastasia soundtrack) one of the most played CDs of my childhood.
Honorable Mentions
I couldn’t go without a little shout out to some more songs that I loved and that were nominated, however, didn’t win.
- Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens (Call Me by Your Name)
- Lost Stars from the movie Begin Again (performed by Keira Knightley and Adam Levine in different versions)
- Coming Home from the movie Country Strong (which has a fantastic soundtrack in general)
- A LOT of Disney songs …
- Tron: Legacy was snubbed for Best Score, because it was never even nominated. You can fight me on that, but I’ll stick to that opinion.
Life and Other Disasters 