The relationship between soundtrack and film
Soundtracks can rescue failed movies, give them an everlasting appeal and even influence a director's editing. Mark reveals the different dynamics behind some of his favourite soundtrack albums.
Silent Running scored by Peter Schickele
One of the first soundtrack albums I bought
"Peter Schickele was best known as musical satirist P.D.Q. Bach but was discovered by [director] Doug Trumbull because of his arrangement work on the albums of Joan Baez. Along with the wonderful orchestral score the soundtrack album features two songs sung by her."
Local Hero scored by Mark Knopfler
For me it鈥檚 the perfect example for the music of the film being the place setting
"I love Local Hero and my vinyl copy of the soundtrack was played to death until it was nothing more than a spiral scratch. An enduring favourite that benefits hugely from the input of 80s musician Mark Knopfler."
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me scored by Angelo Badalamenti
A movie flop rediscovered years later thanks to the popularity of its soundtrack album
"One of my favourites, one of the most overlooked films of the 90s and one of Angelo Badalamenti’s very finest compositions… Was an absolute disaster as far as the critics were concerned."
There Will Be Blood scored by Jonny Greenwood
He even cut some of the film to the music which is so the wrong way roundJonny Greenwood on working with Paul Thomas Anderson
"I remember watching the film and about 20-30 minutes in thinking, 'I’m not distinguishing between the sound effects and the music.' It all sounded like all the sound was coming out of the landscape, that is the highest compliment."
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Kermode joins Simon Mayo to give his verdict on the week's movies.
