Based on Books
Sit back, relax, and listen to a curated set list of cues from films that are based on books.
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Ep. 233 - James Horner's 'Bicentennial Man'
Horner, one of the film industry's most esteemed composers, weaves an auditory tapestry as rich and complex as the film's thematic underpinnings. As an authority in the realm of film music, we contend that Horner's compositions for "Bicentennial Man" served to redefine the use of music in cinema....
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Ep. 220 - Richard Gibbs' '10 Things I Hate About You' (feat. Semisonic)
"10 Things I Hate About You" is a delightful throwback to the '90s with a killer soundtrack, a charmingly rebellious Heath Ledger, and a heartwarming storyline that's inspired by Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". The film boasts a soundtrack that includes timeless classics with an exceptio...
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Ep. 216 - Ennio Morricone's 'Frantic' (feat. Grace Jones)
Polanski's film 'Frantic' is a true masterpiece, featuring one of Harrison Ford's best performances to date. The snapshot of the film captured in these two scenes is truly exceptional. In the first scene, Dr. Richard Walker (Ford) is depicted as desperate while he tries to move a suitcase into Mi...
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Ep. 215 - John Williams' 'The Accidental Tourist'
There is something about this film that is quite unique, mainly because of the incredible performance by Geena Davis and William Hurt. Based off of the 1985 book by Anne Tyler, the story revolves around a middle-aged travel writer whose life and marriage have been shattered by the tragic death of...
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Ep. 214 - Alexandre Desplat's 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ - Part 1'
There is no question that Desplat's work here is some of the darkest out of the series, but his unique ability to score such beautiful melodies throughout Part 1 and 2 is brilliant to say the least. Enjoy this snapshot from the beginning of the film, which we think is one of the most tragic scene...
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Ep. 213 - Alexandre Desplat's 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ - Part 2'
Nominated for a Grammy, this score by Desplat is one of our favorites. Interestingly, this main theme called 'Lily's Theme' was performed by Mai Fujisawa, daughter of Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi! This score is filled with incredible strings, vocal soloists, and triumphant yet dark themes that ...
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Ep. 212 - Alan Silvestri's 'The Polar Express'
This is such a magical score, which is why we love doing this in concert. Filled with warmth, adventure, and hope, Silvestri's work here is a magnificent example of his composing virtuosity in another wonderful collaboration collaboration between him and Zemeckis. Enjoy the three cues presented i...
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Ep. 203 - Cruel Intentions (feat. The Verve)
Who can forget this 1999 American teen romantic drama featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair? We can't! In a quintessential modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel 'Les Liaisons dangereuses' (which was made in to 'Dangerous Liaisons'...
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Ep. 189 - Howard Shore's 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'
Again, there is no question that Howard Shore's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy (along with his 'Hobbit' trilogy) are some of his best work to-date. This track is especially epic, dynamic, gorgeous, dark, but also heartfelt and emotional. There wasn't one person in the theater that wasn't shedding a ...
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Ep. 188 - Mamo All-Stars' 'The Mambo Kings'
This is a great film that most don't know about. The 1992 musical drama was based on the 1989 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love' by Oscar Hijuelos. Starring the great Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas, they actually did their own singing, and studied to master the...
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Ep. 186 - Howard Shore's 'The Rings of Power'
Tolkien fans around the world have been waiting for this show for quite some time, and even though the amazing score is composed by Bear McCreary, the producers brought back Howard Shore to compose the 'Main Title'. The last time Shore had composed work for The Hobbit/LOTR was back in 2013, so it...
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Ep. 183 - Nino Rota's 'The Godfather'
Without question 'The Godfather' is one of the best films ever made, which is why we have produced a film concert experience that not only showcases the film, but the genius of Rota's score, which won a Grammy, Golden Globe, and British Academy Film Award. At the Oscars, the film won Best Picture...
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Ep. 177 - Room (feat. Jon Hopkins)
There is no question that Lenny Abrahamson's 2015 film gained a great deal of attention that year. First, there was Jacob Tremblay's entrance into the business, in addition to Brie Larson's wins at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. On top of that, the music by Stephen Rennicks is act...
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Ep. 164 - Philip Glass' 'The Hours'
We love this film, specifically Nicole Kidman's incredible performance as Virginia Woolf which actually won her an Academy Award. The score, composed by the legendary Philip Glass, won the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, the Go...
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Ep. 165 - Elliot Goldenthal's 'Interview with the Vampire'
This film took the world by storm when it was released in 1994 - mainly because of its all-star cast with two leading A-listers. Even so, Neil Jordan's interpretation of Anne Rice's work landed Elliot Goldenthal an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. He also won an ASCAP Film and Television...
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Ep. 162 - Danny Elfman's 'Alice in Wonderland'
Elfman's score to Tim Burton's 2010 film is one of our favorites. Interestingly, the film generated over $1.025 billion in ticket sales and became the fifth highest-grossing film of all time during its theatrical run!
This scene in particular is especially fun - Alice refuses a marriage proposa...
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Ep. 160 - Thomas Newman's 'Shawshank Redemption'
Frank Darabont's cinematic masterpiece is one of the most unforgettable films of the mid-90's. In 2015, the Library of Congress actually selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant'.
We think that this is al...
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Ep. 153 - Rachel Portman's 'Emma'
Portman's Academy Award-winning score to 'Emma' is one of our absolute favorites. Portman used various instruments throughout to give a unique voice to each character. She revealed that a 'quivering violin' represented Harriet's uneasy stomach, while 'a bittersweet clarinet' would accompany Emma ...
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Ep. 143 - John Williams' 'Munich'
This 2005 historical drama produced and directed by Stephen Spielberg is a film we can never forget. Nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing, John Williams also received a nomination for Best Original Score. Williams was actually ...
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Ep. 134 - John Williams' 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™'
There is no question that each cue from the score to this film is gorgeous and unique, with this being one of them. "Buckbeak's Flight" is not only just a beautiful theme with sweeping strings and percussion (and don't forget the subtle flute!), but it comes at time when Harry, just for a second,...
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Ep. 130 - John Williams' 'Born on the Fourth of July'
Who can forget the 1989 film directed by Oliver Stone? Based on the 1976 autobiography by Ron Kovic, it goes down in cinematic history as one of the most riveting anti-war film sever made.
The score was produced, composed, and conducted by John Williams, who agreed to work on the film after wat...
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Ep. 128 - Howard Shore's 'Lord of the Rings - Return of the King'
There are so many epic cues in 'Return of the King' it becomes overwhelming to try and decide which one to feature. Writing nearly 8 minutes of music per day to keep on schedule, we think this is one of Shore's finest achievements to-date. Winning the Academy Award in 2004, the score features the...
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Ep. 121 - Thomas Newman's 'White Oleander'
There are moments in films when important emotional beats happen between characters. This is one of those moments when the score isn't necessarily front and center, but it is subtly and subconsciously guiding our emotions in the moment. Thomas Newman's 2002 score to 'White Oleander' is a beautifu...
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Ep. 111 - Marc Shaiman's 'Misery'
Want a masterclass in filmmaking, acting, cinematography, editing, and film composing? This scene is it. Rob Reiner's masterful 1990 film starring the incredible James Caan and Kathy Bates (who won an Academy Award for the role) is one of our favorite films, especially leading up to Halloween. Sh...