There is absolutely something exquisite about this score by Thomas Newman. It's the combination of solo violin, sweeping melodies combined with subtle melancholy that captures your emotion.

The score was nominated for an Academy Award, and we feel, is one of Newman's best scores. Enjoy!

Where ...

We've had numerous other snapshots and Film Music Fridays featuring the great films of director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, 1917), and this comedy-drama is oftentimes overlooked. Interestingly, it is Mendes' first film without his Thomas Newman collaboration, but we love it no...

We feel that this is one of Ennio Morricone's best scores. The work combines liturgical chorales, native drumming, and Spanish-influenced guitars in an attempt to really capture the cultures depicted in the film. The soundtrack was nominated for an Academy Award in 1986 and won the Golden Globe f...

Perhaps this is one of Horner's lesser-known scores from the late 90's, but we love it nonetheless. Featuring a gorgeous bagpipe solo with sweeping melodic strings, there is no question that this is Horner doing what he does best - creating an emotional landscape of melody.

The most striking thi...

The following cues are within this 14-minute sequence from the best Christmas movie ever, "Die Hard"

Cues: "Going After John Again," "Have a Few Laughs", "Don't Shoot!", "Welcome to the Party", "The Fight Begins", and "The Fight"

Nothing compares to this ultimate 1988 holiday classic directed b...

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...

It is hard to believe that this film was made nearly 13 years ago, with a message that is so much more poignant in todays age. What is there not to love about this film? Andrew Stanton's beautiful Pixar-animated feature is one of our absolute favorite films and scores of all-time. This scene in p...

Who doesn't love this quintessential Thanksgiving movie? We miss John Candy terribly, and I think we can all agree this is one of his best performances ever.

So much could be said about the genius of John Hughes. This is as classic as you can get. Enjoy this snapshot featuring the legendary Ray...

Tony Gilroy's 2007 legal thriller is one of our favorite films for the performances, direction, and score by James Newton Howard (which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score!).

This scene in particular is a great example of Howard's 'pulsating' rhythm contrasting with the dead, mono...

'The Hunter' is one of those hidden gems that most haven't heard of. Directed by Daniel Nettheim starring Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, and Frances O.Connor, the story focuses on a mercenary (Dafoe) who is hired to track down a thylacine, a supposedly extinct animal whose genetic code holds the secret...

Who can forget the 1994 James Cameron masterpiece, 'True Lies'? Featuring the great Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, it is one of our absolute favorite films ever. It is also one of our favorite scores, featuring music by Brad Fiedel. Interestingly, this film was the first to use the 1...

It is without question that 'Garden State' put writer/director Zach Braff on the map as an emerging indie director. It also was one of the best selling soundtracks of the year, selling 1.3 million copies and certified platinum by the RIAA. Braff was actually awarded a Grammy Award for Best Compil...

One can honestly say that Jonathan Demme's 1993 film 'Philadelphia' was groundbreaking. For his role as Andrew Beckett, Hanks won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the song "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

This snapshot is comprised...

Penny Marshall's 1988 film 'Big' is nothing short of perfect. It's one of those films that you can see over and over again. Winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor, Tom Hanks performance is one of his best, and Howard Shore's touching and really heartwarming score is unforgettable.

This scene is n...

Who doesn't love this iconic score to one of the most iconic films ever? Happy Halloween!!

Listen to the score: https://open.spotify.com/album/1eA3cq4WvDR4yVKChvZewP?si=LeRvzEUuQOy0rC_KYq99YQ
Where to watch: https://letterboxd.com/film/halloween-1978/

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Every Monday and Wednesday, SCORE CUE SN...

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...

Halloween wouldn't be complete without featuring a score by Danny Elfman, especially in a film directed by Tim Burton! Winning the Golden Satellite Award, the score is a masterful mix of swelling choral and orchestral cues combined with everything one would expect from a suspenseful score. It is ...

Did you know that was the only Dracula film to ever win Oscars? To us, this version of Dracula is our absolute favorite. Nothing tops Gary Oldman's version of this character and without question, Kilar's score is genius. From the costume design, Makeup, Art Direction, and Cinematography, the musi...

As you probably know, we are huge fans of M. Night Shyamalan's work - especially the films where he collaborated with the incredible James Newton Howard. This score is nothing short of gorgeous, and in fact was nominated for an Academy Award in 2004.

This clip features two snapshots from differ...

"Casper" is one of those '90s gems that you can't quite forget. Directed by Brad Siberling (who also directed 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'), 'Casper' was his directorial debut and featured the great James Horner at the helm to compose the score. Horner's composition is touchi...

Who can forget this iconic 1979 Ridley Scott film? No-one. As an addition to our Halloween snapshot list we wanted to feature Jerry Goldsmith's absolutely unforgettable score. Interestingly, Goldsmith wanted to create a sense of romanticism and lyrical mystery in the film's opening credits (which...

We are huge fans of M. Night Shyamalan's work, so you can imagine we couldn't wait to see what he did with his new film, 'Old'. Without giving too much away, the film focuses on a group of people stuck on a beach that age at a very accelerated rate.

Composer Trevor Gureckis (https://www.gurecki...

To kick off the first week of October and our spooky Snapshot series this month in preparation for one of our favorite holidays, who can forget this iconic film? Interestingly, the lullaby you hear in this title credit sequence is the song 'Sleep Safe and Warm', which was composed by Komeda and a...

Who can question the genius of Jordan Peele? He has continued to re-define the horror genre, and the sequel to the 1992 film of the same name is nothing short of brilliant. The unique blend of social commentary with horror makes it one of the top films we've seen this year. The score, composed by...