2007: Best Sound & Best Score
BEST SOUND
1. HOT FUZZ
One of the key ingredients to the success of HOT FUZZ is the sound design. Everything’s a bit loud and over the top which is comedic, but also true of an American action film. It’s quite a feat for the film to want to draw attention to what it’s doing, without becoming too obnoxious to play as funny.
2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
The Coens are masters of detail, both visual and aural. The love to draw your attention to the little sounds, like the police shoes scuffing the linoleum in the beginning, or the sound of a tossing coin.
3. RATATOUILLE
Pixar films always, always spend the time creating an amazing sound design. Their work really brings Gusteau’s kitchen to life.
4. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
The sound design understands the value of contrast, moments of quiet introspection are heightened by the loud bursts of action. Like Bourne, the sound mix is constantly on the move -- even when the bullets aren't flying fast and furious, cell phones and computers keep things humming along.
5. ATONEMENT
Starting with the buzzing fly I realized part of the directing strategy was in the sound, which blended with the score and Wanted to call attention to itself. The sound became its own character.
6. PLANET TERROR
Robert Rodriguez films almost always have good sound. Since his movies exist in a fantasy movie world and not the real world, the sound is allowed to go extreme. Loud and gloppy.
7. 300
Speaking of loud, this is absolute bombast. The knobs are set to ‘11’, which is also annoying at times, but mostly it’s very effective.
8. DAY NIGHT DAY NIGHT
Like the trailer, this little seen film utilizes silence punctuated by these ruptures. A street corner sequence uses sound to build a tremendous amount of suspense.
9. DEATH PROOF
Tarantino loves his 70’s cars and he gives them as much love as his movie stars. Also many talking scenes use a nice undercurrent of rain to keep everyone close and tight.
10.ZODIAC
David Fincher is a perfectionist and his use of sound here is as clean and crisp as you will ever hear. The standout has to be the woman on the road having tire trouble.
BEST SCORE
1. RATATOUILLE
Of all the technical categories, this is the one I’m most hoping gets an Oscar nomination. I don’t see how it can’t. Michael Giacchino is nothing less than the finest composer working in films today, and this is his finest score to date.
2. OCEAN’S 13
Composer David Holmes is highly experimental and I’ve always liked him before, but this is his first great score. It captures that upbeat Vegas vibe and is the best thing in the movie.
3. ATONEMENT
Atonement ranks so high for me for a very obvious reason…the score often utilizes a typewriter as an instrument. The rest of the score is fine, but the typewriter is so inspired, blending perfectly into the soundscape of the film. THERE WILL BE BLOOD, does something similar, but only once and they use it in place of regular instruments. Here it compliments the score.
4. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
John Powell has scored all three Bourne movies. While the rhythmic music doesn’t play so well on its own, it does wonders to keep the tension flowing in the movie.
5. PLANET TERROR
After a terrible start, Robert Rodriguez keeps getting better with his scoring work. PLANET TERROR really only has one major theme, but it kicks major ass.
6. INTO THE WILD
Eddie Vedder is the male Lisa Gerrard. Like her work on films such as GLADIATOR, Vedder uses his voice as an instrument, blending with the score and evoking primal emotions.
7. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
Some of the score is on the obvious side, but there’s also a lot of good stuff here, like Dolores Umbridge’s bouncy theme.
8. THE LIVES OF OTHERS
The trailer uses the main theme. Listen to the way it builds layers, sucking you in and then adds some uneasy, abrupt strings.
9. 300
Someone got the idea of taking great trailer music, you know the kind with a choir singing like it’s life or death, and making a film score out of it.
10. ENCHANTED
Like the film, the score evokes some Disney classics, slipping comfortably into their glass slippers.
1. HOT FUZZ
One of the key ingredients to the success of HOT FUZZ is the sound design. Everything’s a bit loud and over the top which is comedic, but also true of an American action film. It’s quite a feat for the film to want to draw attention to what it’s doing, without becoming too obnoxious to play as funny.2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
The Coens are masters of detail, both visual and aural. The love to draw your attention to the little sounds, like the police shoes scuffing the linoleum in the beginning, or the sound of a tossing coin.3. RATATOUILLE
Pixar films always, always spend the time creating an amazing sound design. Their work really brings Gusteau’s kitchen to life.4. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
The sound design understands the value of contrast, moments of quiet introspection are heightened by the loud bursts of action. Like Bourne, the sound mix is constantly on the move -- even when the bullets aren't flying fast and furious, cell phones and computers keep things humming along. 5. ATONEMENT
Starting with the buzzing fly I realized part of the directing strategy was in the sound, which blended with the score and Wanted to call attention to itself. The sound became its own character.6. PLANET TERROR
Robert Rodriguez films almost always have good sound. Since his movies exist in a fantasy movie world and not the real world, the sound is allowed to go extreme. Loud and gloppy.7. 300
Speaking of loud, this is absolute bombast. The knobs are set to ‘11’, which is also annoying at times, but mostly it’s very effective.
8. DAY NIGHT DAY NIGHT
Like the trailer, this little seen film utilizes silence punctuated by these ruptures. A street corner sequence uses sound to build a tremendous amount of suspense.9. DEATH PROOF
Tarantino loves his 70’s cars and he gives them as much love as his movie stars. Also many talking scenes use a nice undercurrent of rain to keep everyone close and tight.10.ZODIAC
David Fincher is a perfectionist and his use of sound here is as clean and crisp as you will ever hear. The standout has to be the woman on the road having tire trouble. BEST SCORE
1. RATATOUILLE
Of all the technical categories, this is the one I’m most hoping gets an Oscar nomination. I don’t see how it can’t. Michael Giacchino is nothing less than the finest composer working in films today, and this is his finest score to date.
2. OCEAN’S 13
Composer David Holmes is highly experimental and I’ve always liked him before, but this is his first great score. It captures that upbeat Vegas vibe and is the best thing in the movie.
3. ATONEMENT
Atonement ranks so high for me for a very obvious reason…the score often utilizes a typewriter as an instrument. The rest of the score is fine, but the typewriter is so inspired, blending perfectly into the soundscape of the film. THERE WILL BE BLOOD, does something similar, but only once and they use it in place of regular instruments. Here it compliments the score.
4. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
John Powell has scored all three Bourne movies. While the rhythmic music doesn’t play so well on its own, it does wonders to keep the tension flowing in the movie.
5. PLANET TERROR
After a terrible start, Robert Rodriguez keeps getting better with his scoring work. PLANET TERROR really only has one major theme, but it kicks major ass.
6. INTO THE WILD
Eddie Vedder is the male Lisa Gerrard. Like her work on films such as GLADIATOR, Vedder uses his voice as an instrument, blending with the score and evoking primal emotions.
7. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
Some of the score is on the obvious side, but there’s also a lot of good stuff here, like Dolores Umbridge’s bouncy theme.
8. THE LIVES OF OTHERS
The trailer uses the main theme. Listen to the way it builds layers, sucking you in and then adds some uneasy, abrupt strings.
9. 300
Someone got the idea of taking great trailer music, you know the kind with a choir singing like it’s life or death, and making a film score out of it.
10. ENCHANTED
Like the film, the score evokes some Disney classics, slipping comfortably into their glass slippers.
posted by Cutshaw at 1/10/2008
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