Best of Lorne Balfe

Born in the U.K. in 1976. Eclectic and highly prolific, Balfe is particularly comfortable with fantasy and action scores. My favorite: The Black Adam theme.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

The former members of a once somewhat popular folk duo (who were also lovers) are reunited on an isolated island for a concert, arranged by their number-one fan, eccentric millionaire…

Legacy

A feature film version of a 2023 TV series that chronicled the unusual relationship between Sweden and some of America’s greatest jazz stars. Starting in the 1950s, musicians like Dexter…

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

40 years after directing a seminal rockumentary, director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) finds out whatever happened to the former members of Spinal Tap. I had my doubts, but this is…

The Doors

Released the same year as JFK, this portrait of The Doors is set in the same period and shares its visual style. It made an impression on young audiences who…

Best of John Cardon Debney

Born in the U.S. in 1956. Film score aficionados love him for CutThroat Island (1995), but my favorite is The Passion of the Christ (2004).

Sing Street

Dublin, 1985; young teenager Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) finds himself in a new, strict school and tries to start a pop band together with a bunch of other misfits. After a…

A Complete Unknown: Introducing Bob Dylan

Timothée Chalamet. Photo: Searchlight Pictures While watching this movie, I was reminded of the time I went to see Bob Dylan in concert. It was the tour he did together…

Becoming Led Zeppelin

The surviving members of Led Zeppelin agreed to make this film on the strength of Bernard MacMahon’s previous work as a director of music documentaries. Chronicling the rise of the…

Best of Dario Marianelli

Born in Italy in 1963. Won Oscar for Atonement. Has worked with Joe Wright several times; his scores often rely on piano supported by an orchestra. My favorite score: Atonement.