Great music makes everything better. It can heighten the emotional impact of a movie, and finding just the right song can make a huge impact on a scene, or a film as a whole. Soundtracks create a sense of style and tone. They can be indicative of a particular time and place, evoking emotions from our own past and memories. The best films can take licensed music and make it feel like their own, where we involuntarily link the music with the movie. Who doesn't automatically think of Goodfellas when they hear the end of "Layla"? Or Terminator 2: Judgment Day when they hear "Bad to the Bone"? Good music selection in movies can have that kind of lasting effect on us. Plus movies can introduce us to all types of new music we would never normally listen to. Here are my picks for the top 5 movies that featured music I loved and couldn't get enough of!
Favorite Soundtrack Nominees:
Boyhood
 | Spanning a 12-year period of filming, Boyhood's enormous soundtrack is representative of its time, featuring a wide range of popular music from the 2000s. Its greatest selected songs are perfectly touching and eloquent. Plus it gets bonus points for creating The Beatles' The Black Album! Favorite Featured Songs: "What is Life" by George Harrison, "Hero" by Family of the Year, "Band on the Run" by Paul McCartney and Wings, "Trojans" by Atlus Genius, "Deep Blue" by Arcade Fire |
Guardians of the Galaxy
 | Oooga chaka! Oooga chaka! Oooga oooga! Oooga chaka! You won't be able to fight the feeling deep inside with this excellent soundtrack, appropriately titled Awesome Mix: Vol. 1. It's fun, catchy, and perfect for Guardians of the Galaxy. It gives these classic songs a fresh new spin! Favorite Featured Songs: "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "I Want You Back" by Jackson 5, "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone |
Inherent Vice
 | What an eclectic mix of music! It wonderfully grounds Inherent Vice in the '70s while staying true to the quirkiness and the coolness of the film. I love the way it contrasts its lighthearted music with its off-the-wall exotic music and soul. This memorable soundtrack is truly far out! Favorite Featured Songs: "(What A) Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke, "Journey Through the Past" by Neil Young, "Simba" by Les Baxter, "Les Fleurs" by Minnie Riperton, "Vitamin C" by Can, "Any Day Now" by Chuck Jackson |
the Fault in Our Stars
 | Unlike the other nominees, there was not a single song on this soundtrack that I knew before I had seen the movie. Rather than consisting of sappy, teenage love songs as expected, The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack has songs that are beautifully expressive and emotionally resonant. Favorite Featured Songs: "Best Shot" and "Not About Angels" by Birdy, "Long Way Down" by Tom Odell, "All I Want" by Kodaline, "Without Words" by Ray LaMontagne, "All of the Stars" by Ed Sheeran |
Wish I Was Here
 | Zach Braff's Wish I Was Here has a beautiful soundtrack that feels very distinct and fitting. The songs are gentle and imaginative, and they touch the heart. They perfectly capture the movie's style and conflict, as a father lovingly guides his children, while still trying to find his own path in life. Favorite Featured Songs: "Holocene" by Bon Iver, "So Now What" by The Shins, "Cherry Wine" by Hozier, "The Shining" by Badly Drawn Boy, "The Mute" by Radical Face, "Wish I Was Here" by Cat Power |
And the Winner Is...
The Fault In Our Stars
Favorite Soundtrack
Would you believe me if I told you that I've listened to The Fault in Our Stars complete soundtrack over 100 times? I wouldn't have believed it myself, being a guy who typically listens to classic rock. This one really hit me off guard. Right in the feels, as they say. I've stated before that I'm a sucker for a good romance, and I'm also a big fan of lovey-dovey classic soul, but I didn't expect to be so moved by this movie's soundtrack (or the film, for that matter). I was simply astounded by the quality of these heartfelt songs, and they stayed in my mind long after the movie ended. You know a movie has good music when you're looking up the songs after seeing it. I bought the soundtrack soon later and have been listening to it quite consistently ever since. I strongly advise you to do yourself a favor and check it out. Just don't ask me if you can borrow mine.
| Tell me what you think! Do you agree or disagree? Vote for which movie has your Favorite Soundtrack of the Year! Share your own choices in the comments below! | |
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