Back to our musical score time machine! For this edition, we're looking back to 2013! Here's a look back at the scores of the year with my list of the 10 Best Scores Turning 10!
Let's start the ranking!
10. Iron Man 3 (Brian Tyler)Tyler finally gives Iron Man a shining musical identity...for at least this film. Extremis and Mandarin low electronic melodies aren't the strongest, even though they're featured heavily. Iron Man gets his solid theme, used in full "epic blockbuster" sound using Tyler's signature rock sound along the way. The 60s end credit arrangement is also a blast.
9. Philomena (Alexandre Desplat)
This score shows off Desplat's lighter side, still teeming with emotion and beautiful orchestration. His recurring melody is this airy waltz that lends itself to the touching and funny moments of the film.
8. Now You See Me (Brian Tyler) What a fun score - full of in your face action caper moments. Tyler's score is full of drum set and funky brass and some great statements of the main themes.
7. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Howard Shore) The music might be one of the better parts of the film - several reoccurring themes get new variations. New material focuses on themes for Smaug, Laketown and Tauriel. The darker fantasy elements match nicely with the action set pieces.
6. Frozen (Christophe Beck)
The songs hit the charts and the cultural zeitgeist. Beck's score is full of magical moments, enormous heart and strong (but brief) action pieces. The choral opening (co-written by Frode Fjellheim) is a highlight.
5. The Lone Ranger (Hans Zimmer) A cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and Sherlock Holmes - Zimmer went full Western. It's a bit dark in spots, but full of adventure, melodies and Morricone references. The Geoff Zanelli-arranged William Tell finale is absolutely worth a listen - just don't watch the movie.
4. Gravity (Steven Price)
One of the thrilling aspects of the film is the score. A mix of orchestra, electronics and sound designs. It highlights the loneliness, scariness and beauty of space. Music is featured so heavily in the film, matched with some stunning visuals and notably in the standout finale.
3. The Croods (Alan Silvestri) What a blast of an animated score - zany antics are scored wall-to-wall. There's the marching band sequence, plenty of mickey-mousing and classic Silvestri action scoring tricks. The score stands out because of the main theme which became the end credit song, with the family theme and cave painting theme adding the heart into the film.
2. The Book Thief (John Williams) Williams added a sense of loss, longing and warmth to this film adaptation. Solo piano leads many cues, while the beautiful melodies feature a small ensemble with solo woodwinds and harp. The score is more subtle, which is finally allowed to shine in the full concert suite at the end of the album.
1. Saving Mr. Banks (Thomas Newman) Newman's signature style in apparent in this scores' melody, harmony and instrumentation. It doesn't try to compete with the Mary Poppins melodies, instead giving some emotional moments to PL Travers backstory and optimistic charm to Disney. Newman completely elevated the film with his touching score.
Honorable Mentions: 42 (Mark Isham), Oblivion (M83/Joseph Trapanese), Oz the Great and Powerful (Danny Elfman), Rush (Hans Zimmer), Star Trek Into Darkness (Michael Giacchino), Thor the Dark World (Brian Tyler)
Any personal favorites of yours from 2013 that I didn't include?
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