Courtesy of Cool Spotters.

There are many different aspects of a film that contribute to its greatness. A solid script, strong actors and good direction are the usual recipe for a movie people will respond to. However, people often overlook the importance of music.

Take the film Inception for example. That movie wouldn‰’t have had nearly as much suspense and intensity without its soundtrack. Or Sophia Coppola‰’s Marie Antoinette, which fused together old and new with the movie taking place in 18th century France, but being accompanied by modern music by artists such as the Strokes, The Radio Dept., and Air. Music in film is, in my opinion, one of the most important parts and when done well, can be what really completes a film.

One of my favorite movies of all time has to be The Royal Tenenbaums. Director Wes Anderson‰’s attention to detail, unique characters and use of music in all of his work make his films undeniably his own, and I love that. In The Royal Tenenbaums, his music choices create a tone of nostalgia and charm, with the soundtrack being a compilation of timeless rock from the 60s through the 90s.

Courtesy of Pop Matters.

I‰’ve been really feeling this soundtrack this week. It‰’s the perfect combination of mellow classic rock to kick back and relax to and also bring a little bit of Wes into your life (and who wouldn‰’t want that?). Featuring tracks by Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake and more, not only is it a great soundtrack, but having the film as something visual to pair these songs with makes the listening experience something special. Every time I listen to “Fly‰” by Nick Drake, I picture a specific scene in the movie, and the context and whatever the characters were feeling gives the song a deeper meaning. It‰’s similar to reading a play and then seeing it performed; plays can be interpreted in many different ways to present specific opinions or themes. 

In the same way, music in film can be used to clarify the emotions or thoughts of a character for the audience and set the tone for the film. Sometimes it can even take the place of dialogue- for example, there is a scene where “These Days‰” by Nico plays while two characters meet at a train station. All other sounds of buses and trains and outside noise fades away, and all you hear is Nico‰’s hauntingly beautiful voice sing about memories of the past as we watch two people with a complicated history reunite. The song completes the scene, and I can‰’t listen to “These Days‰” without picturing Margot and Richie at the train station.

I love movie soundtracks because I feel like music and movies are the perfect complement to each other. Music can make the film stronger and at the same time, the film can give the music new meaning. The soundtrack to The Royal Tenenbaums in my opinion is not only great because it‰’s packed with amazing artists, but because these songs were so vital in telling a story, and even if you‰’ve never seen the movie it‰’s a great album to put on if you‰’re in a retro mood or if you‰’re in the mood for some classics.