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The Best Music in Film
Colin Towns
(Composer and music arranger on films and television, most notably Our Friends in the North)
- S&S: What is your favourite film soundtrack music and why do you like it so much?
- "John Corigliano's score for Altered States (1980) really made an impact on me. John Williams writes and orchestrates beautifully (Catch Me If You Can, 2002). Krzysztof Komeda's score for Rosemary's Baby (1968) and Elliot Goldenthal's for Demolition Man (1993) lift my imagination. The last Matrix score (The Matrix Revolutions, 2003) by Don Davis was very strong."
- S&S: In what ways does music best enhance a film?
- "A film can be dramatically changed by music. A track or song can create contrast, attitude, period etc but the best music result for me comes when chances are taken by all, to create another dimension, something not in the script, location or acting."
- S&S: Which film either has music that you wished you'd written or is one you would like to rescore and why?
- "The score I would loved to have written is Vertigo (1958). Bernard Herrmann was unique, he also orchestrated brilliantly."