BFI | Sight & Sound | The Best Music in Film

The Best Music in Film

(Composed the music for The Last Seduction and She's So Lovely)

S&S: What is your favourite film soundtrack music and why do you like it so much?: "La Strada (1954), Juliet of the Spirits (1965). I've always been obsessed with Rota. The Godfather-only Rota could suggest violence with a clarinet."
S&S: In what ways does music best enhance a film?: "It depends on the film. Some films require the score to be an active “character”, some demand you stay out of the way."
S&S: Which film either has music that you wished you'd written or is one you would like to rescore and why?: "I suppose we'd all like to rewrite most of our scores. Warren Beatty said “You never finish a film, you abandon it”. However, if I had to pick one to rescore, I suppose it would be She's So Lovely (1997). It was an orchestral score written and recorded in 12 days. While it was well received, I'm certain I could have done more with adequate time. On the other hand, there is a whimsical quality that I'm sure is a reflection of my exhaustion which serves the film well. The characters were not a healthy lot. Robin's performance in this film is brilliant. She reminded me of Giulietta Masina in Nights Of Cabiria (1957). Taxi Driver (1976) by Herrmann had the sensitivity and guts to take a romantic approach to brutality-hope amidst grief and loss. And of course, La Strada, perhaps the most beautiful, memorable theme I've ever heard. It still makes me cry."