In celebration of SAE proudly sponsoring the fifth annual Short Sounds Film Festival – we want to highlight some of our favourite scores from the 2010s!
The Social Network – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
The Social Network (2010) – a biographical drama on the beginnings of Facebook, delivers an eerie soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. In an interview with Variety, Reznor stated that when creating the score, they imagined it to be the sound of an asteroid hitting the Earth at the end of humanity – symbolising the massive impact that Facebook and the subsequent social media platforms would have on society today.
Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer’s score for Interstellar (2014) is said to have been inspired by one single page from the script of the film. Despite the plot centring around humanity’s desperate search for a new home on another planet, the composer was simply told that the story is about the loss a father feels when he has to leave his child. From this, Hans Zimmer created a soundtrack that evokes a sense of deep sadness and wonder for what is to come at the same time – further adding to the emotional rawness of Interstellar.
Her – William Butler and Owen Pallett
Her (2013), the sci-fi, romance tale of a man who falls in love with an AI that he can only hear, presents a haunting soundtrack composed mostly of piano and keyboard. William Butler and Owen Pallett have said that they originally created the songs with the science fiction elements of the film in mind. However, as the main theme of the movie is humanity, the duo were encouraged to centre the score around the romance of the film by Her’s director – Spike Jonze.
Black Panther – Ludwig Goransson
Black Panther (2018) has a distinctive-sounding score, with the composer – Ludwig Goransson – researching Sengalese music and teaming up with vocalist Baaba Maal. The Black Panther soundtrack has been praised for taking well-used musical elements and arranging them in a way that has never been done before, something unheard of for a film as mainstream as Black Panther.
Mad Max: Fury Road – Junkie XL
Junkie XL bursts through Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) with a relentless soundtrack filled with loud drumming and synthesisers. To go with the post-apocalyptic world of the film, the score has a primal feel to it with a dark and oppressive tone. The dirty, industrial aesthetic of the film is enhanced by the overall metallic sound of Mad Max: Fury Road.
Swiss Army Man – Andy Hull and Robert McDowell
Immediately after reading the script for Swiss Army Man (2016), Andy Hull wrote, recorded and sent a song to the film’s directors, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. This song appears in the film as “A Better Way”, the influence of which spreads across the entire score. The light and upbeat sound of the soundtrack carries the message of the film, in that even in the worst of times, hope must remain to maintain sanity and survival.
Under the Skin – Mica Levi
Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin (2013) was polarising upon its release, with critics and film goers disagreeing on reviews of the film. However, one thing that the majority of people agree on is the way that Mica Levi’s soundtrack has the power to make any listener feel discomfort and anxiety. The disjointed sounds of a screeching violin create a tense atmosphere that pairs perfectly with the dark subject matter of Under Your Skin, making it unforgettable
Soul – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross paired up with Pixar to create the Oscar award-winning, jazz-influenced soundtrack of Soul (2020). Diverting from their usual dark and disturbing content, the composers explored a lighter, more emotional score for the animated film. The sentimental sound packs a punch, whether paired with the soulful imagery of the film or not.
Arrival – Jóhann Jóhannsson
Arrival (2016), an impactful story of motherhood wrapped in a tale of extraterrestrials visiting Earth, is accompanied by an otherworldly soundtrack from Jóhann Jóhannsson. A score filled with piano loops and electronic elements, Arrival explores themes of time, balance and duality with music that has the power to move any listener.
Gravity – Steven Price
Steven Price delivers a soundtrack that perfectly encapsulates the beauty, sadness and fear of Gravity (2013). The tracks that play during the more action-packed scenes of the film have enough power to create tension in any listener; and can transport you into the high-stakes situations the main characters are put through in the film with ease.
