Carey Mulligan peeks over her shoulder at her son in the back seat.
"Okay," she replies.
"A Real Hero" by College & Electric Youth bubbles up over images of skipping rocks, daytime drives, and happy times.
The rubbery bass line and airy synth serve to reinforce the carefreeness of the on-screen charcaters.
This is but one song and one scene in the movie Drive, which was hailed for is superior soundtrack.
Soundtracks can make or break a movie.
In Drive's case, the songs weave together what would otherwise be scene after scene of a tight-lipped Gosling staring meaningfully into space.
Drive aside, there are countless movies with powerful soundtracks that inspire, terrify, elate, and uplift the viewer.
I turned to Facebook to ask my friends what movies they thought had noteworthy soundtracks, and was floored by the number of responses I received.
Apparently I'm not the only one paying attention to the sounds as well as the sights.
I've seen these movies with the exception of only a few, and I would agree that the soundtracks were memorable, even superb.
Pulling a few from this list, and a few from my shelf, I'm going to give you five movies with soundtracks that you need to hear.
1. Forrest Gump (1994)
Believe it or not, I remember watching this the year it was released. I didn't understand what was going on at all, but I do know this movie is what sparked my love for a little band called Creedence Clearwater Revival. Forrest Gump stays true to the movie's era and uses bands and songs that were popular in the 60s and 70s. CCR, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Aretha Franklin among many, many others grace the list of artists whose music is featured in arguably one of the most heartbreaking movies of all time. (If you enjoyed this soundtrack, which I know you did, try the movies Almost Famous and The Doors.)
2. Sucker Punch (2011)
Director Zack Snyder decided to go with all cover songs for this movie, saying, "If you go with the original song, you just get the moment. But if you go with covers you also get all of the baggage you bring to it, [...] I like the baggage. It kind of resonates and rings across time, it's not just of the moment." The action packed film makes each song a focal point, using the beat to set the pace of the scenes. Lead actress Emily Browning even sings three of the soundtrack's covers. This movie is well worth the watch.
The soundtrack to this movie can best be described as beautifully haunting. While songs float lazily in and out of scenes, their true weight in the movie is much more sinister. If you didn't guess from the title, this isn't a feel-good film. With the exception of songs that are playing in the scene, (on record players, at parties, etc.), the soundtrack is composed of songs by the French electronic duo Air. Their dark and eerie songs lead the five leading ladies on a journey toward eventual demise. I highly recommend The Virgin Suicides for its artful approach at capturing teen angst in one of the most extreme ways. But don't watch if you aren't prepared to spend the next 3 hours in the fetal position, feeling numb. (For a similarly gloomy soundtrack/movie combo, check out Requiem for a Dream.)
4. The Social Network (2010)
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and Atticus Ross teamed up to produce a a bone-chilling collection of songs for 2010's most talked about film. The story of Mark Zuckerberg's rise to the top was plagued with disappointment, rejection, and betrayal. Reznor and Ross hone in on those feelings to create an intensely introspective 19 tracks. This is a necessary album for any lone wolf. For a different vibe with equal intensity, check out the duo's Grammy-winning score to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
5. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Another movie that stays true to the era it's set in is O Brother, Where Art Thou? While the majority of the songs are modern recordings, the film "uses bluegrass, country, gospel, blues, and folk music appropriate to the time period." The soundtrack was intended to be a significant facet of the film, just as much of the scene as any of the dialogue. Songs were placed specifically to express ideas and themes in the film. Even though the songs carry so much meaning, they manage to be toe-tappin' and tub-thumpin' ditties capable of remaining stuck in your head for weeks on end.
Narrowing my list down to five wasn't easy. I felt each of these films and soundtracks embodied a different style, and I tried to suggest similar ones in the description as opposed to adding these to the list. (If you're still in a soundtrack mood after this list, check out the albums for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Into the Wild.)
What soundtracks do you like to listen to? If your life had a soundtrack, what songs would be included?
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