AND THE WINNER IS . . .
Oscar celebrates his 80th birthday this Sunday when Hollywood gathers for the once-strike-threatened Academy Awards (8 p.m. EST on ABC). Most of this year's best pictures are not yet available on DVD, so instead of catching up this weekend with an a last-minute movie marathon, take a listen to our favorite big screen soundtracks from 2007:
THERE WILL BE BLOODRadiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood composed a score of harsh and inharmonious strings performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra that more than matches the intensity of Daniel Day-Lewis's Oscar-nominated performance.
JUNOThis Best Picture nominee is filled with tunes that reflect its quirky storyline. Listen to Cat Power's version of "Sea of Love" and Sonic Youth's "Superstar," plus a smattering of Kimya Dawson ditties, and, of course, (spoiler alert!) the sweet Moldy Peaches song on which Ellen Page and Michael Cera duet to end the film.
LA VIE EN ROSEThe great French singer Edith Piaf's melodious ballads on this album transport you to a 1930s Parisian nightclub. Marion Cotillard's performance as the troubled Piaf has earned her a nomination for Best Actress.
SWEENEY TODD
As the Demon Barber of Fleet Street in this adaptation of Steven Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical, Johnny Depp shows off his singing voice in between some awfully close shaves.
ATONEMENT
An intense and beautiful score by Dario Marianelli has earned the composer a second Best Score nomination, having previously accompanied Keira Knightly in Pride & Prejudice.
I'M NOT THERE
This all-star, all-cover soundtrack is surprisingly consistently good, and features more versions of Bob Dylan than Todd Haynes' movie. Standouts, including Yo La Tengo and Stephen Malkmus, give Cate Blanchett's nominated performance a run for its money.
INTO THE WILD
Somehow the Academy passed over Eddie Vedder's haunting, stirring ode to Christopher McCandless's journey into the Yukon. Don't you do the same.
<< Page One Home | Direct Link | Send this page to a friend | Posted 02/21/08
