So I’m continuing with my best lists of 2023 as I’m putting my final touches on my Top 10 BEST FILMS list (coming in a week or so). I finally got a chance to catch up with some of the most buzz-worthy films that have been raking awards, Poor Things and Anatomy of a Fall. Well, the last time I did a Music Break post was around Halloween for Best Horror Scores, so might as well make the first music post of the year highlighting some of the most memorable cinematic music of 2023.

Movie music is one of my all-time favorite music genres (after Classical), my hubby and I pretty much listen to scores/soundtracks all the time in the car. It’s tough to separate the scores and the soundtracks and some movies have both, so I’m combining them in a single post. Of course, there’s no exact science in this selection as I’m no music expert, it’s based on my own personal preference and nostalgia often plays a factor. So without further ado, here they are in the film titles’ alphabetical order:

1. AIR – Soundtrack

This movie is such a blast from the past and the music plays a major part in that. Per Wikipedia, director Ben Affleck created a Spotify playlist entitled 1984 that consisted of all of the 1980s music that inspired him during the filming. He sent it to the music supervisor Andrea von Foerster, who felt it was “literally her childhood” ahah. As an 80s kid, it was so fun to hear some of my favorite songs that remain timeless.

2. BARBIE THE MOVIE – Soundtrack

I’m not as enamored with Greta Gerwig’s massive blockbuster as many people are, but I’ve seen the Barbie movie twice and the soundtrack is definitely a highlight. The newly minted Golden Globes’ first-ever cinematic and box office achievement certainly has the best dance playlist of the year. These three are my favorite music moments, Dua Lipa‘s Dance The Night is just so darn catchy, Ryan Gosling just killed it in his I’m Just Ken rendition, while Billie Eilish‘s vocal prowess is perfect for the emotional and vulnerable song What Was I Made For?

3. THE CREATOR – Score

I’ve been a fan of Hans Zimmer‘s work for ages, though at times he recycled his own work. To this day I can’t distinguish some of the scores for Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean as they sound so similar. In any case, I LOVE the ethereal sound of his score for this sci-fi thriller, with its Southeast Asian influences. It’s one of his best works for sure!

4. ELEMENTAL – Score

There is so much to appreciate about Peter Sohn‘s Pixar animated feature. One of the highlights is definitely the beautiful music by Thomas Newman. I really need to highlight his work soon as I love sooo many of his scores, i.e. The Shawshank Redemption, Road to Perdition, and Bond’s Skyfall, to name a few. This one will surely make my top 10 list of his work.

5. FLORA & SON – Score/Soundtrack

It’s no surprise that a John Carney movie makes my list, pretty much all of his movies have amazing music! This musical dramedy starring Eve Hewson features original songs by Carney himself and Gary Clark. I particularly love the score in the rooftop scene and Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s voice is just lovely in this melancholy song I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love with You, written by Tom Waits.

6. Oppenheimer – Score

Ludwig Göransson just won a Golden Globe for his Oppenheimer score last week and it’s so well-deserved! The lush, atmospheric violin/harp sound has that haunting quality that’s appropriate for the subject matter. It’s another fruitful collaboration between Christopher Nolan and the Swedish composer after Tenet, one of my fave scores of the past decade.

I always enjoy listening to the process of scoring so I thought I’d share this video as well:

7. MAESTRO – Soundtrack

One of the best FYC packages I received from studios during award season has got to be the MAESTRO one from Netflix. It arrives in a large, heavy black box that contains a stunning coffee-table book filled with behind-the-scenes photos, a screenplay, a Blu-ray of the film, plus a Vinyl LP of Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein! I wish I could play it but I don’t have a vinyl record player.

The film has no composer, as Bradley Cooper wisely chose to use Bernstein’s own music instead of having an original score. 

8. PAST LIVES – Score

I’m not familiar with Christopher Bear, the drummer of indie band Grizzly Bear, and singer-songwriter Daniel Rossen but oh how I love the score they did for Celine Song’s romance. It’s appropriately moody and melancholy but also has a sense of hopeful sweetness. I love, love the score… it’s as spellbinding as the soulful film itself.

9. POOR THINGS – Score

I just saw this Yorgos Lanthimos wild coming-of-age fantasy comedy so it’s still fresh in my mind. It’s not for everyone but I loved it and the score is done by a first-time composer Jerskin Fendrix. The offbeat, playful score perfectly complements the movie and all the bizarre moments. I read that the English musician, whose real name is Joscelin Dent-Pooley, wrote most of the score inspired by Tony McNamara’s script and the movie’s concept art/designs, so no wonder it sounds completely unique.

10. Wonka – Score/Soundtrack

I’m still aghast that Wonka got zero Golden Globes nominations for Best Song considering all the songs are so fun and memorable. I saw it within days of The Color Purple musical and I barely remember any song from that one. I mean Barbie movie has some great songs but 3 nominations, really??!

The soundtracks are full of delightful earworm songs that I don’t mind being stuck in my head. I still listen to the original songs by Neil Hannon and the lively score by Joby Talbot. Sweet Tooth is particularly hilarious, love those guys playing the Chocolate Cartel trio and Keegan-Michael Key as the corrupt cop. My fave song of them all is the ballad For A Moment with Calah Lane and Timothée Chalamet. I can’t wait to rewatch this movie again once it’s out on VOD!

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Hope you enjoy the first Music Break of 2024.

So what are your favorite score(s)/soundtrack(s) of 2023?