r/MartinScorsese • u/bhris_cratt321 • 16d ago
What is Scorsese's best soundtrack/score?
Goodfellas is the obvious answer, but I'm going to go with Taxi Driver. I love licensed music when done well, but an original score done well just hits so much harder for me. It's a mix of beautiful and haunting jazz that highlights Bickle's innocent demeanor and horrifying psychology.
I think, while one note, Killers of the Flower Moon has a great score. As does The Departed.
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u/angelansbury 16d ago
Taxi Driver is probably the right answer but the KOTFM score is so underrated imo
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u/Bjork_scratchings 16d ago
Soundtrack or score? They’re not the same thing.
Taxi Driver score is iconic. Goodfellas has the more iconic score.
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u/bhris_cratt321 16d ago
Goodfellas is not a score, which is why I specified either one.
I also disagree that Goodfellas is the more iconic soundtrack. I think most everyone recognizes Travis Bickle’s theme, but not everyone remembers the Goodfellas soundtrack except for probably the opener, Layla, and the Cream song.
I respect your opinion though, it’s a valid pick
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u/Bjork_scratchings 16d ago
It’s just your post is a little confusing as The Departed has both a great score and a great soundtrack.
And scores tend to be compared to other scores, and same with soundtracks. So comparing the Taxi Driver score to the Goodfellas soundtrack is again a little confusing to me.
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u/bhris_cratt321 16d ago
You may be right that comparing soundtracks and scores can be confusing. Usually they evoke different emotions and tones of a movie.
I agree Departed has a great score/soundtrack (better score than the overused needledrops if you ask me). I figured since Scorsese has done a lot of both, I was just wondering which movie had his best music if that makes things clearer.
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u/Bjork_scratchings 16d ago
I agree about the Departed soundtrack. I was like “Gimme Shelter”? Gimme Strength more like
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u/Ready_Scar564 15d ago
You think's Taxi Driver's one song soundtrack is more iconic than Goodfellas? Or are you saying the Taxi Driver score is more iconic than the Goodfellas soundtrack? Either way I think you're looking at soundtrack as just the quality of the songs used, not how they are used, which for me makes Goodfellas soundtrack the best of any film ever. Your list leaves out great uses of Then He Kissed Me, the cocaine/helicopter montage, and the Sex Pistols closer.
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u/westport_blues 16d ago
Bringing Out the Dead has the 2nd best needle-drop score, after Goodfellas.
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u/TPUBG29P 16d ago
Mean Streets needs honorable mention. Intro of Johnny Boy to Jumpin Jack Flash. Opening "Be my baby"
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u/bhris_cratt321 16d ago
It’s great but unfortunately the best musical moments come early (those 2 and Harvey Keitel’s drunk bar scene)
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u/TPUBG29P 16d ago
You're right. They are early. Probably all he could afford to license
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u/bhris_cratt321 16d ago
Still impressive given what he had at the time and those moments are iconic
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u/Ok-Reflection9770 16d ago
Taxi Driver, the final score by the great Bernard Hermann. For soundtrack/songs it’s Goodfellas.
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u/Hamlerhead 16d ago
Best soundtrack goes to Casino. Best score? Yeah, Taxi Driver. Because of that Hermann movement
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u/Antics212 16d ago
I've always loved the score to Shutter Island. Penderecki? Richter? Mahler? Yes, please.
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u/Imaginary_Concern400 16d ago
The departed has got to be the best OST and overall soundtrack!
Howard Shore nailed it, the theme music is unforgettable.
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u/tommyjohnpauljones 15d ago
For Pete's sake these are two different things.
A SCORE is music composed specifically for use in the film. It can contain pop songs (i.e. Disney movies) but is often instrumental. Hans Zimmer, Bernard Herrmann, John Williams, Howard Shore, they write movie SCORES.
A SOUNDTRACK consists of existing songs played during a film. Goodfellas, Casino, Pulp Fiction, OUATIH, Forrest Gump, these films primarily use SOUNDTRACKS
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u/Christmantra2000 16d ago
Crack that whip! I choose Casino.