One factor that I will always look out for with a film and that is the musical score. I can get caught in the world of the music, as it sits in my head in the days, weeks, months, and even the years that come. There is immense artistry in weaving emotions from music, having us slip into the world that is created, fear the oncoming dread even if we do know why, or rejoice in the triumph of that final victory.

Music charts the cinematic world, it guides us, it can lift us up, and it can crush our souls, this is its power. So without further ado, these are the musical score that moved us in 2020. Be warned that there may be some slight spoilers ahead for the films in question, and if you click on the banners, you will be taken to the full review. 

1917

A single cello crying out into the void is a perfect metaphor for this film that looks at the struggle in the face of so much pain.  

Directed by – Sam Mendes
Musical Score by – Thomas Newman
Spotify Album Link

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

A musical score that is as wacky and diverse as its main cast. We slide from rock opera, to electronica, to a haunting chorus, all without missing a beat, much like Harley taking down a police station.    

Directed by – Cathy Yan
Musical Score by – Daniel Pemberton
Spotify Album Link

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

In many ways, I found Eurovision frustrating. However, one area where it knocks is out of the part is the musical score that completely captures Eurovision’s bonkers’ feel in all its weird glory. Play Jaja Ding Dong!


Directed by – David Dobkin
Musical Score by – Atli Örvarsson
Spotify Album Link

Emma

Strings, Brass, and the odd bit of woodwind, oh my. This is a musical score that is as lively as the film it is accompanying. There is a charm to every note that brings a smile to your face and takes you back in time to a period of intrigue and mystery over who will marry who.

Directed by – Autumn de Wilde
Musical Score by – Isobel Waller-Bridge & David Schweitzer
Spotify Album Link

Soul

A film which juxtaposes its two halves in many ways including in the music. In the far beyond we slightly odd electronic music ripped from the 1980s. But on Earth, it is all double basses, saxophones, drums, and piano as we slip into the blues, play that jazz, and find some soul.

Directed by – Pete Docter
Musical Score by – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & Jon Batiste
Spotify Album Link

And the Winner is!!!!! – 1917

There are times in writing a musical score when you want to attack the audience with bombast or have a little pomp and circumstance. However, for me, sometimes it is best to pair everything back to the bare minimum to let the individual instruments shine. While 1917 has moments of the first, where it shines is in the latter. Of all the music I heard in 2020, that one lone cello crying out into the night is what has stuck with me the longest. It carries all the emotion of the moment, the lament, the hope, the horror, and it brings you into this world if only for a moment.    

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2020?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studio and artist of each film