After watching The Help the other night, I found myself wanting to make a top ten list of my favorite Thomas Newman soundtracks. I probably own at least forty scores by him, and there are lots more out there. I think he’s not only an incredible talent but a musical genius. I love how he excels in a variety of genres. Just look at the upcoming films he is scoring: Spectre, The Good Dinosaur and Bridge of Spies
So here’s my top ten, at least for today . . .
#10. Finding Nemo (2003)—Such a perfect score for a perfect movie. The opening few minutes where we see the happy family, then the barracuda attack, then the father left with one remaining egg he names Nemo and vows to never let anything happen to him . . . This all serves as an introduction right before the score opens up and the title credits come on screen. There is no way to imagine all of this without Newman’s beautiful music.
Highlighted Track: “Nemo Egg (Main Title)”—I made a compilation disc to listen to when we drove our firstborn home from the hospital. This song will forever remind me of Kylie. Our daughter and this song are both beautiful gifts.
#9. The Help (2011)—Another winning score that I can’t imagine the film being without. For some reason Newman just seems to nail historical dramas (Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile, etc.). The combination of whimsy and heartache bounce back and forth with each other like the volleys in a great tennis match. This was a tearjerker of a film when we saw it in the theaters and I cried even more when I just watched it again. Newman will hold back on the emotion until the right moment, then it’s like a sucker punch on your soul when he goes full-throttle with feeling. Amazing.
Highlighted Track: “Constantine”—The kind of piece Newman seems to be known for. A simple, sad melody that often seems to float like some kind of child’s lost balloon that produces tears as it drifts away.
#8. Less Than Zero (1987)—An unreleased early gem from Thomas Newman. I loved this movie and still do—so dark and eerily foreshadowing the troubles that would follow Robert Downey Jr. for a while in his career. Newman had done a lot of quirky comedies in the 80’s (“Desperately Seeking Susan” and “The Man With One Red Shoe” for instance) and his music reflected them. This showed another side of him. The main theme is spooky, like a fog hovering over a bay. I’m glad I found tracks online to be able to write to it.
Highlighted Track: Well, any of them really since you’ll have to YouTube them. But “Early Morning Phone Call” showcases the main haunting theme.
#7. Angels in America (2003)—I never watched this HBO mini-series but remember the morning I bought this cd. I was already starting to work on my novel called Sky Blue and upon hearing the main title, I realized right away it would also become the main title for my work-in-progress. A magical, mysterious and ghostly soundtrack.
Highlighted Track: “Mauve Antartica”—Dreamlike, floating, the track I pictured as Colin and Jen made love on New Year’s Eve.
#6. Road To Perdition (2002)—I still remember going to see this film opening day. I had just arrived for a trade show and slipped away for the afternoon to see it. Within seconds of the opening credits I was absolutely enthralled. I went to see the film specifically because Thomas Newman was the composer. By the time an unspeakable act of violence occurs and the father & son head to Chicago, I realized that I needed to write my novel Gun Lake. Again, Newman was in his element with a historical drama about troubled men. There were the dark themes (“Road to Chicago”), the quirky ones (“Meet Maguire”), and the outright graceful ones (“The Farm”). All brilliantly showing the vast talent of Newman.
Highlighted Track: “Ghosts.” This is a perfect example of the impact Thomas Newman can have on a film. Instead of a loud action sequence full of gunfire and screams and male testosterone, we have this subtle and brooding piano piece with falling pieces of dread in the background. Then we have the soaring motion as the “son” does what’s necessary to his “father”.
#5. American Beauty (2000)—This is the moment where Thomas Newman seemed to reinvent himself. Perhaps because it was the turn of the century or perhaps because he was coming off grand symphonic scores. But this contemporary drama about a dysfunctional family was treated with a strange and brilliant soundtrack. For one thing, lots of percussion and unusual instruments were used. It was still Newman at the core when the moving moments were necessary. These were accentuated by the simple, minimalistic and somber piano pieces.
Highlighted Track: “Walk Home”—One minutes and twenty seconds of pure perfection.
#4. The Green Mile (1999)—Newman’s second soundtrack for a Stephen King story directed by Frank Darabont. Somehow, the two scores Newman did for these King works fit perfectly. There is a melancholy dread filling these tunes. But, like Shawshank, there is also an underlying sense of hope and redemption. Both of these stories are contrasts of dread and hope. I’ve listened to the last five tracks on the album many, many times when writing about desperate souls finally reaching their ends and giving up.
Highlighted Track: “Coffey On The Mile”—There are so many great tracks, but this one is the climax of the film. Sad, soaring, unforgettable.
#3. Meet Joe Black (1998)—While the film itself isn’t the best (though it’s not as bad as some of the critics claimed), the soundtrack is magnificent. It’s a love story of sorts, but it’s also about a man realizing he’s going to die and leave all those he loves behind. Once again, we have many wistful moments as well as the classic Newman melancholy. “Whisper of a Thrill” is a love-making scene where the music truly seems to be evocative of the experience on the screen. It’s not erotic but more transcendent. Lovely is an overused word, but it fits for this soundtrack.
Highlighted Track: “That Next Place.” Probably the longest Newman track ever put on a soundtrack at over ten minutes, it’s perfect in how it builds and builds. It seems to be a perfect fit for the line Anthony Hopkins shares during a toast: “65 years. Don’t they go by in a blink?”
#2. The Horse Whisperer (1998)–Robert Redford first hired the famous film composer John Barry for this film. Barry was famous for his work on James Bond films but also for soaring scores like Out of Africa. The soundtrack he ended up producing didn’t work for Redford (with pieces rumored to be released later on his album “The Beyondness of Things”). Thomas Newman came in and delivered one of his defining scores.
The opening track with the guitar and violin signaled the setting of the film in Montana. But the soundtrack follows the journey of broken souls who are slowly restored and redeemed. “There Was Snow”, for instance, is eerie and builds like so many beloved Newman tracks. There’s the daughter’s journey told in the score along with a forbidden love story told in another set of pieces. I adore this soundtrack. A family drama I wrote years ago called Bull Road has this as its soundtrack. I hope to rewrite it using the same music one day.
Highlighted Track: For the love story, it’s “The Rhythm of the Horse.” And for the journey of hope for the young girl, it’s “Grace.” The latter is one of the most moving pieces Thomas Newman has written in his career.
#1. Shawshank Redemption (1994)—I believe this is Thomas Newman’s defining work. From the aptly titled “Stoic Theme” that starts the film, it signals you that this will be a serious and moving story. There are two main themes—the haunting piano piece of desperation in “Brooks Was Here” and the yearning complimentary piece that wavers between struggle and hope in “Zihuatanejo .” The twist of the story is paired with a brooding, building score of the brilliant escape (“The Shawshank Redemption”). Once again, when Newman wants to unleash goosebumps, he doesn’t hold back.
This has always been my go-to soundtrack, and I’ve never grown tired of it. Having written so many characters down-on-their-luck seeking hope and redemption, this score always serves me well to capture the hope and the spirit of Andy Dufresne & Red. “Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Highlighted Track: I’ve already written about “Compass and Guns” before, the most moving track on the album. So instead I’ll pick another simple and short one. “Suds on the Roof.” A brilliant scene that shows the beauty of hope and compassion. It’s one of the first times we hear a bit of the glory of the end title.
There are many more incredible soundtracks by Thomas Newman, so this is only skimming the surface. Check out his work. I can’t wait for his two upcoming scores for Spectre and The Good Dinosaur.
I think you’re missing out on The Man With One Red Shoe. The complete score. It’s definitely one of his best and a great movie. And Santa ‘85 from Amazing Stories. He used two pianos and it’s a wonderful score.
Thanks! I gotta check out Santa ’85 from Amazing Stories!
Thank you, thank you for this article. You led me on a wonderful playlist-building journey tonight.
I remember when American Beauty came out in 1999. I felt like I was losing my mind when I watched it. Now I know that Thomas Newman is to thank for that intense experience of lacerating beauty. His music manages to be both haunting and life-affirming…like you can feel your life burning in you from before you were born and from beyond your grave, all at once.
Newborn daughters, crisp snowy air, hopeful freedom, brooding young love, courageous mischief…you captured it all. Thanks again.
Thanks, Jenn. Always nice to see comments on this blog–I don’t spend a lot of time here lately. Thomas Newman is one of those creatives alive who I would dearly love to meet. Recently our family moved and it was a very stressful time. Late one night as I was sad and weary, I went on iTunes and saw he had a new soundtrack released for VICTORIA AND ABDUL. Figuring I wouldn’t probably see the film anytime soon, I watched it (otherwise I wait until I see the movie to listen to the score). The song “Banquet Hall of Eternity” captured my mood and my moment. It summed up the season I’ve been in. And yeah, it brought some tears to my eyes. Music is so powerful in that way. So amazing that only a handful of notes on a scale can produce beauty time and time again. So anyway–thanks for the comment and reminder about Thomas Newman’s wonders! All the best.
If all of our moments of quiet desperation were set to music, Thomas Newman’s “Brooks Was Here” from the Shawshank soundtrack would be it. I’ve always admired his work.
I agree! Thanks for posting. Since I wrote this, I might want to slip the soundtrack to TOLKIEN in the top 10. It’s glorious. I haven’t seen the film but I’ve memorized the album. Music like this fuels my writing. I’m inspired by his ability to work in different genres and have taken that approach with my writing career even though it’s more difficult to do this as a writer (since publishers want you to stay inside your box). I have no box!
I personally love the soundtrack to Wall•E the most. I just how amazingly it fits into the movie’s scenes.
That or I just love Wall•E and it’s my favourite movie.
You decide.
Just ‘discovered’ Thomas Newman! Watched the Adjustment Bureau recently and loved the soundtrack accompaniment. When I found out who the composer was, I wanted to find out what other soundtracks he had composed. When I discovered he had composed the Shawshank Redemption, I realised why I had liked the Adjustment Bureau soundtrack so much, as Shawshank is one of my favourite films and I love its score. So Ive ‘discovered’ someone who I have ‘known’ for years!
I’ve always been fond of the Shawshank and American Beauty themes among other iconic film scores, but it wasn’t until Revolutionary Road that I really discovered the genius that is Thomas Newman. Now I regularly listen to my Newman playlist and watch everything he scores whether the movie actually interests me or not.
I appreciate your list, those are most of my faves too, although my list definitely includes Revolutionary Road and White Oleander.
We should start a petition to get Newman to perform concerts regularly, like John Williams does at the Bowl!
Thanks for your comment! Yes–agree with you on Revolutionary Road. A long track like “April” is brooding and so textured. Newman is a master at so many things, one of them using atmospherics and sometimes keeping things sparse. That’s why when there is a loud crescendo, it’s so much more powerful. “April” is an album to itself. This list is older because I really love the Tolkien soundtrack. And Victoria & Abdul has one of maybe my favorite all time Thomas Newman tracks: “Banquet Hall of Eternity.” It’s majestic. I hope he continues to make music for movie for several more decades!
You absolutely need to have Cinderella Man on here. Its top 3 for me. Best track would be the title track. Good list otherwise though! Another one would be the movie Passengers. Its one of my favourite movies because of the scores.
I love that soundtrack. As well as Passengers. It was hard to pick 10 since so many are great. I might have to update this post since it’s now 5 years old. One of my all-time favorite tracks that is vintage melancholy Thomas Newman is from Cinderella Man: “All Prayed Out.” I really love Tolkien from his recent work. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hey Travis, great list. I forget how many spectacular soundtracks he has done. I agree 100% that “Rhythm of the Horse” is amazing, one of my favorites. And the soundtrack to “Shawshank Redemption” is one of the reasons I watch the entire film. My favorite soundtrack overall though is an oldie, “Little Women” from 1994. I’m no musician by any stretch but the recurring notes and melodies woven through “Spring,” “Harvest Time,” and “Amy Abroad” is fantastic. I could listen to those on a continuous loop. There is another variation on that theme in the movie itself (the scene where they are ice skating) that unfortunately didn’t make it on the soundtrack. Just my humble thoughts, and thank you for the great list. You should update to include “Skyfall” which is pretty daring as well.
Hi, Mark! Thanks for your comment! I love “Little Women.” You can almost group Thomas Newman into different seasons, which makes sense since artists evolve over time. This was during the period he shifted from the quirky 80’s stuff with synths to large orchestras like in Shawshank Redemption. Meet Joe Black and Horse Whisperer come a few years later. Revisiting it, “Ashes” could have come from Shawshank. “Meg’s Hair” is quintessential Newman with the bells and structure. I think this soundtrack isn’t a favorite because the music is too positive and uplifting–not dark enough! ha. I love the tie in with those three tracks you mention. Also–I love Skyfall as well. It is perfect for an action film, but it’s not a soundtrack that is easy to write to (which is always how I judge things). But “Severine” is one of my favorite tracks of his. “Spectre” I feel is even better. “Out of Bullets” is an incredible track–one of those longer tracks like the title track from “Road to Perdition” and “Coffey on the Mile” where he brings everything to an emotional climax. So many great albums to choose from! All the best.