My 90 All-Time Favorite Original Movie Scores.
From Korngold and Steiner to Herrmann to Greenwood, Levi, and Britell, here are my 90 all-time favorite original movie scores.
The Swimmer (1968) Eleanor Perry (B)
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Eleanor and Frank Perry
Eleanor and Frank Perry’s last movie together was their best, a wonderful adaptation of Sue Kaufman’s “Diary of a Mad Housewife”.
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They were the darlings of the art house circuit. Their work in a language other than English is some of the greatest ever captured on film. But Hollywood…
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Joni Mitchell – Painting with Words and Music A+
Joni dazzles in the best of her three live albums. It helps that the show is built around “Hejira”. Of the 19 tracks, 4 are from this album.
Steely Dan – Donald Fagen: Rated
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The Ugly Stepsister (2025) Queer Film A+
Our heroine suffers through the most hideous body sculpting indignities, heaped on her by the effete and sadistic proto-plastic surgeon, Dr. Esthetique.
Blue Moon (2025) Queer Film. Lorenz Hart. B+
The story unfolds, in real time, almost entirely within the confines of Sardi’s bar in New York, where Hart spends the evening grappling with his fading relevance, alcoholism, homosexuality and mental health struggles.
Echo Valley (2025) Queer Film. Another Julianne Moore Triumph. B+
Director Michael Pearce moves with visceral precision and Julianne Moore shows us, yet again, what a magnificent actress she can be.
The History of Sound (2025) Queer Film B-
After a while, though, you begin to feel beaten down by the sheer refinement of it all. The perfectly framed, perfectly edited tableaux. The exquisite, sparingly used music score. The subtle, to the point of being abstruse, performances of the stars.
Nitram (2022) Caleb Landry Jones A+
As for Judy Davis she gives what is probably her most outstanding performance, which means it’s one of the greatest performances ever captured on film.
The Tale of King Crab (2022) Enchanting! Directors Alessio Rigo de Righi & Matteo Zoppis A-
The directors are extremely cine-literate. However, their references never seemed forced and I basked in their cinematic vision.
Great Freedom (2021) Queer Film A-
Meise directs what must be some of the most beautiful and heartfelt scenes ever captured on film between two men in love.
NYFCC Award for Best Supporting Actress.
“NYFCC Award for Best Supporting Actress”: In the fifty-six years since 1969 fourteen of their choices have failed to land. a nomination. That’s 25%.
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) Queer Film A+
In “Kind Hearts and Coronets”: Alec Guinness has fun playing all eight (or nine) of the unfortunate D’Ascoynes, including Lady Agatha D’Ascoyne. The photograph shows Dennis Price with Joan Greenwood who plays that little minx Sibella.
There Was A Crooked Man (1970) Queer Film A-
Hume Cronyn and John Randolph are our happy and well-adjusted gay couple. Yes, they fight and bicker all the time. However, they are clearly madly in love with each other.
Jeanne Dielman (1975) Queer Film A+
In “Jeanne Dielman”, a feminist masterpiece, the everyday details of a caring mother contrast with her life as a prostitute.