Non-diagetic sound is an important part of any film, whether it’s used or not. Sometimes it’s not given enough consideration. When it is though it’s sweet music to your ears. Quite literally.
Directors such as Haneke and Kubrick implement the sound of silence into their films because the effect of the film is greater without music, but others use music deliberately to full effect. It varies from director to director over what plays in the background but it would be hard to disagree that sound plays a vital part in cinematography.
Out of all the directors around I’d say Quentin Tarantino uses sound in his films the best and I’ve lined up a few of the best soundtracks of his films that show this. Yes, he never uses original scores but the way he uses the music he chooses justifies this.
Pulp Fiction:
Pulp Fiction deserves to be in every film collection but the soundtrack deserves to be in every music collection too. Mixing some of the best quotes in the film with some absolutely incredible songs hand-picked by Tarantino himself, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack is just brilliant.
Highlights include one of the most famous songs no-one knows the name of, Misirlou, Samuel L Jackson’s infamous Ezekiel 25:17 speech and Chuck Berry’s You Can Never Tell which is the song used for Travolta and Thurman’s iconic dance.
There’s a collector’s edition version of the soundtrack that features a 16 minute interview with Mr Tarantino himself as well as a few other tracks that didn’t make it onto the original soundtrack.
This soundtrack has to be in your music library. I think you should have it so much I’m linking you with the best price available. Can you really complain with £5 for the Collector’s Edition? I’m tempted just to buy it now so I can have the extra tracks.
Reservoir Dogs:
Tarantino’s first feature film brought with it possibly my favourite sountrack. While the film itself is a mini-masterpiece its accompanying music is a mix of some eclectic rhythm as well as a few more abstract choices to mix up the album.
Highlights include the likes of The George Baker Selection, Harry Nilsson, Joe Tex, Bedlam, Blue Swede and a marvelous track by Stealers Wheels. The compilation also features snippets of dialogue as well as bits of the radio presenter from KBILLY Super Sounds of the 70s, the radio station that plays in the background of the film at random points.
It’s a more niche soundtrack which favors unknown song choices but it’s a brilliant soundtrack nonetheless.
Kill Bill Vol. 1:
The film itself is the better of the two volumes and the soundtrack follows suit throwing at you some absolutely fantastic music in a bumper 19-track album with 3 different sound effects thrown in for good measure. 11 years on from Reservoir Dogs and Tarantino still couldn’t break his stride, bringing an absolutely fantastic film with one of my personal favorite scenes in any film, The Bride’s fight with the Crazy 88.
Featuring songs like Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra, Run Fay Run by Isaac Hayes, Green Hornet by Al Hirt and Battle Without Honor or Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei, Tarantino delivers yet another exceptional soundtrack.
My personal highlight is the 10 and a 1/2 minute extended version of Santa Esmeralda’s Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood which features midway through. It’s a rousing song with an instrumental section that is second to none and it typifies the album’s excellence. It’s a must-buy.
Death Proof:
While the film itself isn’t the biggest around and isn’t Tarantino’s best (here’s a review of it) the soundtrack is awesome, showing off Tarantino’s music knowledge in fine form.
A very memorable scene in the film features one of the women and an absolutely brilliant song by The Coasters called Down In Mexico. It’s so good, Paolo Nutini sings a version of it at some of his gigs.
Other excellent tracks such as Baby It’s You, Jeepster, Staggolee, Hold Tight, Riot In Thunder Alley and an annoying infectious song by April March called Chick Habit feature throughout the 16-track strong soundtrack and mixing the songs with a few quotes from the film makes up yet another astounding Tarantino soundtrack.
If you don’t like the film you may still like the soundtrack and that applies to all of the soundtracks.
