1. Swiss Army Man - Andy Hull and Robert McDowell
The soundtrack is just as weird as the film, creating a spectacularly well-rounded oddball film. Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe add their voices to the score, as the random melodies start to form. I remember sitting in the theater during the first film and feeling lifted off of the ground during the first scene because of the musical build-up in the very first song.
2. La La Land - Various Artists
Before La La Land, I had no idea that Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were each capable of singing with such good pitch and emotion. This original musical shocked audiences through its portrayal of an unusual love story. The music is emotional and grandose, constantly rising above the images on screen.
3. Sing Street - Various Artists
This soundtrack is all around fun to listen to. This was the first soundtrack that landed on my radar this year. A lot of us dream of starting a band that rebels against "The Man." The soundtrack blends eighties-style synthesized tracks with vocal tracks that revolve around attracting a crush.
4. The Handmaiden - Various Artists
The Handmaiden's soundtrack is basically a symphony. The film's length clocks in at about three hours, so an engaging soundtrack is necessary to move the story along and keep the audience's attention. Flying string melodies and rich piano solos progress the film to a point where it feels shy of two hours long. I felt lost at times in the music, as opposed to lost in the characters.
5. Kubo and the Two Strings - Dario Marianelli, Regina Spektor
Asian instruments create an exotic feel to this film's soundtrack. American audiences are not used to a lot of the instruments used on this soundtrack, so the melodies feel fresh and exciting. Of course, I cannot leave this film without mentioning the very interesting and fantastic take on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
6. Arrival - Johann Johannsson
This alien flick is filled with ambient noises to create a foreign presence. It works very well in the film, but is not something that I would want to listen to on its own too often. In fact, it would probably give me nightmares if I listened to it a lot. That being said, it is a near-perfect soundtrack for the film's genre and synopsis.
7. Our Kind of Traitor - Marcelo Zarvos
John le Carre's story gets an endearing soundtrack accompaniment. The accompaniment itself leaves us questioning who to trust in the film. Slow and high-pitched piano themes bring us into the mystery. But Latin guitar themes also add to the cultural aspects of the film, as we travel to foreign countries along the way.
8. Deepwater Horizon - Steve Jablonsky, Gary Clark Jr.
This soundtrack sounds very similar to other soundtracks that were created for Peter Berg's previous films. However, this one is by Steve Jablonsky without Explosions in the Sky. It seems as though Jablonsky gained some of Explosions in the Sky's dreamy musical ambience and used it for this film.
9. Suicide Squad - Various Artists
The only thing that Suicide Squad did right seems to be the soundtrack. Blending rap and rock n' roll, the soundtrack packs a punch with artists ranging from Rick Ross to Panic! At The Disco. This is a 90s kid's dream soundtrack. Too bad the movie didn't impress as much as the soundtrack did!
10. Sausage Party - Various Artists
I'm not going to lie, I liked Sausage Party a lot. It was hilarious and had a cameo from one of my favorite musical artists. The opening number was just as great as the cameo, leading off the movie with poignant chuckles.
The soundtrack is just as weird as the film, creating a spectacularly well-rounded oddball film. Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe add their voices to the score, as the random melodies start to form. I remember sitting in the theater during the first film and feeling lifted off of the ground during the first scene because of the musical build-up in the very first song.
2. La La Land - Various Artists
Before La La Land, I had no idea that Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were each capable of singing with such good pitch and emotion. This original musical shocked audiences through its portrayal of an unusual love story. The music is emotional and grandose, constantly rising above the images on screen.
3. Sing Street - Various Artists
This soundtrack is all around fun to listen to. This was the first soundtrack that landed on my radar this year. A lot of us dream of starting a band that rebels against "The Man." The soundtrack blends eighties-style synthesized tracks with vocal tracks that revolve around attracting a crush.
4. The Handmaiden - Various Artists
The Handmaiden's soundtrack is basically a symphony. The film's length clocks in at about three hours, so an engaging soundtrack is necessary to move the story along and keep the audience's attention. Flying string melodies and rich piano solos progress the film to a point where it feels shy of two hours long. I felt lost at times in the music, as opposed to lost in the characters.
5. Kubo and the Two Strings - Dario Marianelli, Regina Spektor
Asian instruments create an exotic feel to this film's soundtrack. American audiences are not used to a lot of the instruments used on this soundtrack, so the melodies feel fresh and exciting. Of course, I cannot leave this film without mentioning the very interesting and fantastic take on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
6. Arrival - Johann Johannsson
This alien flick is filled with ambient noises to create a foreign presence. It works very well in the film, but is not something that I would want to listen to on its own too often. In fact, it would probably give me nightmares if I listened to it a lot. That being said, it is a near-perfect soundtrack for the film's genre and synopsis.
7. Our Kind of Traitor - Marcelo Zarvos
John le Carre's story gets an endearing soundtrack accompaniment. The accompaniment itself leaves us questioning who to trust in the film. Slow and high-pitched piano themes bring us into the mystery. But Latin guitar themes also add to the cultural aspects of the film, as we travel to foreign countries along the way.
8. Deepwater Horizon - Steve Jablonsky, Gary Clark Jr.
This soundtrack sounds very similar to other soundtracks that were created for Peter Berg's previous films. However, this one is by Steve Jablonsky without Explosions in the Sky. It seems as though Jablonsky gained some of Explosions in the Sky's dreamy musical ambience and used it for this film.
9. Suicide Squad - Various Artists
The only thing that Suicide Squad did right seems to be the soundtrack. Blending rap and rock n' roll, the soundtrack packs a punch with artists ranging from Rick Ross to Panic! At The Disco. This is a 90s kid's dream soundtrack. Too bad the movie didn't impress as much as the soundtrack did!
10. Sausage Party - Various Artists
I'm not going to lie, I liked Sausage Party a lot. It was hilarious and had a cameo from one of my favorite musical artists. The opening number was just as great as the cameo, leading off the movie with poignant chuckles.
