Minimalist, but extremely effective, Burwell's score for the Coen Brothers' breakout debut was fittingly attuned to the small-scale, claustraphobic and oddly beautiful nature of their exhilirating, heart-pounding double-crossing thriller.
9. Raising Arizona
Pretty much the opposite of his work on Blood Simple two years earlier, Burwell's score here is bouncy, energizing and carries with it all the zany enthusiasm that the Coen Brothers' madcap comedy infuses. It makes the opening few scenes, and Nic Cage running with a pack of diapers in particular zip by with such aplomb.
8. Mr Holmes
Burwell's score for the terribly underrated Mr Holmes is a haunting and contemplative piece of work which presents a perfect balance between the serene and brooding. It sends chills down my spine whenever I listen to it, and works particularly well with McKellen's complex lead performance to create quite the unique atmosphere for this unique mystery film.
7. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Striking me as akin to a more grander version of the theme of Blood Simple, this similarly hard-hitting, pessimistic thriller is acccompanied by an equally adept Burwell, who scores the terse and emotional beats of the film with this alternatingly heartfelt and chilling score.
6. Barton Fink
Barton Fink's score may be slightly overshadowed by the other supreme aspects of technical brilliance by the Coen Brothers, but re-watch it a couple of times and the strength of it comes around really beautifully. It adds so much to the film in a very understated way, especially the ending.
5. In Bruges
Burwell's theme for In Bruges sets the tone for the film so perfectly. It's minimalist, perfectly modulated to the low-key nature of the film's opening, fits perfectly with the beautiful setting of Bruges, and helps to without dialogue suggest the inner guilt and turmoil of Colin Farrell's Ray.
4. True Grit
Whenever I think about how well a Carter Burwell score enhances a film, I think of scenes like the ones from True Grit above. The film's one of the Coen Brothers' masterpieces, and I do find that Burwell's score makes some already very good scenes reach an epic level, because of how rousing and cinematic he makes every line of dialogue, and every action, with his soaring, old-fashioned score that reminds me of the likes of Elmer Bernstein in the best possible way.
3. Carol
Derivative of Philip Glass? Well I'd say both yes and no. Yes, in that it obviously contains traces of Glass' style, no in that I do think it's a unique piece of work by Burwell's own hand. It's so beautifully rendered through all the scenes of silent passion and makes Carol an even more immersive experience than it already would have been without the score.
2. Miller's Crossing
One has to watch the film in order to truly appreciate how Burwell's elegaic, serene, and lovely theme provides such a magnificent backdrop to the film's onslaught of violence and double-crossing. It conveys its themes and ideas perfectly, lays on the particular style of the Coens' old-school gangster themes perfectly, and is just a wonderful piece of music to listen to.
1. Fargo
Though I love pretty much all of Burwell's themes, this one easily takes the cake for me. Does that opening shot just not compel you to watch on, no matter what? Part of it is the fantastic imagery of course, bu that score by Burwell brings out the icy coldness and dread foreboding, as well as the beauty of the snowy landscape, perfectly.
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