Five Best Film Scores: Michael Giacchino
Michael Giacchino started out doing scores for video games and short films. He furthered his career doing scores for smaller films, such as "My Brother the Pig" and "Sin." The composer got some traction with successful and lucrative shows like "Alias" and "Lost," but his big break came when he was assigned the task of creating the score for Pixar's "The Incredibles.” After that, things went uphill for him.
Since "The Incredibles," the composer has amassed a unique discography. He worked many more times with Pixar as well as composing scores for films like "Jurassic World" and the second two-thirds of the recent "Planet of the Apes" trilogy. With all these compositions, which of them are the best? That's what I'm here to share. Keep in mind: this is all subjective. I have my opinion and I invite you to share yours in the comments below. For now, here's what I believe are Michael Giacchino's five best film scores.
5. Mission: Impossible III
You may be surprised to know this, but the "Mission: Impossible" franchise has gone through a lot of famous composers like Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, and Joe Kraemer.
While Giacchino was only delivering his rendition of the established theme, he was the first to make it more timeless. If you listen Elfman and Zimmer's take on the classic theme, they have a dated quality to them. When Michael Giacchino composed “Mission: Impossible III," he turned the theme into one that sounds more like the theme in the later "Mission: Impossible" films. I would've selected the "Ghost Protocol" score that Michael Giacchino were it not for the fact that I found the score for "III" to be much more memorable. For that reason, and also because "Ghost Protocol" shares some of the same themes, I chose "Mission: Impossible III" as Michael Giacchino's fifth best film score. Allow me to explain to you why.
For me, it's still a huge debate as to which "Mission: Impossible" film is the best. The later three are constantly battling for best film, but the third film does have the best score of the series. Because of the somewhat cheesy nature of the scores for the first and second, Giacchino, guided by J.J Abrams, created a score that darker than the two previous films.
To match the bombastic action sequences in the film, the score keeps the fear and excitement of the film high without faltering. By making sure the music is fresh for each set piece, the score always feels fresh. Giacchino didn't repeat the same pattern for each action scene and therefore, it didn't get boring. He switched up the instruments each time and the score allows itself to have it both ways: maintaining its connection to listeners with adapting themes.
Things get a bit more romantic with this score. In the third "Mission: Impossible" film, Tom Cruise's Ethan marries Michelle Monaghan's Julia and Giacchino creates a touching love theme to accompany their story. While the dramatic moments had interchanging music to keep up the tension, I took notice to the love theme in the film. Watching it for the first time, I hummed the notes to myself and said to myself, "That's great music from Michael Giacchino." Every time I listen to this whole score, I keep saying that.
4. The Incredibles
Let's just acknowledge how great a job Michael Giacchino has done when collaborating with director Brad Bird. His scores for "Ratatouille" and "Tomorrowland" are so good, they contended for this spot. However, I think that we can all agree that the best of their collaborations was their first with "The Incredibles."
Originally, John Barry was hired to compose the score as Brad Bird wanted a 1960s feel to the score. Because Barry had worked on several of the earlier "James Bond" films, Bird felt like he was the best choice. The teaser trailer for "The Incredibles" even sported a rerecording of Barry's theme from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Due to a disinterest in what he thought would be essentially revisiting themes that he had already done, John Barry left the project and another composer stepped in his place. Fortunately, that compressor was Michael Giacchino.
It's funny, we look at live-action superhero movies and award works like John Williams's in "Superman" and Danny Elfman's in "Spider-Man" and its sequel, the highest of praise. Yet, we ignore "The Incredibles" which, in my opinion, is as iconic and distinguishable as those two scores. As we find ourselves closer and closer to "Incredibles 2," I have been listening to the score from the original, and it definitely checked all the boxes Bird wanted.
You don't necessarily need to listen to the whole score for proof. Just simply listen to the track that plays throughout the end credits, cleverly titled "The Incredits," and you'll find that the 60s feel is all over it. Giacchino conducted a score that is both contemporary and timeless, a suitable theme that directly connects to the rest of the film. It's full of diverse instruments that all mix together well. Whether it's bombastic brass or the quieter strings, all of it blends together in a cohesive score that is as incredible as its namesake.
3. War for the Planet of the Apes
One of Michael Giacchino's most recent works is one of his best works to date. For many composers working on a franchise, it is hard to top a work that you had previously done for that franchise. Giacchino's work for "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" was amazing overall, but there were some areas where the score could've been better.Michael Giacchino clearly recognized that as his score for "War for the Planet of the Apes" keeps what worked with "Dawn" and replaces the unimpressive bits of that score with rousing adventure pieces and gut-wrenching emotion for "War."
The film is a bleak and emotional rollercoaster and the score is what helps cement the tone of the film, arranging the themes where appropriate. Fear and intensity is a hallmark of how gripping the film is, and the score contains some of the best examples of music that'll make the listener anxious as it unfolds. A clear match with film, the score for "War" also highlights how saddening the film is by using simple, yet effective, notes from a piano to put the listener in a dramatic state of mind.
Perhaps the score's biggest achievement is in the final few minutes where its grand feel is fully unveiled. As the score concludes, you find yourself in a vulnerable place. You'll start to cry, but then those tears start to turn into tears of joy from how inspiring the score was with it's last few minutes of runtime. The word that encompasses the score best is epic. "War for the Planet of the Apes" is epic, but would not be if it didn't have this exact score to accompany it. In short, Giacchino nailed this one.
2. Star Trek (2009)
As his second collaboration with the director, Michael Giacchino shared J.J Abrams's difficult task in continuing the "Star Trek." While Abrams had to figure out the next story, Giacchino had the job of creating a new theme for the franchise. A new theme which would ultimately bring a new identity to the franchise.
Numerous composers have left their mark in the "Star Trek" franchise. Most notably, Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner. Those composers may have had great moments inside their scores, but as a whole, they seemed few and far between music that was simply bland. Although, the points where those scores hit, they hit hard and that made Giacchino's job of making a score that was, at least, as good much harder. Honestly, I loved the end result and I can't be the only one that believes that Giacchino wrote the best "Star Trek" score for the best "Star Trek" film, right?
From the opening credits alone, the score proves itself to be one of the stars as it slowly builds to its unique and, dare I say, iconic theme. There's certain suspense in your brain as you're desperate find out the result of such an elongated buildup. As it builds, it slowly transitions to a roaring affair. You finally hear the sweet sounds, courtesy of Michael Giacchino and the Hollywood Studio Symphony. The new theme, known as "Enterprising Young Men," was a perfect route for this new, yet familiar crew. It may seem simple at first, but with the number of instruments used, you appreciate the complexity as each instrument continually overlaps with one another.
As with my number one choice, this new score in the "Star Trek" franchise wasn't afraid to get sad and "Labor of Love" was a beautiful piece of music to play over the event that sends this whole new reboot into motion. That track is actually simplistic, but also effective, as it hooks the viewer into what's going on in the story at hand. On its own, the movie works fine. With the music though, I shed a tear almost every time it plays.
Michael Giacchino did a perfect job for this new entry in the "Star Trek" music library. He successfully combined new themes and ideas while also subtly incorporating the original theme inside the score. All of it clearly worked in what proved to be a perfect marriage of old and new music.
Numerous composers have left their mark in the "Star Trek" franchise. Most notably, Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner. Those composers may have had great moments inside their scores, but as a whole, they seemed few and far between music that was simply bland. Although, the points where those scores hit, they hit hard and that made Giacchino's job of making a score that was, at least, as good much harder. Honestly, I loved the end result and I can't be the only one that believes that Giacchino wrote the best "Star Trek" score for the best "Star Trek" film, right?
From the opening credits alone, the score proves itself to be one of the stars as it slowly builds to its unique and, dare I say, iconic theme. There's certain suspense in your brain as you're desperate find out the result of such an elongated buildup. As it builds, it slowly transitions to a roaring affair. You finally hear the sweet sounds, courtesy of Michael Giacchino and the Hollywood Studio Symphony. The new theme, known as "Enterprising Young Men," was a perfect route for this new, yet familiar crew. It may seem simple at first, but with the number of instruments used, you appreciate the complexity as each instrument continually overlaps with one another.
As with my number one choice, this new score in the "Star Trek" franchise wasn't afraid to get sad and "Labor of Love" was a beautiful piece of music to play over the event that sends this whole new reboot into motion. That track is actually simplistic, but also effective, as it hooks the viewer into what's going on in the story at hand. On its own, the movie works fine. With the music though, I shed a tear almost every time it plays.
Michael Giacchino did a perfect job for this new entry in the "Star Trek" music library. He successfully combined new themes and ideas while also subtly incorporating the original theme inside the score. All of it clearly worked in what proved to be a perfect marriage of old and new music.
1. Up (2009)
If you know already know what Michael Giacchino's discography includes, you likely guessed my number one pick from the beginning. So far, the only Academy Award Michael Giacchino has received is for scoring Pixar's tenth feature film, "Up." Let me tell you, his work doesn't get any better than this.
If you don't believe me, listen to this, this, and this. I really should link to the whole score because all of it successfully captures multiple feelings, such as triumph, peace and most notably, sadness.
"Up" did a rare thing when it was released back in 2009 where it ripped my heart out and showed it to me in the first five minutes. I was almost seven then and at that age, I did not expect to feel so much emotion in such a short amount of time. If you haven't seen the film, there's a particular scene in the beginning where there's no dialogue or sound effects. It's just Michael Giacchino's score playing in the background. With that scene alone, this score had the number one spot in the bag. That track is so good, that even if the rest of the score weren't as good which it is, "Up" would still be one of the best scores that Giacchino had ever composed.
Luckily, what follows that piece is just as good. "Carl Goes Up" is the primary example of where my peace comment comes in. The main character launches his house, now tied to numerous balloons, and begins his adventure. As the track starts, you immediately find yourself in a peaceful mood as you stare at the colorful and majestic visuals. What I love about this score the most is that it uses the same notes as the "Married Life" track, the track that plays throughout the aforementioned five minutes. The only difference, is that through Giacchino's process, he makes the notes peaceful rather than saddening like before.
In my "Mission: Impossible III" segment, I mentioned that the emotions were kept up because the music was always changing. "Up" is the opposite. You might think that's a bad thing, but due to the fact that it uses a variation of the same theme for every dramatic moment, you feel different emotions. One variation might make you sad while another might make you happy. It follows a formula that doesn't get tiring no matter how many times you hear it play throughout the film. No contest, Michael Giacchino's score for "Up" is his best score. While I'd love to see him top it, it's going to take a truly remarkable composition to do so.
If you don't believe me, listen to this, this, and this. I really should link to the whole score because all of it successfully captures multiple feelings, such as triumph, peace and most notably, sadness.
"Up" did a rare thing when it was released back in 2009 where it ripped my heart out and showed it to me in the first five minutes. I was almost seven then and at that age, I did not expect to feel so much emotion in such a short amount of time. If you haven't seen the film, there's a particular scene in the beginning where there's no dialogue or sound effects. It's just Michael Giacchino's score playing in the background. With that scene alone, this score had the number one spot in the bag. That track is so good, that even if the rest of the score weren't as good which it is, "Up" would still be one of the best scores that Giacchino had ever composed.
Luckily, what follows that piece is just as good. "Carl Goes Up" is the primary example of where my peace comment comes in. The main character launches his house, now tied to numerous balloons, and begins his adventure. As the track starts, you immediately find yourself in a peaceful mood as you stare at the colorful and majestic visuals. What I love about this score the most is that it uses the same notes as the "Married Life" track, the track that plays throughout the aforementioned five minutes. The only difference, is that through Giacchino's process, he makes the notes peaceful rather than saddening like before.
In my "Mission: Impossible III" segment, I mentioned that the emotions were kept up because the music was always changing. "Up" is the opposite. You might think that's a bad thing, but due to the fact that it uses a variation of the same theme for every dramatic moment, you feel different emotions. One variation might make you sad while another might make you happy. It follows a formula that doesn't get tiring no matter how many times you hear it play throughout the film. No contest, Michael Giacchino's score for "Up" is his best score. While I'd love to see him top it, it's going to take a truly remarkable composition to do so.
Conclusion
For the first entry in a, hopefully, ongoing series, what did you think of my selections? What do you believe are Michael Giacchino's five best film scores? Does my list overlap with yours, or is yours completely different. Let me know in the comment's section below. I would also love to hear a suggestion from you as to what composer you'd like me to share my opinion on. Thanks for reading; I'm Dallin, the Film Fanatic, bye-bye.
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