6. Paris, Texas
Blues guitarist Ry Cooder provided the score for Wim Wenders 1984 classic Paris, Texas, but it heavily derived from Blind Willie Johnsons 1927 record Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground. Nevertheless, its a gorgeous score that adds a lot to the films rich atmosphere. The film opens in the vast deserts of Texas, eventually swooping onto a lone figure, played by Harry Dean Stanton. Cooders slide guitar amplifies the stark cinematography and sense of isolation but it also gives a zen-like peace to it, rather than melancholy. Its quite experimental, feeling spontaneous and improvised with an ambience in the background. But otherwise its a pretty and slow score, settling you into the comfortable pace of the film and protagonists heart. It was nominated for a BAFTA award where it also won Best Direction for Wenders but its biggest and most prestigious prize was its clean sweep at the Cannes Film Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD5BhhF7yiQ
Jack Moulton
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Recently graduated from University of Hertfordshire with a Film & Television Production degree. Usually found watching films, listening to music, writing for whatculture and writing reviews for awardscircuit.com and my blog.
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