Maybe it’s time to let the old ways of this almost-finished decade die, yeah? But it wouldn’t be complete without our deep dive into the best soundtracks and scores of the 2010s. It’s admittedly somewhat weird and difficult to do. Scores and soundtracks are different beasts; one original musical written for a film that gives it its emotional shape—often the secret MVP of a movie—and the other more of a mixtape, but when well-curated and used next to picture, can be just as deadly and help craft what we know as the visual and aural transcendence that’s known as cinema when it’s at its best.

Continue reading The Best Soundtracks & Scores Of The Decade [2010s] at The Playlist.

Cinema is a romantic’s medium. To watch a movie is to feel through others, to experience lives and cultures beyond your own or, sometimes, to relate in ways you never could before. The best films invite you to love and care, to believe you’re close to strangers and nestle inside their thoughts, their laughs, their sorrows and their pains. To watch a movie is to become someone else, if for a fleeting moment.

It’s sappy and corny to say as much, but that’s the same with Valentine’s Day.

Continue reading 15 Great Films To Watch On Valentine’s Day at The Playlist.

For a variety of reasons, 2016 marked my personal record for the most new films I’ve seen in any given year, which is simultaneously a triumph and a problem. More movies equals more choice, and I’m nothing if not terrible at making decisions. But the following 10 films (and runners-up, because again, I’m terrible at making decisions) are the ones I loved most this year, edging out the titles I found worthy of respect, but not affection (like the ambitious Martin Scorsese opus “Silence“).

Continue reading Kimber Myers’ Top 10 Films Of 2016 at The Playlist.

Howard Hawks once defined a good movie as one with “three good scenes and no bad ones.” Whether or not you think he’s right — and he’s not massively wrong — it’s often the moments that make the movies for us, and there’s no better way to make a moment memorable than with some music.

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2016

From the chorus lines of Busby Berkeley and “The Sound Of Silence” in “The Graduate” to Chuck Berry in “Pulp Fiction” and “Where Is My Mind” in “Fight Club,” movies and cinema are intrinsically linked together, with songs made indelible by scenes in films, and scenes made by indelible songs.

Continue reading The 25 Best Movie Music Moments Of 2016 at The Playlist.

We are joined this week by Variety’s Chief Film Critic Peter Debruge and just in time to talk top 10s.  There was a lot of crossover with both of our lists, but even when we agreed it got…interesting. But, don’t worry. We’re still friends. It’s just a passionate debate between two friends who probably know way to much about what they are talking about.

But, it’s fun.

READ MORE: Gregory Ellwood’s Top 10 Movies Of 2016

Couple of quick corrections since this was recorded last week.

Continue reading 4 Quadrant Podcast Ep 7: Top 10 Movies Of 2016 With Peter Debruge at The Playlist.

2016 needs to end for so many reasons. Frankly, I’m not convinced 2017 will actually be better, but at least there is always the hope great new movies will distract us from the authoritarian government that is quickly swooping into power. Keep hope alive, right?

As we enter the annual the “best of” season many have commented on “what a great year for movies” 2016 was. This writer thinks that hot take may exaggerating the overall mediocrity of the past 12 months.

Continue reading Gregory Ellwood’s Top 10 Movies of 2016: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Personal Shopper,’ ‘Rogue One’ at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 91 songs that qualified for the 2017 Best Original Oscar today and there must be a sigh of relief from some songwriters and studios.

Intriguingly, “La La Land” submitted three tracks including “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” “City Of Stars” and “Start A Fire.” That’s long been the plan but you have to wonder if they made a mistake not substituting the more popular “Another Day of Sun” or “Someone in the Crowd” instead of “Start a Fire.”  Most strategists for popular films actually suggest only submitting two compositions because if all three get nominated it can ruin your chances for an overall win (see “Enchanted” and “Dreamgirls”).

Continue reading Favorites From ‘Sing Street,’ ‘La La Land’ And ‘Moana’ Qualify For Best Original Song Oscar at The Playlist.

It’s been something of a mixed year for movies in some ways — a fairly sparse first half of the year, including the worst blockbuster season in living memory, followed by an absolutely rammed fall season that, even more than most, has seen a wealth of pleasures in movie theaters. But one thing for sure is that it’s been a really great year for music and the movies (and yes, .)

READ MORE: 11-Minute Video Essay Listens To The Power Of A Film’s Score

Perhaps appropriately for a year where a musical looks to be the Oscar front-runner, we’ve had all kinds of wonderful scores and soundtracks, from a young composer turning the biopic on its head to an instantly iconic Netflix synthpop score, from a blast of original hip-hop from a little-seen indie to some unusually convincing comedy songs from some ex-SNLers.

Continue reading The 30 Best Film Scores & Soundtracks Of 2016 at The Playlist.

The past few weeks have seen countless critics guilds and other organizations start handing out their honors for the best of 2016, but now it’s time for the big guns of the awards season with the Golden Globes nominations.

Continuing to ride high, Damien Chazelle‘s “La La Land” danced into the lead this morning with 7 nominations in the film category. Every year, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association likes to throw a few curveballs, and they did just here with Jonah Hill getting a nod for “War Dogs.” Meanwhile, “Deadpool” sneaked into the Best Picture Comedy Or Musical category.

Continue reading ‘La La Land’ Leads 2017 Golden Globes Nominations at The Playlist.

Well, would you look at the date? It’s the first of December, which means we’re going to start looking back on all the great stuff 2016 has brought to us at the movies. And like the considerate film lovers we are, it’s a process we’re kicking off in gentle, colorful style by running down the best in movie posters.

Since we’re not limited to films that have already opened, just to posters that have appeared since January, there are a couple of teasers for films not yet playing included below.

Continue reading The 20 Best Movie Posters Of 2016 at The Playlist.

Prediction based on nominations [Feb. 5]

TOP FIVE
1. “City of Stars,” “La La Land”
2. “How Far I’ll Go,” “Moana”
3. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” “Trolls”
4. “Audition (The Fools Who Dream”), “La La Land”
5. “The Empty Chair” — “Jim: The James Foley Story”

PREVIOUS CONTENDERS (for historical context)
“A Letter to the Free,” “13th”
“Angel By The Wings,” “The Eagle Huntress”
“Drive It Like You Stole It,” “Sing Street”
“Faith,” “Sing”
“I’m Still Here,” “Miss Sharon Jones!”
“I See A Victory,” “Hidden Figures”
“Running’” “Hidden Figures”
“You’re Welcome,” “Moana”
“We Know The Way,” “Moana”
“Back to Life,” “Queen of “Katwe”
“Flicker,” “Audrie & Daisey”
“Go Now,” “Sing Street”
“The Great Beyond,” “Sausage Party”
“Never Give Up,” “Lion”
“Try Everything,” “Zootopia”
“The Rules Don’t Apply,” “Rules Don’t Apply”
“Waving Goodbye,” “The Neon Demon”

Gregory Ellwood’s Current Oscar Predictions:
Best Picture
Director
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Editing
Cinematography 
Production Design
Animated Feature Film
Foreign Language Film
Documentary Feature
Original Score
Original Song
Costume Design
Makeup and Hairstyling
Visual Effects
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing

Continue reading 2017 Best Original Song Oscars Predictions at The Playlist.

In a summer filled with big blockbusters, lots of CGI, and high stakes superhero plots, you might be craving something lighter on its feet, and a whole lot more heartwarming. “Sing Street” will definitely fit the bill, and today we have some terrific prizes to share with some lucky readers.

Directed by John Carney, the feel-good, coming of age story is set in 1980s Dublin and follows 14-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. 

Continue reading Contest: Win ‘Sing Street’ Prize Pack Including Blu-ray & Shure Sound Isolating Earphones at The Playlist.

Box Office: 'The Jungle Book' Swings Into Top Spot With Massive $103 Million Opening

Continue reading Box Office: ‘The Jungle Book’ Swings Into Top Spot With Massive $103 Million Opening at The Playlist.

Review: John Carney's Terrific And Joyous Musical 'Sing Street'

Continue reading Review: John Carney’s Terrific And Joyous Musical ‘Sing Street’ at The Playlist.

15 Movies To See In April

Continue reading 15 Movies To See In April at The Playlist.

Continue reading Sundance Review: ‘Once’ Director John Carney’s Joyously Entertaining ‘Sing Street’ at The Playlist.

The 30 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2016 Sundance Film Festival

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Continue reading Watch: Trailer For ‘Once’ And ‘Begin Again’ Director John Carney’s Sundance Bound ‘Sing Street’ at The Playlist.

Casting: Seth Rogen & Adam McKay Team For New Comedy, Toby Kebell Is 'Ben-Hur' Baddie And More

Continue reading Casting: Seth Rogen & Adam McKay Team For New Comedy, Toby Kebell Is ‘Ben-Hur’ Baddie And More at The Playlist.

John Carney To Direct 'Sing Street' With Music From Bono & The Edge, Mark Romanek Sees 'The Visitors' & More

Continue reading John Carney To Direct ‘Sing Street’ With Music From Bono & The Edge, Mark Romanek Sees ‘The Visitors’ & More at The Playlist.