Great Sound on Great Motion 1 – Scene from “Heat (1995)”

Initially, I tend to watch movies (including films, TV dramas, documentaries, whatever) analytically, focusing on how music/sound is related to/synchronized with them. What I pay attention to is not limited to a technical point of view but includes emotional effect or contextual significance.

Indeed, excellent films wouldn’t allow me to watch that way. They intuitively draw me into their worldview and steal my words. Regardless of how much critics advocate their importance or how many “likes” are put on social media websites, fortunately, we sometimes encounter a great combination of music and visual elements, which allows you to expand the way you enjoy movies.

I want to share such great experiences with you by introducing some of them under the title of ‘Great Sound on Great Motion.’ The first choice is the famous bank robbery scene from Michael Mann‘s film ‘Heat (1995),’ a crime thriller known for its intense action sequences and meticulous attention to detail.

When it comes to the thrilling, ‘badass’ movie, I’m particularly drawn to the subtle way music is used in each scene. The track embedded in this cut (Brian Eno’s ‘Force Maker‘) is so minimalistic and sparse that some audience members may not even notice it. However, this quiet and repetitive but building piece is what makes you hold your breath, pay more attention to how each character moves, and gradually focus on the unpredictable situation, increasing the anxiety in your heart. The way the music works here is what keeps us on the edge of our seats, delivering a superb ‘musical storytelling experience’ in a brilliant manner.

If they had used a massive, bombastic orchestra score in this scene, like you often hear in recent Hollywood action films, the movie would have significantly lost its tension and attempt they had aimed at. The music supervisor Budd Carr and the director Mr. Mann, with their careful and thoughtful use of music, succeeded in enhancing the storybuilding power of the movie.