Best use of a song or piece of music in a film.

I was going to suggest Ride of the Valkyries, but was beaten to it!

I'll have to go for my second choice then!

Goodfellas has particually effective use of contemopary songs during many scenes, but I think the use of Derek and the Dominos' Layla during the Gang murder scene, culminating in Joe Peschi's character's death, is absolutely stunning.
 
Quentin Tarantino is usually pretty good. There's the famous scene from Pulp Fiction but his music choices are good throughout.

Chopin in The Pianist
 
Barbers Adagio for Strings - The Elephant Man - remains the only movie to ever make me cry.
Think it's already been mentioned - the Figaro in The Shawshank Redemption
Chariots Rise by Lizzie West in Secretary - a bit sappy but truly touching
 
"What a wonderful world" in Witness
Barber's Adagio in The Elephant Man (also used in Platoon)
The Blue Danube waltz in 2001: A Space Odyssey
Also Sprach Zarathustra in 2001: A Space Odyssey
and the Ligetti music in 2001 too!
Walter/Wendy Carlos' score for A Clockwork Orange
Gene Kelley's "Singing in the Rain" as used in A Clockwork Orange
"The SounRAB of Silence"/"Mrs Robinson"/"Scarborough Fair" from The Graduate
Eno's "By This River" in The Son's Room
Marianne Faithful's "Safe to Sleep alone" in Roberto Stucco
 
Rhapsody on a theme by pagganini ? as used by John Barry in the soundtrack for Somewhere In Time.

The use of the Bond theme after Tracey Bond is shot dead in OHMSS , bitter sweet to the last.

Joe Hisaishi , ending of Sonnatine after Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano plays roulette with the gun in the car.

Any bit of Angleo Badlamenti's score for A Very Long Engagement

Any bit of Ennio Morricones score for Cinema Paradiso

:)
 
if you're talking about songs which when you hear them bring certain films immediately to mind,I have a few to start with.

An excellent and bizarre music/movie scene was in the Coen brothers Millers Crossing,where there was a violent gangster shootout,all Tommy guns a blazing,to the tune of O' Danny Boy (or Londonderry Air,whichever title you prefer).One of my favourite Coen scenes,of which there are many.

And of course Steelers Wheel,Stuck In The Middle With You,which was the backdrop to the infamous so-called ear slicing scene in Reservoir Dogs.

Cheesy 80's classic Love Is In The Air always makes me think of the equally cheesy (but can't help but like it) Strictly Ballroom.

And is there anyone who doesn't instantly think of the 'pottery' scene in Ghost (the most gratuitous phallic symbol scene ever!:eek::D),when they hear Unchained Melody?

I also agree with the afformentioned Mad World/Donnie Darko collaboration.When I first heard the song on the radio I hated it,but after watching the film I absolutely loved it.:cool:
 
The music for 28 Days Later. Quite apocalyptic. It's been used a lot elsewhere on TV shows and such. It's a great piece of music and whatever else it's used on, I just see rage-fueled, red eyed, teeth baring zombies running through the streets of London. :p
 
Fiona Apple's "Across The Universe" - Pleasantville [1998]

Fantastic finale from a highly unappreciated movie.

Donavan's "Atlantis" - Goodfellas [1990]

I don't think there's much point going on about how outstanding the soundtrack to Goodfellas is judging by the number of responses for it already on this thread. Surprised that nobody's mentioned Atlantis though. Irony drenched and brutal, I love the way the scene 'explodes' in time to the music!

FC Kahuna's "Hayling" - Layer Cake [2004]

Beautifully establishes the icy, robotic demeanour of Daniel Craig's character in the film. Shame the flick goes downhill from there really :(

Stealer's Wheel's "Stuck In The Middle With You" - Reservoir Dogs [1992]

What more can be said? It's one of the most iconic scenes of '90s cinema accompanied by a killer soundtrack!

Huey Lewis and The News' "Hip To Be Square" - American Psycho [2000]

Christian Bale's acting makes this scene what it is! Kitsch, hyperviolent, gruesome and utterly, utterly insane. Apparently, Bret Easton Ellis' only complain about the movie was the 'moonwalk shimmy' Bale does in this scene. Personally, I think it's the cherry on the cake!

I love the delivery of the speech: there's no passion or originality to his thought - just a recycled monologue taken verbatim from some 'album critique'.

Just noticed there's a lot of "psychos killing guys to music" on this list... hmm... :o:rolleyes:
 
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