I was watching Reservoir Dogs (again), The scene in which Mr. Blonde is about to torture Officer Nash is done with Stealers Wheel’s Stuck In The Middle With You playing. With Mr. Blonde dancing to the song, yet so violent, is classic. The song made a good scene a GREAT scene. Another of my favorites, near the end of Napolean Dynamite, as he walks around, the movie shows and summarizes the characters. The song playing is Patrick Street’s, Music For a Sound Harmonium. Wonderful match. Thoughts on this or other examples or suggestions?
Kubrick’s great at this. At the end of Dr. Strangelove, the nuclear explosion is coupled with We’ll Meet Again. Clockwork Orange’s rape scene to Singin’ in the Rain. The opening scene of 2001 is accompanied by Thus Spoke Zarathustra, although you might say the opening scene is accompanying the music.
I assume you’d include TV shows too? Les Revenants wouldn’t have worked nearly as well without the soundtrack written for the show (but without much info about what was going to happen) by Mogwai.
Dazed and Confused, when Wooderson, Mitch and Pink walk into the Emporium and Dylan’s “Hurricane” is playing. Tons of great music in that film, but that moment is my favorite.
I hear the Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd do this really well 
The latter works so well, I have always referred to that piece of music as “2001 A Space Odyssey”. Shame on me!
Of course one of my all time favorite albums, and also one of my favorite movies. Still, I have yet to try it.
I think most people do, that’s how I refer to it too. People don’t necessarily know what you’re talking about when you say Thus Spoke Zarathustra, and almost always know the 2001 music (even if they haven’t seen it!).
William Tell Overture and the Lone Ranger?
If you play Charades and use “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” (or the German “Also Sprach Zarathustra”) you’re guaranteed to win that round. And then get the snot kicked out of you for being a smart-ass. Voice of experience.
Yes, Kubrick is the Rembrant of this. Surfin’ Bird in Full Metal Jacket is another.
I think Echoes paired with the third act of 2001 is a lot closer, it’s downright eerie.
Apocalypse Now.
Ride of the Valkyries.
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Just about every silent film that was ever made . . . even if the music was added somewhat post-production.
In a similar vein, Excalibur and the Carmina Burana.
Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is the Gold Standard for this. Every time I hear the piano coda to “Layla” it makes me think of the montage of bodies Jimmy left in the wake of the Lufthansa heist. Also, the medley of songs on the day of Henry’s final drug bust (which includes “Jump Into the Fire”, “Monkey Man”, “What is Life?” and “The Magic Bus”) perfectly evokes the mania and confusion of his life at that point.
Run Lola Run is another example of the movie and the music working perfectly together – which is no surprise, since Tykwer’s filming and editing was done in sync with Klimek & Heil developing the score.
Some people think the musical choices were heavy-handed, but, dammit, I liked the music used in Watchmen
“Times they are a-changin’” for the opening credits, illustrating that the sequence of events IS different in the world of the Watchmen
“Sound of Silence” for the Comedian’s funeral. I didn’t even mind when Rorschach actually “turns his collar to the Cold and Damp” at that point in the song.
“99 Luftballoons” when Silk Spectre and Night Owl go out to eat, especially considering the point of the song
“Ride of the Valkyrie” for the Vietnam scenes was practically dictated by its use in apocalypse Now
The Philip Glass music, almost identical to the stuff from Koyaanitqatsi, world beautifully for the Dr. Manhattan flashback
“All along the Watchtower” as they approach Ozymandias’ Antarctic HQ.
Nitpick. It’s Music for a Found Harmonium, originally done by Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and yes, it fits the scene wonderfully.
How about most of Cat Stevens’ songs in Harold & Maude.
Thanks, I nearly made 2 mistakes. Just before submitting, I realized I had typed Patrick “Stewart”.
Some good choices. Mine is far more simplistic: The movie Layer Cake is a British crime movie. Directed by Matthew Vaughn who has gone on to big movies, and featuring Daniel Craig in a role that made the case for him to be James Bond.
At the very beginning, Craig offers some narrative about being in a life of high-class crime (I think). He makes some point and starts driving a high-end sports car through the windy roads above Monaco and BOOM, **She Sells Sanctuary by the Cult **kicks into full gear as the opening credits start. So freakin’ cool.
I tried to find a Youtube link, but none I found work on mobile…
I love that song, and that scene, and that car. I can’t find the monologue and the song together, but here’s the beginning of the monologue and (after a brief jump in the monologue), the song.*
ETA: And I second the Goodfellas and Excalibur mentions.
- I tried to make the links mobile, the mobile site redirects to the standard site when appropriate now.