the importance of music in film

I agree the music/soundtrack is half the movie for me. I just watched
"Whiplash" last night and the music was fantastic and very well
recorded. I find myself listening to the music and the screen becomes
secondary.
There are many great artists doing music scores for movies that I think
don't get enough recognition. Mark Isham is one that I find very innovative
in his work.

agree with you Theo - I also enjoyed the music of Whiplash esp since I'm much into classic Jazz. The names of those great Jazz artists were mentioned several times in the movie & I knew who they were talking about...

then u should be listening to the greats such as Korngold, Waxman, Herman and Steiner and numerous others from the golden age of film...

Two of my favorite contemporary film composers are Patrick Doyle and Carter Burwell. Henry Mancini and Dave Grusin a few years before. The movie scores of that group are as individual and influential as any of the characters in their movies, IMO.

It's interesting to hear the efforts of musicians who crossed over to attempt film composition, too. Michael Kamen, Danny Elfman, Ry Cooder, Trevor Rabin, Trent Reznor, and, of course, Randy Newman, for example.

I have some movies I'd only watch or listen for the soundtrack while movies themselves average or worse:

Last Man Standing
Jackal
In the Name of the Father

There are movies that are superb so the soundtrack doesn't matter at all such as 12 Angry Man

Example of movie perfection and soundtrack is I believe
Once Upon A Time in America (Ennio Morricone)