I couldn't list ten right now although I'd say "Trouble In Mind" is one of his best and earliest as well.

"The Black Dahlia" is a bad film. The score by Isham is okay but comes a little too close to being stereotypical.

victoravalentine, July 21, 2007; 5:12 PM

Hi John,

As for the number of scores worth mentioning, I agree with knives.

I like Isham's early jazzy scores, although he often sounds like a poor man's Miles Davis.

My favorites are:

- The Cooler (*****)
- The Moderns (*****)
- Trouble In Mind (****)
- Afterglow (***/*) and
- with a completely different approach - Crash (****/*).

And Black Dahlia, of course. Along with Thomas Newman's Good German, the best Film Noir
score of the last decades. Although you have to admit that it's rather eclectic than inventive.

Cheerz,

David

coma, July 21, 2007; 12:32 PM

From The Beginning ---> THE HITCHER!
TIMECOP
FIRE IN THE SKY
BLADE
THE COOLER
CRASH
Unreleased --> POINT BREAK

hammon, July 21, 2007; 1:52 PM

Hello John,

I only own a handful of Isham scores so I don't know about a top 10.

"A River Runs Through it"
"October Sky"
"The Moderns"


Best Regards,
David Phoenix, AZ.

deg63iami, July 21, 2007; 2:35 PM

I know only a few Mark Isham CDs (Crash, The Cooler, Running Scared, Racing Stripes, The Black Dahlia).

Given that it hasn't been mentioned yet, I would like to add to the previous recommendations that in my opinion the MOST MEMORABLE THEME is from RUNNING SCARED.

I'd also like to second the recommendation of THE COOLER, though I wished there was more of the instrumental score on the CD and less of the Las Vegas songs.

I have not been able to enjoy Dahlia and Stripes that much.

Regards,

Urs

handstand, July 21, 2007; 3:01 PM

Romeo Is Bleeding is one poignant and touching score! Cool flick too!
The trumpet and the music box melodies in the final scene always move me.

Fly Away Home is very uplifting but too bad that it was never officially released.

delerue, July 21, 2007; 7:12 PM

THE HITCHER - possibly a bit dated but still great!
OF MICE AND MEN - simple but effective.

satanbug69, July 21, 2007; 8:10 PM

Crash
Eight Below
Never Cry Wolf
Fly Away Home
Black Dahlia
October Sky
Public Eye
Sketch Artist
River Runs Through it

Not necessarily in that order

dspin24358, July 22, 2007; 12:57 AM

I base my opinion on 43 of Ishams scores that I have, and I must say that in addition those already mentioned I also liked parts of DON'T SAY A WORD. Then there's also EIGHT BELOW - a very good score when it comes to orchestral music; same goes for EVERYBODY WINS, which to me counts as one of Isham's best. FLY AWAY HOME from the same category has already been mentioned. (RACING STRIPES also has it's moments.)
For his jazz music, LITTLE MAN TATE comes to my mind first, QUIZ SHOW second.
POINT BREAK is a brilliant mix-up of styles, also highly recommended.


thb8, July 22, 2007; 1:38 PM