Englishman in California. Money laundering investigator. Film music critic, Movie Music UK, International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA). Soccer fan, Sheffield Wednesday. Democratic socialist.
www.moviemusicuk.us :
www.filmmusiccritics.orgPresenting the 2025 Movie Music UK Awards!
Here are my choices for the best scores of 2025.
moviemusicuk.us/2026/02/06/m...
Movie Music UK Awards 2025
2025 was an excellent year for film music, if you were prepared to go and look for it. While very few of the year’s most acclaimed films had scores to match (I actively disliked the music a lot of …
My latest film music review is of the score for Apple TV+ animated sci-fi adventure series WONDLA, with music by Joy Ngiaw.
WONDLA – Joy Ngiaw
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton WondLa is an animated science-fiction adventure TV series produced by Skydance Animation which aired on Apple TV+ for 20 episodes across three seasons between 20…
My latest film music review is of the Oscar-nominated score for one of 2025's most critically acclaimed films, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Music by Jonny Greenwood.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – Jonny Greenwood
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton One of the most popular and critically acclaimed movies of 2025, One Battle After Another is a black comedy action-thriller written and directed by Paul Thomas A…
My latest film music review is of the score for the British parody comedy FACKHAM HALL, with music by Oli Julian.
FACKHAM HALL – Oli Julian
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton The lives of the British aristocracy, and those who serve them, have been an endless source of fascination for decades, through films and books and television. T…
Today's events in Minneapolis. Furious. Appalled. Disgusted. I just don't know what we're supposed to do about all this. Democrat lawmakers need to step up and be counted. We can't let this continue. People are literally being executed in the street.
My latest film music review is of the score for the comedy adventure ANACONDA, with music by David Fleming.
ANACONDA – David Fleming
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Despite being a reasonable box office success when it was first released, the 1997 film Anaconda has become something of a cult classic in the almost 30 interven…
My latest film music review is of the score and songs for the smash-hit animated action musical K-POP DEMON HUNTERS. Score by Marcelo Zarvos. Songs produced by Mark Sonnenblick, Eun-Jae Kim, and Ian Eisendrath.
K-POP DEMON HUNTERS – Marcelo Zarvos
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton One of the most fascinating trends to emerge in recent years has been the emergence of Korean popular entertainment into the western mainstream. When I was a kid…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series - the final review of music from 1995 before I move on to 1996 - is of the score for the acclaimed action-thriller HEAT, with music by Elliot Goldenthal.
HEAT – Elliot Goldenthal
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Widely considered one of the best action thrillers of the 1990s, and notable for marking the first time that legendary actors Robert De Niro and…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series - delayed a day to avoid New Year - is of the score for the lush period drama RESTORATION, with music by James Newton Howard.
RESTORATION – James Newton Howard
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Restoration is a period drama film directed by Michael Hoffman, adapted from the 1989 novel of the same name by Rose Tremain. The film is set du…
My latest film music review is of the score for the blockbuster sci-fi sequel AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, with music by Simon Franglen.
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH – Simon Franglen
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE FILM, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER WAITING UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE DONE SO TO READ IT. The w…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series - a day early for Christmas! - is of the score for the animated adventure film BALTO, with music by James Horner.
BALTO – James Horner
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Balto is an animated adventure film very loosely inspired by true events that happened in Nome, Alaska, in 1925, during an especially harsh wint…
My latest film music review is of the score for the new James L. Brooks comedy drama ELLA MCCAY, with music by Hans Zimmer.
ELLA MCCAY – Hans Zimmer
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Ella McCay is the first new film from director James L. Brooks in 15 years (since How Do You Know in 2010), and as such is a landmark event considering that he i…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the inspirational drama MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS, with music by Michael Kamen.
MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS – Michael Kamen
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton I have always had a soft spot for films about inspirational teachers – Dead Poet’s Society is one of my all-time favorite films – and 1995’s Mr.…
My latest film music review is of the score for the Shakespeare-era drama HAMNET, with music by Max Richter.
HAMNET – Max Richter
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Director Chloe Zhao’s film Hamnet, which is based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell, is a lyrical reimagining of the brief life and death of Hamnet Shakespea…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the Oscar-nominated score for the romantic drama SABRINA, with music by John Williams.
SABRINA – John Williams
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Sabrina is a modern remake of Billy Wilder’s 1954 romantic comedy which starred Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden, and which w…
My latest film music review is of the score for smash hit musical sequel WICKED: FOR GOOD, with music by John Powell and Stephen Schwartz.
WICKED, PART TWO: FOR GOOD – John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton I don’t expect that even the most ardent fans of the original stage musical could have anticipated the impact and acclaim received by Wicked, Part One, following…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the Oscar-nominated score for the political biopic NIXON, with music by John Williams.
NIXON – John Williams
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton I am not a crook! — Richard Nixon, November 17, 1973 I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow — Richard Nixon, Augus…
My latest film music review is of the score for the satirical Hollywood-centric comedy/drama JAY KELLY, with music by Nicholas Britell.
JAY KELLY – Nicholas Britell
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton If there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s movies about Hollywood. From Singin’ in the Rain to The Artist, Sunset Boulevard to La-La Land, to recent TV shows lik…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the Oscar-nominated score for the classic Jane Austen adaptation SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, with music by Patrick Doyle.
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY – Patrick Doyle
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton “I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is and always will be… yours.” Althou…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the family drama FRANKIE STARLIGHT, with music by Elmer Bernstein.
FRANKIE STARLIGHT – Elmer Bernstein
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton An adaptation of the best-selling semi-autobiographical novel ‘The Dork of Cork’ by Chet Raymo, Frankie Starlight is a nostalgic comedy-drama fi…
My latest film music review is of the score for WWII-era legal drama NUREMBERG, with music by Brian Tyler.
NUREMBERG – Brian Tyler
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton The Nuremberg War Trials, held in the eponymous city from 1945 to 1946, were a series of military tribunals convened by the Allied powers to prosecute leading fi…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the music for the groundbreaking animated film TOY STORY, songs and score by Randy Newman.
TOY STORY – Randy Newman
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton To infinity and beyond! There are only a few films that you can point to as marking a genuine turning point in the history of cinema, but 1995’s…
My latest film music review is of the score for director Guillermo del Toro's new take on the classic horror story FRANKENSTEIN, with music by Alexandre Desplat.
FRANKENSTEIN – Alexandre Desplat
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton It’s astonishing to think that there have been more than 50 cinematic adaptations of the story of Frankenstein since it was first penned, one haunted summer in 1…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the classic action adventure JUMANJI, with music by James Horner.
JUMANJI – James Horner
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Jumanji is a children’s fantasy action-adventure film starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, and Jonathan Hyde, di…
My latest film music review is of the score for the new satirical comedy-drama BUGONIA, with music by Jerskin Fendrix.
BUGONIA – Jerskin Fendrix
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton The term ‘bugonia’ comes from Latin and Greek, and relates to an ancient concept or myth describing the spontaneous generation of bees from the carcass of a dead…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the romantic/political drama THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, with music by Marc Shaiman.
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT – Marc Shaiman
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Looking back now, considering where we are today in terms of what the American political landscape has become over the past decade, it seems alm…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the serial killer thriller COPYCAT, with music by Christopher Young.
COPYCAT – Christopher Young
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Copycat is a psychological thriller directed by Jon Amiel, starring Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney, and William McNamara. Weave…
A few notes about composer Klaus Doldinger, who sadly passed away last week.
Klaus Doldinger, 1936-2025
Composer Klaus Doldinger died on October 16, 2025, at his home in Germany after a short illness. He was 89. Klaus Erich Dieter Doldinger was born in May 1936, in Berlin, Germany. He studied piano a…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the Pierce Brosnan James Bond film GOLDENEYE, with music by Éric Serra.
GOLDENEYE – Éric Serra
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Six years after Timothy Dalton vacated the role after the comparative commercial flop of License to Kill, and after several years of protracted …
My latest film music review is of the score for the long-delayed sci-fi action movie LONG DISTANCE, with music by Steven Price.
LONG DISTANCE – Steven Price
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Long Distance is a science fiction action-adventure movie directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, starring Anthony Ramos, Naomi Scott, Kristofer Hivju, and the v…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the scifi-drama POWDER, with music by Jerry Goldsmith.
POWDER – Jerry Goldsmith
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Powder is a science fiction-drama film written and directed by Victor Salva, starring Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen, Lance Henriksen, and Sean…
My latest film music review is of the score for the action-crime-thriller PLAY DIRTY, with music by Alan Silvestri.
PLAY DIRTY – Alan Silvestri
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton A fun action-thriller crime caper from writer-director Shane Black, Play Dirty is the seventh film based on the ‘Parker’ series of novels by author Donald E. Wes…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series (a day late because I lost track of the week) is of the score for the literary period romance THE SCARLET LETTER, with music by John Barry.
THE SCARLET LETTER – John Barry
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 work The Scarlet Letter is widely considered one of the greatest American novels, blending psychological depth, histo…
My latest film music review is of the score for the new Downton Abbey film, DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, with music by John Lunn.
DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE – John Lunn
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton After 15 years, 52 TV episodes, and two theatrical movies, the Downton Abbey saga comes to a close with this third and final film, Downton Abbey: The Grand Final…
My latest film music review is of the score for the new nature documentary feature THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, with music by Noah Sorota.
THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST – Noah Sorota
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Nature documentaries have always provided fertile ground for film composers. From the epic scores by Elmer Bernstein and Jerome Moross for National Geographic in…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the serial killer thriller SEVEN, with music by Howard Shore.
SEVEN – Howard Shore
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton The world is a fine place and worth fighting for. I agree with the second part. — Ernest Hemingway. What’s in the box?!? — Detective…
My latest film music review is of the score for the new western crime thriller AMERICANA, with music by David Fleming.
AMERICANA – David Fleming
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Americana is a modern western crime thriller written and directed by Tony Tost, starring Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon, and Halse…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the Oscar-nominated score for the comedy-drama UNSTRUNG HEROES, with music by Thomas Newman.
UNSTRUNG HEROES – Thomas Newman
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton Unstrung Heroes is a coming-of-age drama directed by Diane Keaton, adapted from journalist Franz Lidz’s memoir of the same name. The story is se…
My latest film music review is of the score for the ghost story movie APPLEWOOD, with music by Penka D Kouneva and additional music by Deniz Aktaş.
APPLEWOOD – Penka Kouneva and Deniz Aktaş
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton It’s not often than I feel compelled to write about the music for low-budget straight-to-streaming horror movies because, frankly, they are not usually very good…
My new article for the IFMCA about Simi Film Fest, the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra, and their recent film music concert conducted by Joseph Metcalfe.
Joseph Metcalfe and the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra
by Jon Broxton It isn’t every day that one gets to hear a film music concert in small-town America, especially if the small town is the one in which you currently live, and even more especially one…
I'm back with a new review!
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the classic crime thriller THE USUAL SUSPECTS, with music by John Ottman.
Hopefully full review service will resume next week.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS – John Ottman
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. This famous quote from the writings of 19th century French po…
My latest review in the Throwback Thirty series is of the score for the Shakespearean tragedy OTHELLO, with music by Charlie Mole.
OTHELLO – Charlie Mole
THROWBACK THIRTY Original Review by Jonathan Broxton O, beware, my lord, of jealousy, it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on. One of William Shakespeare’s most enduring a…
My latest film music review is of the score for the new sword-and-sorcery epic RED SONJA, with music by Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli.
RED SONJA – Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton The character Red Sonja was created for Marvel comics in 1973 by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith as a companion to their already-established Con…
