The last of us definitely hope to be HBO’s next game of thronesas the network needs a major sci-fi action series after the underperformance and cancellation of Westworld. All the signs point The last of us being a success based on the incredible cast and crew that have been assembled for the highly anticipated adaptation of the acclaimed video game. Chernobyl showrunner Craig Mazin ensured the series stayed true to the spirit of the game by bringing back its composer, Gustave Santaolalla.
While video games had certainly grown in quality throughout the 21st century, The last of us was truly one of the most cinematic games ever made. Santaolalla’s score had the same gravitas as a movie soundtrack, and it’s easy to see why. Santaolalla is an acclaimed musician who has won an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Goya Award for his contributions to film, television, and video games. Before discovering the new compositions he created for HBO The last of uscheck out some of his best work to date.
The Insider (1999)
Players who have experienced anxiety through The last of us‘ the most intense sequences will be delighted to know that Santaolalla worked with the “master of tension” himself, Michael man. The insider is a nearly three-hour film that goes by very quickly because of Santaolalla’s captivating music, which ups the ante for Russell Crowe as he puts himself and his family in danger. It was one of the first films to feature Santaolalla’s distinct “Iguazu” track, which several films have since used.
21 Grams (2003)
While the gameplay of The last of us was certainly a breakthrough, it truly stood out from its contemporaries by the emotions it could provoke. Santaolalla has already proven he can make an audience cry with his heartbreaking score for Alejandro González Iñarrituthe devastating drama 21 grams. An overreliance on music during intimate moments could have harmed the incredible performances of Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Naomi Wattsbut the subtle work of Santaolalla makes them even more unforgettable.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
The last of us is certainly an action-oriented game, but it is also a road story. Joel and Ellie are constantly introduced to new environments, and there’s no doubt the show will incorporate various locations that are both familiar and new to fans. Santaolalla showed that his friendships are linked during his travels with his BAFTA-winning score for motorcycle journals. He subtly introduces new themes like Che Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) and his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigue de la Serna) travel through South America.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain has stood the test of time as one of the greatest romantic films ever made. It’s a film that takes viewers on an emotional journey that shows all sides of Ennis (health book) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) relationship, from first flirtations to a devastating conclusion. Santaolalla won the Oscar for his amazing work and turned the film into an epic love story told over a lifetime. Whether The last of us only achieves a fraction of the same emotions, so it will definitely exceed our expectations again.
Babel (2006)
When you think of The last of us, the words ‘dark’, ‘intense’, ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘hopeful’ may come to mind; they are also the perfect words to describe Iñárritu’s style as a filmmaker. It’s no wonder he continues to work with Santaolalla, who won a second Oscar for his work on the continent-spanning tragedy. babel. Although the film remains as controversial as it was when it was originally released, even babelThe harshest critics must acknowledge the breadth of Santaolalla’s score and its respect for different cultures.
The Last of Us (2010 original game)
The HBO series wouldn’t look like the game if it didn’t bring back the classic Santaolalla theme. While the series will obviously take new directions and introduce additional music, it’s good to know that Santaolalla is still making decisions about tone, poise, and subtlety. It’s managed to improve upon and even surpass its work on the first game with The Last of Us: Part II, so it’ll be exciting to see what additional music makes its way into the show.
Borrowed Time (2015)
A passion project for Pixar animators Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj, Borrowed time is a 7-minute short film about a western sheriff who experiences heartbreak while traveling cross-country with his son. Pixar certainly knows how to shake our emotions, but Borrowed time showed that Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj could be equally strong working with adult content. Santaolalla’s western-inspired score serves as the perfect teaser for what he’ll be able to do with the neo-noir western twist of The last of us.
Before the Flood (2016)
Part of the beauty of The last of us was naturalism; the game reflects how the environment has collapsed in a post-apocalyptic future that has devastated the most beautiful monuments on Earth. Santaolalla has shown the same respect for environmental themes with his magnificent work on before the flooda documentary on climate change produced and hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film manages to cover the full extent of the globe and explore the dangers of each distinct region, and Santaolalla’s dexterity covering so many different climates bodes well for his work on the HBO series.
Narcos: Mexico (2018)
If you need further proof that Santaolalla can deliver memorable music for a gripping thriller series, look no further than his work on the Netflix spin-off. Narcos: Mexico. Santaolalla certainly had high expectations ahead of him, as the primary music and theme song Narcos the series had already become iconic in its own right. However, Santaolalla made sure that the new location and cast of characters would retain a similar vibe, but would focus more on the cat-and-mouse game than Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna) plays with his opponents. Narcos: Mexico is one of the few spin-off TV shows that both justifies its existence and surpasses its predecessor, and Santaolalla is one of the main reasons why.
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Best Scores From Last of Us Composer Gustavo Santaolalla – CNET – ApparelGeek