Over the past week I have come to the bold and decisive conclusion of who the greatest composer in film music is (note it is not my now determined favorite composer Bruce Broughton, he hasn't composed enough to be decisive with). It is not Horner, his short career and carbon copy tendency cancel him out. It is not Zimmer, since his career has not left much room to see how original he remains, although like Horner, he is effective. And no, it is not Williams, whose recent scores have begun to show that age is catching up and begin to lack any really original material (most recent exception being Patriot). Actually, after years of careful considerations and comparisons, I have determined the greatest living composer to be the shadow of the film music world (since his abilities are never really recognized), Jerry Goldsmith. My basis for this decision included many points. One, he is older and has had a longer career than even Williams and, in addition, is still creating works that sound quite distinct. Two, his style the most morphable one on the market, going from quaint and subdued like Rudy, to great and adventurous like the Mummy, from grand and bombastic like First Knight, to dark and ominous like the Omen. He even will combine multiple styles and feelings like in the River Wild. Finally, he seems always capable of playing the correct emotions on screen to the overwhelming point that most consider more characteristic of Williams or Horner.

quote: "I'm certain Jerry Goldsmith is envious of John Williams Career, Williams is envious of Stravinsky, and Stravinsky is envious of God." - Christopher Young, Film Composer, from "the Score".