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★★★★★

4.9

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269 reviews

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Join Jon and Andy as they explore the world of film music, one score at a time. Each episode is an in-depth discussion of a classic film score: what makes it tick, how it serves the movie, and whether it's, you know, any good. It's a freewheeling, opinionated conversation with an analytical bent, richly illustrated with musical examples. No expertise required. The series began by tackling “100 Years of Film Scores," the AFI's list of (purportedly) the 25 greatest scores in American cinema history, and now draws from a broad range of distinguished scores old and new. Jonathan Dinerstein writes music for film and television in Hollywood. Andy is a pianist and music director. They've been chatting together about movie music for 20 years. Support the show at Patreon.com/SettlingtheScore. Write us at [email protected].

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Check latest episodes from Settling the Score podcast

Beetlejuice

2026/01/14

Come on down as Jon, Jon, Jon and Andy, Andy, Andy haunt Danny Elfman's score to the 1988 supernatural comedy Beetlejuice! How did Elfman's background stand him in good stead for this particular brand of craziness? Which of his formative musical influences shine through this score? And, what’s a painless way to buy an ’84 Ford?

The Grand Budapest Hotel

2025/10/23

Join Jon and Andy as they check into Alexandre Desplat's score for the 2014 Wes Anderson creation The Grand Budapest Hotel. How does Desplat's music align with Anderson's idiosyncratic perspective? What instruments give it its very particular zing? And, how might Wes Anderson edit this podcast differently?

Elevator to the Gallows

2025/07/24

Listen as Jon and Andy take a long, meandering stroll through and around Miles Davis’ score for the 1958 crime drama Elevator to the Gallows. How did this French film wind up looming large in the history of American jazz? What special mood does Davis find, and what special note helps him describe it? And, what would you give to hear Miles imitate Marlon Brando?

The Fugitive

2025/05/06

Follow along as Jon and Andy do a hard-target search of James Newton Howard’s score to the 1993 man-on-the-run thriller The Fugitive. How do this film and its music match this cultural moment? What technical rule does Howard break, and why doesn’t it matter? And, wait a minute, does this plot actually make any sense?

2025 Oscars Special

2025/02/28

It’s back to the Oscars stage for Jon and Andy, to talk about this year’s nominees for Best Original Score, and it’s back to some age old questions: Do we want our music made out of notes or blobs? Does reading up about these scores get in the way of our curmudgeonly opinions? And, how much music should a musical's music music?

The Graduate

2025/02/11

Are you here for an affair? Ah yes, an episode of Settling the Score, very good sir - this one's about Simon and Garfunkel’s song score to Mike Nichol’s classic 1967 satire The Graduate. How was this movie pioneering in its use of music? Do these famous songs engender sympathy or skepticism for the characters, or both? And, it's okay to ask: do these lyrics actually mean anything?

The Empire Strikes Back

2024/10/03

“I love this score.” “I know.” Jon and Andy search their feelings about John Williams’ score for the 1980 hit sci-fi fantasy sequel The Empire Strikes Back. How important has this score been to our hosts? How does its mastery show itself on different scales? And, what are the odds of successfully navigating this show’s longest episode ever?

Double Indemnity

2024/06/11

Jon and Andy go straight down the line through Miklós Rózsa's score for the 1944 film noir classic Double Indemnity. Which elements of this music sound like noir, and which don’t? Why do we enjoy stories about bad people? And, where’s a good spot in L.A. to sneak into if you want to hear some Schubert?

2024 Oscars Special

2024/03/06

It’s time again for Jon and Andy to strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and find the real tinsel underneath, as they consider this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Original Score. Is it possible that our hosts are feeling less cranky this year? What are some different ideas these movies have for using music to fill time? And, did you notice that this episode is still shorter than two of these five nominated films?

The Conversation

2024/02/21

Come and eavesdrop on Jon and Andy discussing David Shire’s score for the 1974 surveillance mystery drama The Conversation. What does Shire's solo piano music express about the main character? How are the themes of the movie embodied in its world of sound? And, will Fred Flintstone be a good father?

Name That Score! 2

2024/02/13

Surprise! It’s time for a break from the bucket: Jon and Andy look back at all the scores they’ve talked about since the end of the AFI list, and Andy puzzles Jon with another needle-drop quiz. Can Jon remember all this music? Can you remember it better than Jon? And, like, what have our hosts even been talking about this whole time?

How to Train Your Dragon

2023/12/20

This time Jon and Andy train their attention on John Powell’s score for the 2010 animated fantasy adventure How to Train Your Dragon. Just how many themes does this score have? Might their meanings change with repeat viewings? And, what rhythmic pattern will Jon finally let Andy talk about?

There Will Be Blood

2023/09/12

In this episode Jon and Andy drink up Jonny Greenwood’s score for Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 period drama There Will Be Blood. How does Greenwood’s music seem to get so deeply inside your head? What lines can be drawn between it and his work for Radiohead? And, is either of us even close to getting the Daniel Plainview voice right?

The Day the Earth Stood Still

2023/05/23

This time Jon and Andy land their spaceship in the middle of Bernard Herrmann’s score for the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still! How strongly was Herrmann committed to musical otherness? What peculiar instrumentation did he use to achieve unearthly sounds? And, have we finally cracked Gort's secret alien robot code?

2023 Oscars Special

2023/03/09

Join Jon and Andy as they sneak back into the Dolby Theater to discuss this year's nominees for Best Original Score! Could this be our least impressive slate of contenders yet? What does it mean for music to really speak to the human heart? And, will we succeed in our attempt to keep the episode short? (No.)

Podcast reviews

Read Settling the Score podcast reviews

4.9 out of 5

269 reviews

★★★★★

soontobeangel 2025/06/03

Pitch Perfect!

One of the few podcasts I drop everything for. Jon and Andy make complex music theory so accessible, even for someone who just did choir in high scho...

★★★★★

Son_of a_butch 2025/03/12

Top notch

I cannot say enough about how much I enjoy Jon and Andy discussing what I think maybe the best part of movies, the music. I can’t say that I understa...

★★★★★

bill163542 2025/02/28

MUST LISTEN

There is no other podcast like this! Funny and informative, Jon and Andy convey the meaning of music in a way anyone can understand. This podcast is a...

★★★★★

M.R00ney 2025/02/16

Intelligent, informative, enlightening

Do you like movies? If yes, then scroll through the episodes, find one about a movie you like, and listen. You will learn a ton about how that mov...

★★★★★

Philerrific 2025/01/23

Absolute Favorite

I listen to A LOT of podcasts and this is my absolute favorite. Jon and Andy are incredibly thoughtful and thorough. My appreciation and enjoyment of ...

★★★★★

Skeptical Moe 2024/10/19

Just what I was looking for

I was hoping to find a podcast that explored “the great film scores” with insight and musical knowledge, and this show is fantastic! Also, Jon & Andy ...

★★★★★

screenwright 2024/10/11

The Best!

Not only my favorite film score podcast, but also my favorite podcast ever. I only have two complaints: I wish the episodes would come out a little fa...

★★★★★

H2Oman Runner 2024/10/05

Movie Music Lovers Rejoice

The latest drop…Empire Strikes Back…apex. I love the scholarly, effusive, and deeply felt comments. If the love of soundtracks is your “thing” this is...

★★★★★

JHanonymous 2024/02/14

Wonderful! (And, a model podcast!)

Is there a podcast better than “Settling the Score?” It would be enough to admire Jon and Andy for their wit and erudition: they know and sincerely lo...

★★★★★

Fallwind07 2024/02/14

Best Soundtrack Podcast, without question

The Settling the Score guys have the best combination of passion, knowledge, and dry humor to accompany and encourage my lifelong love of film music. ...

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