It really nice to see a film get recognized for it’s genius even if it comes late. This week JoBlo.Com recognized Mark Pellington’s work on Arlington Road as one of the best movies you may have not seen.

WHY IT’S GREAT: ARLINGTON ROAD was, unfortunately, ahead of its time. It’s a film that tackles themes that were not yet as prevalent in society as they are now, American or otherwise. The film focuses heavily on the idea of how much we actually know about our neighbors, even something as simple as a name. The central theme is the threat of homegrown terror, but it’s built around the notion of what we view as plausible vs. implausible. In a pre-9/11 world, the film serves almost as a cautionary tale, one that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Of course the music is also what helps to make this film great. We’ll let the album review on Itunes do the talking for us.

Angelo Badalamenti’s score for Arlington Road is about as ominous and darkly ambient as film music gets. Add two clanging, moody pieces from electronic artist Tomandandy that take things to a brisk industrial apex, and one has the soundtrack to a shadowy nightmare. It’s a nightmare that just happens to contain moments of great beauty. The music, though frequently eschewing repeating melodies, is quite accessible when detached from the movie.

The overall feel is one of creeping menace, but Badalamenti still contributes a number of lush, emotional pieces. “Values” is as fragile and mournful as the slower moments in Ennio Morricone’s Untouchables score, though Badalamenti’s work is more techno savvy in this instance.

“The Truth Is Out There” almost sounds like meditation music, were it not for the swarming sound effects peppered underneath; when the dance beat crops up, it doesn’t dampen the hushed mood. Badalamenti works just as expertly with the background music for the action scenes. “Escape” throbs as if it’s a Bernard Herrmann score to a Looney Tunes episode where everyone’s favorite roadrunner just manages to outwit the coyote.

If the music sometimes gets a bit too busy for home listening, one can’t help but admire the stylish complexity and sustained atmosphere of the overall work. Arlington Road is an engrossing listen and a fine addition to Badalamenti’s growing list of beautiful film scores.