If you haven't already seen it, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) is a fantastic film. Directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars as Mitty, the film features breathtaking videography and an unbeatable soundtrack.
The movie follows Walter Mitty, a man whose life has become so immensely plain that he unwillingly compensates with wild daydreams. A series of fantastical events unfolds, taking him on an unexpected journey to remote and wild places. As this unfolds his daydreams begin to subside, signifying that his growth and experience.
The movie, however, would simply not have worked without the brilliant soundtrack, which features the likes of Of Monsters and Men, Rogue Wave, Jack Johnson, and most notably Jose Gonzalez, among several others. The music is largely acoustic, pairing beautifully with various scenes throughout the film. They’re dreamy too, atmospheric in many ways, which only contributes to the overall tone of the film.
Sure, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, has its moments of wit and humor, but without the serious nature of many of the songs to anchor it down it could be seen as a gag. The music serves to establish an artistic, thoughtful, undertone which largely carries throughout the film. It helps to make the audience contemplative, paying attention to the nuanced subtleties of the film.