Exceptional soundtracks can make good movies great. They can also take on a life of their own, becoming a greater highlight than their respective films. In this series, I’m selecting some of my favorite soundtrack songs. While quite a few are well-known recordings, I’m also including a few that have flown under the radar over the years.

Heat is one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s not just a crime thriller. It’s the story of how hate and respect can co-exist. It’s a reminder that we might have a lot more in common with our enemies than we think. And few movies capture the dark, ominous and isolating side of L.A. as powerfully and as beautifully as Heat. Michael Mann needed an equally ominous soundscape, which he found in Moby’s cover of Joy Division’s “New Dawn Fades”.

While Joy Division’s original felt like it played out inside a dark cellar, Moby’s version sprawls across the L.A. cityscape. There’s an expansiveness felt in the performance and the production. The guitar riff soars up while the bass notes climb down. I can’t think of a better track to rear its head as Heat neared its climax.

“We'll share a drink and step outside. An angry voice and one who cried. We'll give you everything and more. The strain is too much, can't take much more.”