Thank you, great article!
I think he has really put his finger on the whole ostinato thing. It is both feeds into and is fed by all the bad film music we are subjected to.
Ostinatos are a more and more nothing but a giant CRUTCH for composers. Sure I use them on occasion, but if it starts to feel the least bit "crutchy," I throw the whole thing out.
I studied composition during a time when most teachers were pushing strict serialism, numerology, chance, and process over product. I'm glad I've wrested that from my system, but it was very hard finding my own sense of harmonic language. It's unfortunate that no one seems to be able to guide students in that particular quest.