Carter Burwell – True Grit Burwell has composed a near perfect score for the material here, as he evokes a wide range of emotions of the characters and the landscapes seen in the film. He uses hymns of the period in which the film is set as a source of inspiration for his compositions, as well as using numerous pieces throughout. This is why this score was deemed ineligible for the Academy Award. However, it still stands as, not only one of the finest scores of last year, but it’s also up there with the best work of Burwell’s career. And considering the quality of his output to date, that’s saying something. Carter Burwell’s soundtrack to True Grit is available now through Nonesuch records. Grizzly Bear is a band that I’ve been a fan of for some time, so I was quite excited when I found out that their music would be included in Blue Valentine. In fact, they were the main draw for me. This is more of a collection of old material than an original score, but it’s still a remarkably effective soundtrack to the film. The material here is more reflective of the band’s melodic side, rather than their more experimental side, but the material still manages to conjure up the range of emotions required, as well as at times being at odds with the moods depicted on screen. In addition to the material by Grizzly Bear, there are a few other suitably fitting tracks supplementing the soundtrack, albeit one is from a side project from one of the band members. Ryan Gosling shows off an interesting singing voice on You Always Hurt The One You Love, which is fitting with Grizzly Bear’s style. The soundtrack to Grizzly Bear is available now through Lakeshore Records and comes highly recommended. Alex Heffes – The Rite The latest exorcism film to hit cinemas has, it’s safe to say, received something of a mixed reception, but still, the presence of Sir Anthony Hopkins has seemed to be enough to draw audiences in. The score, by composer Alex Heffes, is a decent effort for this type of film. It’s by no means up there with some of the genre’s finest scores, but it serves the film well and creates an effective atmosphere in the process. There’s a simple piano motif that’s quite enjoyable and the score works well in the film. But as an isolated listen, I can’t imagine this is one I’ll regularly return to. Alex Heffes score for The Rite is available now through SilvaScreen. Members of the Roman legion venturing north of Hadrian ‘s Wall and encountering the hostile Pict natives. Surely we saw this film last year, I hear you ask. Well, yes, Centurion did, indeed, have a similar setup, but this is set some years after Neil Marshall’s thoroughly enjoyable chase film. I have yet to see The Eagle, but I’m a fan of director Kevin Macdonald’s previous work and I have a lot of affection for swords and sandals fare. So, I’m quite looking forward to this, despite the mixed reviews. Atli Örvarsson’s score for the Eagle is available now through SilvaScreen and the star rating below reflects how enjoyable it is as a standalone listen. Gustavo Santaolalla – Biutiful The start of the film’s score is somewhat unpredictable, but fascinating to listen to. Santaolalla’s guitar work is very much the draw here, and it really comes into its own in the final third ,with some quite beautiful melodic work that is very much the soundtrack’s highlight. Santaolalla’s guitar work is supplemented with Spanish language pop music and some classical pieces from Ravel and Maler, but it’s the main composer’s work here that is the draw. Gustavo Santaolalla’s score for Biutiful is available now through SilvaScreen. If you feel that there are any scores that have been released or are coming out that should be included in future entries in the series, please comment below…
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