Soundtrack Review: Local Color (2006)

Posted by Jorn Tillnes

November 11, 2008

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111008 0454 soundtrackr11 Soundtrack Review: Local Color (2006) This is a review of the motion picture score for Local Color by Chris Boardman.

“Everyone can benefit from this beautiful music which is such a delight to listen to. It’s about the journey, about experiences, about finding your passion and love what you do”

Please before you read this review, take a look at the introduction by composer Chris Boardman. In the midst of Hollywood blockbusters that put millions of dollars in special effects and bad acting comes a great story, a story about life. “Local Color” is a very personal project by George Gallo because it is about his own life as an 18 year old learning how to paint by a Russian master. Here’s what George Gallo says himself: A successful artist looks back with loving memories on the summer of his defining year, 1974. A talented, but troubled eighteen year old art student befriends an elderly alcoholic genius painter who has turned his back on not only art, but life. The two form, what appears to be at first a tenuous relationship. The kid wants to learn all the secrets the master has locked away inside his head and heart. Time has not been kind to the old master. His life appears pointless to him until the kid rekindles his interest in his work and ultimately gives him the will to live. Together, they give one another a priceless gift. The kid learns to see the world through the master’s eyes. And the master learns to see life through the eyes of innocence again. This story is based on a real life experience. The movie is directed and written by George Gallo and stars Armin Mueller-Stahl, Trevor Morgan and Ray Liotta. It has won a few awards like Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay and President Award at Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. The score could and should win a few awards by itself. Read on.

Track List

I Remember (*****)
To Nicolai’s (****)
Do They Still Look White (*****)
Travel Montage (*****)
Away From The Mess And Noise (****)
Reminds Me Of Russia (*****)
Follow Your Heart (****)
Ready For Oils (****)
I Am Tired (*****)
Today We Paint (*****)
Good Luck (*****)
The Art Of Life (****)
The Journey Shared (*****)

Hooked Already

This the score composed by Chris Boardman about art, life and change. It starts off with the main theme “I Remember” which is a very beautiful piano/guitar theme. It eases in with a nice ambient sound and creates a soundscape not often heard in movies these days. “To Nicolai’s” continues George’s journey where “I Remember” left off and it creates a bit of mystery around it with an interesting piano undertone which is a dark two piece theme. Already after listening to these two cues, you are instantly hooked and want to be a part of the journey, you crave for more. They hired an orchestra because they just couldn’t do it electronically to capture the humanity and feelings of the story. In the cue “Do They Still Look White” you hear it in full for the first time with a brilliant string intro and around the 1.25 mark takes off with something I haven’t heard in a while. A truly beautiful orchestrated piece that just gets me smiling as it reminds me of those great orchestrated pieces you hear from John Williams or Bill Conti. It only lasts until 1.40, but it’s such a phenomenal change of pace and piece of work that just gets you.

“Travel Montage” uses the main theme as groundwork, but it feels new and interesting as it is played on a different pitch. The two guitars are struggling with the piano to make it the main piece of the song, but they complement each other so well. I also love the ambient undertone which it’s built upon. It sounds like a choir, but I’m not sure if it’s made electronically or not. Even though it’s not the main part of the score, I feel it is just as important and beautiful as the piano, strings or guitar which is used throughout. “Away From The Mess And Noise” is a simple cue in which strings and flutes are used. It’s short and sweet, and when it’s done, I just want to hear more of it, like it wasn’t completely finished, but knowing Chris, this is exactly how it should be. Time for reflection for the great Russian master as cue 6 is all about remembering Russia. It really plays with your emotions with its beautiful string sequences. This could be called “Reminds me of ……..” and you cut put anything in there in your life which you remember with sentimentality.

Truly Inspirational

“Follow Your Heart” is a theme of its own, which in this case uses string and piano to get the message across. It’s a short but beautiful piece. “Ready For Oils” is a more upbeat and faster paced version of the main theme. I like the fact that Chris is using a different pitch for all the main theme variations. It works surprisingly well and fools me sometimes by thinking that this is brand new stuff, which it is in a way, but the main theme is so great so why waste it? The master takes a break in “I am tired” which is the first time this score goes to a dark place. It’s using a darker ambient background tone and on top of it sits a beautiful piano theme and strings which plays on the heartstrings. “Today We Paint” is more uplifting and Chris decided to go with flutes this time and it’s a perfect choice for a cue which gets a little heroic as they paint once again. The heroic part is mainly strings and it reminds you of the classics, perhaps even those Academy Award montages. It’s truly a great piece which is highly inspirational and it should be in your inspirational track list whenever you need it.

The inspiration doesn’t stop at “Today We Paint” though as more inspirational stuff is thrown at us in the cue “Good Luck”. It is also a time to reflect as it feels sad and happy at the same time. Almost like saying goodbye, but we are not quite done yet. “The Art Of Life” is again a fast variation of the main theme which is just as uplifting and nice as “Ready For Oils”. It all ends with a theme that gets your thoughts going, not just about George’s story, but about your own life. How will it play out? “The Journey Shared” is the longest cue on this score and it’s a beautiful journey indeed which you are a part of whether you like it or not.

Conclusion

How do you sum this score up? I thought of many possible ways, but you simply have to listen to it yourself and watch the movie, and live your life. I guess that is the thing, this is the soundtrack of life, not everyone’s life, but it could be. I struggled hard to find my favourite cues on this as they all sound so beautiful, but “I Remember”, “Do They Still Look White” and “Today We Paint” are the ones I would choose, although I hate to leave out the rest like the wonderful “Reminds Me Of Russia”. Chris Boardman says this is his best work yet and if it is, it’s not a bad way to be remembered by. It’s a shame this score doesn’t get all the attention it should as it doesn’t get much better than this. Everyone can benefit from this beautiful music which is such a delight to listen to. It’s about the journey, about experiences, about finding your passion and love what you do. It’s about you, and while listening to this score I have gotten inspired and so will you. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and whatever music you normally listen to, this one has to get you some satisfaction. Listen to this score, buy it and spread the word. Don’t let it be lost between the Iron Man’s and the Dark Knight’s.

111008 0454 soundtrackr21 Soundtrack Review: Local Color (2006)