Soundtrack Review: Amelia (2009)
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Movie Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the motion picture score Amelia by Gabriel Yared.
“There’s opportunities missed here, big ones”
Amelia is the story of the courageous woman who attempted to fly around the world, but sadly and strangely, disappeared over the pacific ocean. Directed by Mira Nair and starring Hilary Swank, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor, it looks like a nice movie to watch. The composer for this project is Gabriel Yared who has never worked with director Mira Nair before (to my knowledge). Mira usually like to use Mychael Danna for her projects. Yared is a very capable composer and some would have you believe Amelia to be the score of the year.
Track List
01. Introducing Amelia (****)
02. Flight To Wales (***)
03. Amelia And George (****)
04. No Longer A Passenger (***)
05. Flying With Eleanor Roosevelt (***)
06. Amelia And Gene (***)
07. The Ecstasy Of Flying (****)
08. Vagabond Of The Air (****)
09. Hawaii Crash (***)
10. The Call Of The Wild (****)
11. Radio Love Call (***)
12. Final Flight (****)
13. Amelia (****)
Classic Sound
It’s nice to listen to scores like this since there seem to be a lot of noisy scores around, predominantly action and Remote Control Productions-type of music. This is of the classic type, and if it hadn’t been for the sound quality, you would almost believe it to be something of a different era. Yared is known for working in a much more classical vein, a composer who completely eschews electronica. That’s his choice and it might not get him the big projects, but we really need composers like him, if for nothing else but a counterweight to the general scoring practices going on these days.
Now I’m not sure I would call it the score of the year, in fact, I know I wouldn’t call it that. There’s a few facts that stop me from going that far. One is that there seems to be too much generic music here, music that doesn’t say anything and fails to give me goosebumps or any other bumps for that matter. Yared is almost there with cues like ‘Introducing Amelia’, but not quite. Something’s missing and I’m not entirely sure what it is. I listen to it and it’s nice, but I don’t want nice, I want spectacular. If Yared is going with the classical style, then at least he should push the envelope a little, make it count and remind us all, moving into the next decade, why more classical stylings should be embraced across the board by the many composers working today.
Minimalistic
I would call this a minimalistic score, without going into too much depth. It’s like we’re flying on puffy clouds which is a nice image, but too much fluff, especially as we’re talking about a daring aviator here. Amelia Earhart is famous and a heroine to many. Wouldn’t it be fitting for some more heroic music? If I was the director of this, I would let Yared loose, because I know he can swing with the best of them for dramatic movie scoring. That’s the main problem with this score. It feels like a romantic movie like The Notebook, and the music by Aaron Zigman is just perfect for that. This feels a bit underwhelming for someone like Amelie Earhart to be perfectly honest.
I’ve let go of that fact that this is a heroic character and just listen to the music as a whole without such contextual expectations. It’s nice, really nice at times, like a relaxing CD you listen to when at a spa. If it’s relaxing you want, then this score will be one of the most vaporous, heavenly and relaxing scores you will hear all year. It’ll certainly do exactly what it needs to with some listeners and if believe the whispering on the forums, then this will be a sure winner at the award shows next year. I can see that, and it’ll be interesting to see if the film’s nosedive flop in America has really ruined its chances. It certainly is a typical academy award winning score by all counts.
Conclusion
Amelia is not what you expect it to be, or is it just me? There’s opportunities missed here, big ones. I’m, not asking for a big flashy heroic theme or anything, just a couple of highlights that have me feel as though I’m soaring for the skies. Inspiration was what I was looking for, but instead I found relaxation. A nice score no doubt, but I would really love something more than just nice.
What did you think of Amelia? Let us know in the comments section below.
Listen to Amelia by Gabriel Yared below:
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Soundtrack Seek
I understand what you mean about the missed opportunities here, Jorn. But I blame that on the director. I haven’t seen the film but from all accounts the nosedive you talk about is pretty accurate and deserved.
I disagree about heroic music though. Amelia wasn’t necessarily a hero, though she certainly had notoriety during her time. She’s been turned into that as a result of history. What I think Yared captured was the drama of the story and Amelia’s joy in flying. I think to have heroic music would have skewed the film and the character too much.
Do I think the nosedive has hurt its chances at winning? Most definitely (if it even stood a chance to begin with). It may even cost the score an Oscar nomination. But I hope not. We’ll see on Feb. 2.
Jim Lochner´s last blog ..CD Review: Revolution
Reply
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I see your point. The director could well have ruined it, but it is what it is. The music is worse because of the choices that was made.
Its all about perception isnt it? I see her as an extraordinary person, a hero, and you does not, hence the score feels different to you.
I do think the chances of this getting an award is hampered by the failure of the movie itself. That being said, Amelia as an isolated soundtrack does not get an award from me this year, perhaps in the disappointment column after reading all the good reviews on forums.
Reply
Jim Lochner Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
All valid points. And I certainly understand disappointments. I’ve had a few of those among this year’s batch of soundtracks myself. The good thing is that you do what so many people do not. You give the score a listen and judge it for yourself. Here’s hoping for fewer disappointments in 2010.
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