Soundtrack Review: Water For Elephants (2011)
| Reviewer: JØrn Tillnes |
Water For Elephants Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the film score Water For Elephants by James Newton Howard.
"The main theme is absolutely infectious and gorgeous"
Water For Elephants is based on the novel by Sare Gruen and stars Robert Pattinson as a veterinary student who abandons his studies after his parents are killed. He jumps into a passing train and finds a travelling circus where he joins a world of freaks, drifters and misfits. The movie is set during the Great Depression so as you can imagine the circus is not doing so well. The movie is directed by Francis Lawrence and the composer is James Newton Howard.
Track List
| 1. Did I Miss It? | ***** |
| 2. The Circus Sets Up | ***** |
| 3. Circus Fantasy | ***** |
| 4. Jacob Sees Mariena | *** |
| 6. Prosze, Rosie, Dac Noge | **** |
| 7. Rosie | ***** |
| 8. Speakeasy Kiss | ***** |
| 9. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) | *** |
| 10. Barabra's Tent | *** |
| 11. Jacob Returns | *** |
| 12. Don't Tell Him What Happened to me | *** |
| 13. Shooting Star | **** |
| 14. The Job is Yours | ***** |
| 17. I Can See Straight Through You | *** |
| 18. Sanctuary | **** |
| 19. Baptism - Jacob & Rosie | *** |
| 20. The Stampede - I'm Coming Home | *** |
There's been a fair amount of hype for this one, particularly after the trailer came out and then the samples from the score by James Newton Howard. Hype isn't always good though as samples can deceive.
Some has said it reminds you a bit of Alexandre Desplat's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and after listening to the main theme presented in 'Did I Miss It?' I can see that. However I think the main theme in Water for Elephants is much more beautiful. I think I am in love with it actually. Can't stop humming it, whistling it, get it out of my head. It's like rain falling down of a tree the way it is made. It's very minimalistic and subtle but it feels magic and gorgeous.
Three PartsThis score is divided into two parts or maybe even three. There's the main theme and it's cues like 'Did I Miss It?' or 'Circus Fantasy'. Then there's the music of that time period like the cues 'I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) and 'Barabra's Tent'. Finally there's ambient tracks like 'Jacob Returns' and 'I Can See Straight Through You' that doesn't seem to go anywhere.
It's no surprise that I love the main theme and the cues that actually goes with it and excites me. 'The Circus Sets Up' is a great cue that sets itself apart by using a guitar and also feels a bit more hectic than the rest. The best cue for me is 'Circus Fantasy' that has such an uplifting old fashioned feeling about it and it's oh so beautiful. The main theme of course gets an airing and it has a small buildup as well. Great stuff from James.
While I appreciate the 20s/30s period music in the film, the effort is lost on me due to my personal taste. I am not a big fan of the era, but I don't hate it either. As for the generic, almost ambient tracks like 'Jacob Returns' I feel it could have been expanded into something better.
Conclusion
The main theme is absolutely infectious and gorgeous. It will stay with me for a very long time. The buildup of that theme is fantastic and I applaud James for such an effort. I don't like the 20s/30s period music, nor the ambient stuff, so it's a score with many positives and negatives. Overall, the fantastic main theme and the many cues utilizing it that seals it for me. It could have been a lot better, but for now I enjoy the music and await James next projects.
CUE RATING: 80
->Buy the MP3 Album on Amazon<-
Listen to the Water For Elephants soundtrack by James Newton Howard below:
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