multisonic » Film

the music of “up”

Mike — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:54:00 +0000

As you might have heard, UP is a real tearjearker of a movie (animated or otherwise). It’s beautifully animated and the storytelling – especially the first ten minutes or so – is exquisite. What really holds it all together is the score by Michael Giacchino. His music has all of the emotion and personality of another character, with some similarities in style to John Williams or James Horner in the use of a recurring main theme and true, period sound. It is totally unfair to Giacchino to compare him to those two, or any other, composer(s) because the work stands on its own.

Take a listen to the two tracks below. The first, “married life”, is a short sequence through which we follow a couple from courtship through their later years – my favorite. The other, “up with end credits”, is a medley of the various themes in the film.

Married Life:

Up with End Credits:

This soundtrack marks a departure for Disney that others are likely to follow – it did not have a physical cd release, only a digital release online. I’m totally behind this idea if it means we’ll get albums released that might have otherwise gotten shelved. I do hope that they’ll make some gains in the audio quality of the digital downloads so that we’ll be able to maintain that pure, uncompressed sound that a cd (often) offers. Otherwise, bring it on.

united 93 [4 outta 4]

Mike — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 21:35:59 +0000

united 93 is a rare film, one that needs no explanation or introduction. we know how it starts. we know how it ends. we’ve know, more or less, the broad facts of the plot.

what i didn’t expect, or really just comprehend, was my inability to disconnect. the film plays out like any airborne thriller, yet there is always the subtle reminder that this really happened. i flew less than two weeks ago and the first half of the film was chilling to watch simply because it was so normal. sitting in the terminal. talking on the phone. moving in and around the plane.

the other unexpected side of this film was how innately cinematic it was. yet, by a current blockbuster’s standards, it felt – for a moment or two – lacking in fantastic action. yet the simplicity and matter-of-fact, non-sensationalized approach to the storytelling is what made it so powerful. there were no unnecessary, tear drenched closeups or “what will they do next” underscoring. it presented the sequence of events very directly.

i had the gut feeling a number of times to get up and stop the dvd, when it got hard to watch. the only other film i’ve ever watched that caused me to feel this way was schindler’s list back when i was 14. regardless, i believe that this film needed to be made because it does put a face on the events of 9/11 that no documentary or replay of the twin towers video footage can replicate.

elizabethtown [2 outta 4]

Mike — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 04:07:36 +0000

i’ve been a sucker for “independent” films lately. well, let me clarify. i’m not running to the tv, watching IFC and the sundance channel, but i tend to go to the fox searchlight and focus features movies. psudeo-mainstream. the only good movies that are making into movie theaters. you know what i mean. amazingly, most of the time you can tell just from the ads or disc packaging if its one of these flicks.

elizabethtown seems desperate to be one of these films. from almost famous director cameron crowe, it’s got that indie/classic rock soundtrack. with the wide-angle, scenic landscape photography. and the fun loving, troubled-yet-persistantly-lovable main actress. call it garden state (but so watered down you might find nemo inside). it had a very cat and mouse feel to it. she likes him, but he’s confused, then she won’t give in to him, so he leaves – bewildered and alone. then just when you think it’s over (spoiler alert), she leaves a note in his gift (see below) which reunites their burning passion and they live happily ever after.

regardless, i love kirsten dunst. she’s no reese, who i will marry…no matter what her husband says. i have a bunch of idealistic, romantic dreams that are revived when i watch movies like this. one is dancing with the girl of my dreams to a miles davis record in my living room. another is being given a gift like claire gives drew at the end of this movie. a personalized road trip book, detailed from the maps, brochures, and drawings down to the find-me-at-the-farmers-market scavenger hunt at the end.

and there you have it. its never good when the saving grace of a mediocre movie is a binder filled with maps.

scoop. [3 outta 4]

Mike — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:02:22 +0000

i took in my first woody allen movie tonight, scoop, up by lincoln center. i really had no expectations. i’ve somehow gone my whole life without ever seeing a woody allen flick and really enjoyed myself. i’ve been poking around some of the reviews since i’ve gotten home and it seems that some of it was recycled. didn’t bother me as a first timer. but now i really want to go and see his acclaimed movies.

hugh jackman and scarlett johansson were fine. what really stole the movie was woody allen being…well…woody allen. he played a magician named splendini who loved to toss around compliments like money at a political fundraiser. “you’re such beautiful, beautiful people. a wonderful group. i love you, i mean that from the bottom of my heart, i do. you’re a credit to your race.” the fact that this just kept flowing made it funny. some of the other performances, especially johansson’s, seemed a little stiff in comparison. otherwise, had a lot of fun.

having such a good time at movies like this and little miss sunshine last week, i really don’t find alot of desire to go to the big budget, big studio movies anymore. the trailers before both of these were really interesting [they were all fox searchlight] and now i’m aching to see those as well. its nice when something is done well rather than just having a name or alot of cash behind it.

little miss sunshine. [3.5 outta 4]

Mike — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:11:43 +0000

i needed a good laugh last week and found it in little miss sunshine. i didn’t really know what to expect, and don’t really know how to describe it. the movie is at times heart wrenching and then laugh-out-loud funny. the back and forth between the two makes it both original and completely moving.

more importantly, if you’ve ever wondered if a VW bus can run without a working clutch, all your questions will be answered at little miss sunshine.