SCORE: The Movie Music Movie

SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY (Blu-ray)

2017 / 93 min

FROM GRAVITAS VENTURES

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Pepper the Poopy😺

Score could have simply been a documentary on the history of film music and still fascinate movie lovers. And indeed, its history is definitely explored, from live musical accompaniment during the silent era through noteworthy modern geniuses like Hans Zimmer and Trent Reznor. Even the bubblegum years of the 80s - with soundtracks assembled to sell as many records as movie tickets - are featured.

In between, dozens of historians, composers and directors discuss many of the groundbreaking creators of cinema’s most memorable music, including Max Steiner, Alfred Newman, Ennio Morricone, Bernard Hermann, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, Howard Shore and, of course, John Williams, whose work is given far more screen time than anyone else's, which I suppose makes sense (since he’s probably composed more iconic themes than anybody). Interestingly, the late James Horner is never mentioned, but more on that later.

But Score doesn’t stop at history. Dozens of interviews feature a who’s-who of modern composers, such as Zimmer, Reznor, Williams, Tyler Bates, David Arnold, Mark Mothersbaugh, John Debney, Harry Gregson-Williams, Quincy Jones, Danny Elfman, Trevor Rabin, Rachel Portman, etc. Some interviews are archival, others done for this film, but all are interesting, since many discuss what inspires them and their personal approach to scoring films. Zimmer is especially candid about his own occasional insecurities. 

When asked about The Buggles, Hans Zimmer declares the interview over.

Finally, we see some of these composers at work in the studio, either conducting scores for works in progress (at the time), overseeing things in the control room or editing tracks with computers. It’s really fascinating stuff, particularly vintage footage of John Williams working on the score Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (the only part of the movie that was any good). 

Score arguably shortchanges some legendary composers. There ain’t much related to music from international films, nor are synth-score pioneers like John Carpenter, Harold Faltermeyer or Tangerine Dream given any props. Then there’s James Horner. It’s only during the end credits that he’s even mentioned, when director James Cameron shares a charming anecdote during the making of Titanic. I know this memorandum meant to be a bittersweet coda, but Horner’s career extended way beyond Titanic (though he’s discussed more extensively in a bonus feature, again with Cameron). Other than that, Score is an affectionate and engaging look at the people who give movies their pulse.

EXTRA KIBBLES

ADDITIONAL INTERVIEW FOOTAGE - Six individual segments of additional footage with James Cameron, Harry Gregson-Williams, Hans Zimmer, J. Ralph and Tyler Bates. Cameron’s segment is the longest and this where where the late James Horner is discussed most.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Matt Schrader.