Just curious. How many have had the experience of hearing a certain composer was scoring a much anticipated film and being disappointed at the choice? Then find you were pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
One example for me was Howard Shore for The Lord of the Rings. Don't get me wrong. At the time I knew he was a good composer, but I was hesitant that he could deliver the epic dynamic score I knew those films would require. I was wonderfully surprised.
Someone else I know was disappointed that Jerry Goldsmith would score Star Trek- the Motion Picture.
I think the problem is that people stereo type composers too much. If score A & B sounds similar then we assume score C will (by law) be similar. But the truth is if a composer is inspired to or given proper direction he could in fact make a Z score which is comletly outside the familiar.
On a continuing Howard Shore theme, when I heard he was replaced with James Newton Howard for Peter Jackson's 2005 KING KONG, I was pretty bummed. The score turned out to be a top contender for my favorite score of the 2000's. It works so well in the film, both action and more lyrical sections, and on disc it's such a fantastic listening experience. This one really made a believer out of me.
billiosis, I too was uncomfortable when I heard Shore would score LOTR. I forgot some of his melodic scores and kept thinking about his scores for films like The Silence Of The Lambs. I was wrong, and he composed epic scores for the trilogy.
While I did like Zimmer's power anthems, so I couldn't see how he could score a period piece like A League Of Their Own. Again, I was wrong and delightfully surprised by his rollicking score.
Like Projectionist stated, we should not stereotype composers. Who know what will inspire them or what directions they will be given. If they are truly versatile, they should be able to score any genre. I think two of Elmer Bernstein's best scores are To Kill A Mockingbird and The Magnificent Seven. Those are very different movies with very different scores. You never know.
Just curious. How many have had the experience of hearing a certain composer was scoring a much anticipated film and being disappointed at the choice? Then find you were pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
One example for me was Howard Shore for The Lord of the Rings. Don't get me wrong. At the time I knew he was a good composer, but I was hesitant that he could deliver the epic dynamic score I knew those films would require. I was wonderfully surprised.
Someone else I know was disappointed that Jerry Goldsmith would score Star Trek- the Motion Picture.
What other examples do you know of?
I remember being somewhat disappointed back in 1977 when a composer named John Williams, famous for 'Jaws' and 'Towering Inferno' at the time, was doing something called 'Star Wars.'
The most pleasant surprise was Poledouris' Conan the Barbarian (I knew he was talented, but Blue Lagoon was a completely different kind of picture), but the three most unexpected (but ultimately delightful) composer castings for me were Addison's Strange Invaders, Mancini's Lifeforce, and Barry's Howard the Duck.
I think the problem is that people stereo type composers too much. If score A & B sounds similar then we assume score C will (by law) be similar. But the truth is if a composer is inspired to or given proper direction he could in fact make a Z score which is comletly outside the familiar.
I completely agree. Stereo type of composers does happen. There was a time when Elmer Bernstein was only good for westerns. In the 80s he was only good for comedies.
One I can think of right now is Rachel Portman. Apparently she can only do romcoms and costume dramas. But perhaps this is by her own choice I don't know.
I was surprised when Christopher Young could do a none horror movie.
Shore and LOTR was the first that sprang to my mind too.
In most cases, however, I'm actually excited when they cast unusual composers to certain projects. I like to be surprised at composers' chops beyond my own prejudices. For example, I'm disappointed that Mychael Danna never did the HULK movie.
This is slightly different from the question the OP posed, but I remember being pleasantly surprised at the time when I heard that Dickie Attenborough had asked JB to score his 'Chaplin' film. I had assumed George Fenton would be doing it. Naturally I was pleased with the result.
Going back a bit, I was disappointed that Michel Legrand got the ICE STATION ZEBRA assignment but was much surprised at how effective his score turned out top be. It's now one of my favorites.
