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Posted: |
Jan 16, 2015 - 5:27 PM
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By: |
joan hue
(Member)
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Have you ever watched a movie that turns out to have a memorable score and NOT noticed the score until a second or third viewing? (Or until people here at FSM rave about a score that didn’t register on your radar upon your first viewing the film.)
If I were to list my 10 most beloved and favorite scores, I’d have to admit that I never noticed the music in two of those 10 movies until a second viewing. Most of the time, I do notice film scores, so why do some scores NOT register with me or us the first time around? I would say one reason is that at times viewers are too engaged or enrapt in the movie, and while the score may register on a subliminal level, it is the narrative and acting that impresses us on a conscious level.
One of my favorite scores is Horner’s LEGENDS OF THE FALL. Maybe I was too wrapped up this sudsy soap opera and Brad Pitt’s Thor-like good looks to hear one of the most gorgeous scores ever composed. Then I saw the movie again and immediately ordered the score. My most egregious miss was Barry’s DANCES WITH WOLVES. When that movie was released in 1990, movies over 3 hours were rather rare, but many people said the movie was so very good, audience members didn’t notice time. I guess I was one of those people. Then I saw it a second time, and Barry’s score ended up bringing me countless hours of sublime listening.
I love to be totally engaged in a movie, but I get ticked at myself for not noticing a memorable score. Has this ever happened to you? What is your theory?
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Posted: |
Jan 16, 2015 - 6:20 PM
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By: |
Ny
(Member)
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I watched A Prayer for the Dying about six months ago, liked it a lot, especially Mickey Rourke, his accent is pretty damn good, but when the score was released about a month or so later i couldn't remember anything about it, then i heard the samples and now it's one of my top five releases of the year. I'm always on the lookout for new stuff too, I don't know why I wasn't searching for a release right after i watched the movie.
Maybe because Bill Conti never did much for me before, and when I saw his name on the credits I didn't give it as much attention as I would some other composers, but still, it's not much of an excuse.
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Posted: |
Jan 17, 2015 - 3:04 AM
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By: |
DeputyRiley
(Member)
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In my distant past I may have not noticed memorable music, but my love for film scores has become so ingrained in my life and film-watching behavior (whether for the first time or hundredth time) that appreciating, noticing, or even examining a score while watching a movie is like second nature to me, and I'm usually simultaneously able to focus on the film itself. Paying close attention to the score while watching its picture is kind of effortless for me. From something like The Hunger Games even down to Marty Davich's score for every episode of ER, I zero in on it, I target it because I so enjoy listening to TV and film music. Usually if I know I like the music or the composer I'm more likely to pinpoint it.
In many cases I watch the movie primarily because of the score (like a lot of second-rate pictures Marco Beltrami has worked on) or if it's a special score I'll make sure to listen to it before I see the movie for the first time to make sure I will pay attention to the picture and not just the first time score listen!
I guess there have been times when I've been so caught up in the film (performances, storyline) that the music sort of fades way into the back. Can't think of an example right now. I think it's quite possible that if I've never heard of a composer and I'm watching the film/show that he's worked on, I'm less likely to zero in on the music. I still will, to some degree, but if it's someone I've never heard of, I sort of let the music come to me if it will or if it's meant to, if that makes sense, rather than me focusing in on it intently and purposefully seeking out its virtues or shortcomings.
On a side note (although I think my entire post is a side note) it's exceedingly rare for me to be annoyed or put-off by a film/tv score that I'm hearing while listening to it for the first time during a film/show. While I struggle to think of music I didn't notice, I also struggle to think of music that I really didn't like in a film. That's also because I generally don't actively dislike/hate or have negative feelings for separate from picture, on CD for example. I rarely say "wow, this music is terrible" or "this music is garbage" and in lieu of that will acknowledge that it's just not to my taste or interest. I'm grateful for that lack of negativity when evaluating film/tv scores, negativity that is effin' rampant on these message boards. I prefer to just set aside music I don't care for and move on without assigning it negative labels and adjectives.
I have no idea if I've addressed your question, Joan! I'm not sure that I have, but it has led me down the path of adjunct theories and perspectives I felt like sharing, which may (or may not) be of interest in this thread. I know you asked when we didn't notice "memorable" music and I sort of broadened my answer to include memorable or unmemorable music, score in general. I think yours is an interesting topic and am very curious to read others' responses.
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I can't think of an example where I didn't notice memorable music the first time around. In my case, it may be because my first favorite film was Mary Poppins. Though I was only 4, I knew right away the importance of the music in the movie, both the songs and the score. From there I recall paying attention to James Bond scores (another big focus as a kid, being that he was the only other SEAN I knew!), and Planet of the Apes, where I first started noticing composer names (maybe one reason why Goldsmith is still my favorite).
Also, my family had some musical background. I first started playing the violin at five, and was mighty impressed by a live performance of the Nutcracker at the same age. So music and its connection to storytelling was always part of my pov. I wonder if there is a correlation between musical background and attention to the score in a movie?
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Posted: |
Jan 17, 2015 - 10:55 AM
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By: |
joan hue
(Member)
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Interesting replies. Sounds like some of you always can simultaneously watch a movie and hear the score and some have missed a few scores. Because I've been collecting scores since I was a teen, MOST of time I can watch and hear. However, as I posted, I've missed a few greats.
It seems like rather arbitrary "missings." MM noted Dances With Wolves, one of my favorites, and I missed it the first time. However, he didn't note Kamen's Open Range, and I did notice that score and bought it immediately.
Like some of you, I too have gone to certain movies just to hear the scores, so I am tuned in to those. I dragged my husband to The 13th Warrior just to hear a Goldsmith score.
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I guess "memorable music" is highly subjective.
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HORROR
