Burwell composed the score for Todd Haynes's new film, which premieres in a couple of days at Cannes.
I'm SUPER excited, because half the film is apparently totally silent, except for music, because the character in that subplot is deaf. Should give Burwell unparalleled leeway to craft something extraordinary.
Here's a scene that has been released to promote the premiere:
"yes, this is a New York Movie. It’s bound to very specific moments in the city’s past, and Ed Lachman’s sweltering, staggeringly evocative cinematography brings them all back to the present. This degree of verisimilitude hasn’t been seen since the ’70s themselves (several of the street scenes could be seamlessly edited into “The French Connection”), and the clarity helps restore a sense of awe to Manhattan, to the confluence of chance encounters and shared discoveries that give the city its history.
"Likewise, Carter Burwell’s score does the same for the city’s people, and the objects by which they’re remembered. The mammoth amount of music he’s written for this movie includes some of his best and most ambitious work to date, from the propulsive wind and piano pieces that flesh out the silent-era melodies to the psych drone that welcomes us back to New York, every note hints that the film is building toward an incredible sense of cohesion."
I saw the film a few months ago. It's gorgeous, and Burwell's score really has room to shine, because half of the film is from the perspective of a young girl in the 1920s who's deaf, and there is absolutely no dialogue or sound whatsoever in that storyline, just music.
To clarify, BOTH of the lead characters are deaf, but the young boy in the 1970s is newly deaf, so there's natural sound and spoken dialogue in his subplot, as he's able to talk with those around him, albeit with difficulty. The young girl in the 1920s has been deaf since birth, and is played by an amazing young deaf actress, so her half of the movie is done entirely without sound, except for music used to express her emotions. BOLD choice that works beautifully.
The cue as she first arrives in New York is particularly beautiful, can't wait for the CD.
There's a bit of Burwell's score in the first portion of this new trailer:
By the way, for anyone like me who was wondering what the amazing student version of "Space Oddity" was that's in the trailers and over the film's end credits, Burwell says he recommended it, it's this:
Directed by Todd Haynes. A film and score that seemed to generate limited interest towards the end of last year. Lovely score though. Here's the section of Carter's site that deals with the score. Lots of info + samples
I bought this on a whim, coz it was cheap, a few months back. Pleasantly surprised was I . I know nowt about the film. In fact I think I bought a few Burwell cd around the same time, coz they were all cheap.
Just heard the music for the first time. Wow! If the film is half as good as the music - which I will now seek out - I'm still in for a treat.
The film is an interesting attempt at something offbeat; it's worth watching, but it's a slender idea that would have worked better at a one hour length than at its present two hours. A good deal of time is filled with showing off the sets that recreate the two different timelines rather than getting onr immersed in the world of the story.
Just heard the music for the first time. Wow! If the film is half as good as the music - which I will now seek out - I'm still in for a treat.
The film is an interesting attempt at something offbeat; it's worth watching, but it's a slender idea that would have worked better at a one hour length than at its present two hours. A good deal of time is filled with showing off the sets that recreate the two different timelines rather than getting onr immersed in the world of the story.
Could not disagree more. For me, it was the best film of its year. Wonderfully directed and acted.
Just heard the music for the first time. Wow! If the film is half as good as the music - which I will now seek out - I'm still in for a treat.
The film is an interesting attempt at something offbeat; it's worth watching, but it's a slender idea that would have worked better at a one hour length than at its present two hours. A good deal of time is filled with showing off the sets that recreate the two different timelines rather than getting onr immersed in the world of the story.
Could not disagree more. For me, it was the best film of its year. Wonderfully directed and acted.
Agree with BK. Loved the film and especially the score. Wish it made more of an impact out there.
