My journey to watch this film lasted nearly as long as the one for the main two protagonists. I would have preferred to see it in a cinema, but it didn't play in any near me at the time. I bought it on DVD (admittedly in a charity shop for 50p) some time ago, but never got around to watching it. Then, I recorded the recent showing off the BBC and finally watched it today. It goes straight to the top of my Most Depressing & Bleakest Films Ever chart. It really is relentlessly grim and hopeless. It's a very handsome looking film, with stark but beautifully chilly photography. The atmosphere and bleak frontier life is evoked brilliantly. And Swank is outstanding as the heartbreakingly (pitiful) lonely woman, taking on the mission herself, when all others refuse. TLJ is TLJ...but very good nonetheless. The music is good, albeit what one expects from a western made these days. So that's spare, acoustic folk-like hymnal. The main theme is very pretty. I'm glad I read Franz and Joan's comments after I watched the film but they're spot on and I couldn't agree more with them (especially the last 15 minutes and the star actor roll call). It paints a very bleak picture of the human condition overall (and its ability to change).
It's been a long time since I was jazzed by anything from Beltrami. I've actually given up on him now. I don't think he's ever gonna go beyond the functional/hum drum in this day and age. He's still incapable of writing a theme that will stick in my mind or live beyond the film. But this is one of his better ones. 10 years ago now.
Yup, this is the most recent Beltrami in my collection too (not counting the Ghent CD). Great score, but disconcerting that I haven't found anything in the last 10 years to warrant addition to my collection.
It's been a long time since I was jazzed by anything from Beltrami. I've actually given up on him now. I don't think he's ever gonna go beyond the functional/hum drum in this day and age. He's still incapable of writing a theme that will stick in my mind or live beyond the film. But this is one of his better ones. 10 years ago now.
From '96 till the early '10 Beltrami was one of my favorite composers around. Not sure what happened after that but his music rarely interest me anymore. Every now and then there's a short splash of that old sound (Fear Street, The Nun II) but even than it's not as good as it used to be. A shame, cause for awhile Beltrami was one of the exciting and original composers working in Hollywood.
Yeah. When he delivered Soul Surfer and Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark* in relatively quick succession, I was really excited about what the future might hold. Sadly, not that much. I think Love And Monsters is the last CD I bought that I enjoy in parts.
A great score from Beltrami. I too am wildly underwhelmed with his work over the past decade. I don't know if it is the projects he is getting or his own quality dropping but its disconcerting. Beltrami had long been a favorite. And lately, you'd think a mostly silent film from Honk Kong legend John Woo would inspire him but Silent Night was just a dud! How does Max Payne have a more evocative score? I haven't seen Silent Night but I assumed music would/should be a centerpiece. I listened to the album and you could fool me. Who to blame? Seems like a studio hack job from people who can achieve better.
but they're spot on and I couldn't agree more with them (especially the last 15 minutes and the star actor roll call).
