Ep. 75 - Thomas Newman's 'American Beauty'
Score Cue Snapshots!
•
Drama, Music, 23-Jun-2021
There is no question that "American Beauty" shifted the way storytelling in mainstream Hollywood was told. The film itself was a game-changer, and with that came the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated score by Thomas Newman. Many consider this score to be one of the top scores of his career. Newman utilized percussion instruments to create the mood and rhythm of the emotional arcs of each character, and the blocking in each scene.
This scene in particular is a perfect example of Newman's incredible attenuation to complex emotion, exhibited by percussion combined with a simple piano motif. As Annette Benning's character Carolyn tries to sell a decrepit house, one can feel the stress set in as the walls begin to metaphorically crack around her. If you haven't experienced this film, you should do so. It was the beginning of a fruitful and incredible creative relationship between director Sam Mendes and Thomas Newman in the many years (and films) to come.
Listen to the score: https://open.spotify.com/album/11y3Dzg44npGsTWKtmuzTW?si=WW21TilkQcSkXcrbia0bWQ&dl_branch=1
Where to watch: https://letterboxd.com/film/american-beauty/
--
Every Monday and Wednesday, SCORE CUE SNAPSHOTS brings you iconic scenes married to the corresponding score cue without dialogue and SFX, thus allowing anyone to appreciate how the score works with what you see unfold on-screen.
Up Next in Score Cue Snapshots!
-
Ep. 74 - Thomas Newman's 'Six Feet Un...
What can you say about a show that is considered to be one of the greatest television series of all time? Created by Alan Ball (American Beauty), the opening titles of this series are quite something to experience. Not only is the editing and aesthetic spot-on, but the music by Thomas Newman capt...
-
Ep. 73 - Jerry Goldsmith's 'The Mummy'
With another spectacular cue by Jerry Goldsmith this week, we are featuring "Imhotep" from the 1999 film, "The Mummy". This cue is one of our favorites and highlights such a dynamic sequence ranging from adventure, tenderness, and tragic loss. There is also very extensive brass and percussion ele...
-
Ep. 72 - Jerry Goldsmith's 'The Burbs'
What can you say about the movie, except that it is brilliant? This is not only one of our favorite films, but also one of our favorite score by the legendary Jerry Goldsmith. What's super fun about this cue is that it features the theme from "Patton"! Can you spot it?
Where to watch: https://le...
