Ep. 78 - John Williams' 'The Patriot'
Score Cue Snapshots!
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Action, Drama, History, Music, 05-Jul-2021
For today's Score Cue Snapshot, we bring to you another incredible John Williams score, one of which was nominated for an Academy Award. This scene in particular is can be tough to watch, but Williams does something incredible in the final showdown between the Captain Benjamin Martin (Gibson) and the brutal British Colonel William Tavington (Isaacs).
The beginning of the cue is an accumulation of tension (and slow motion), however the beats of each musical moment hover over each other, and blend so well. Note the solo trumpet as Martin looks at the bullet he made out of his son's melted solder toys, with a subsequent hand-to-hand battle using an ax that represents a dark and vicious past. But it is right when you think there can only be a tragic end that Williams brings you out of it with swelling strings and brass - a perfect intervention of emotion that is part tragic, mournful, but gives you hope.
The power of John Williams and his music cannot be understated, and we felt it appropriate for today's Snapshot, especially after the 4th of July holiday. Enjoy!
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Where to watch: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-patriot-2000/
Listen to the score: https://open.spotify.com/track/7xNEqlq0BsFK0udSxh4BCW?si=c2fb7d54c8984ca5
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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.
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