Under the Tuscan sun
Score soundtrack released by Varese Sarabande, 302 066 513 2
on 2003.09.30
Shown at the Sundance Film Festival
Film not yet viewed by Bluntinstrument, so comment cannot be
made on the effectiveness of the score in its home medium
BRIEF REVIEW
Thom Fitzgerald's Sundance Film Festival pleaser about an investigation into the suspicious suicide of AIDS victim Matt Shapiro (Don McKellar) is the second film in which his composer is Chris Beck. Wolf Girl (aka. Blood Moon) had been released two years previous, and again Beck's score is worked round other music - in the earlier film it was curious freak show songs, and in this it is a mix of pop songs. In both cases there appears to be good reason (although bluntinstrument has yet to see The Event and is working on reviews and description only), but equally CB has risen to the challenge of 'filling the gaps' with strikingly atmospheric music. In the woeful three tracks on the commercial album we are treated to drastic contrast, from the short and cheap, ever-building camp(?) outrageous 'F**k you very much' (track 4) to the genuinely moving 'Mother' (track 9), which certainly tops his music for the final minutes of Buffy's 5th season ('The gift' 5.22) by building rich yet muted sound over endless melodic phrasing. Even with the effectiveness of strings here, Beck is careful to weave his magic with customary piano. Then with 'I promise you' (track 16) delivering a cello-led elegy (piano and strings take subordinate roles) that explores the instrument's natural soulful tone colour, sounding warm with other strings but somehow empty when unaccompanied. 7'59" of score is not generally worth the price of a CD, but in this case the songs included are an interesting and intelligent collection which may appeal for their emotional range.
THE SOUNDTRACK
Track listing
01. Spirit in the sky (Norman Greenbaum)
02. Star (piano version) (Randy Coleman and Nick Sample)
03. I fell in love with a dead boy (Antony and the Johnsons)
04. F**k you very much (Christopher
Beck, 1'19") [clip: excerpt of 281Kb]
05. And when I die (Shyne Factory)
06. Heaven to me (Rick Kurek)
07. My funny valentine (Chet Baker)
08. Goodbye (Nick Nolan)
09. Mother (Christophe Beck, 4'12")
[clip: excerpt of 662Kb]
10. Down to heaven (Jeremiah Sparks)
11. What was I waiting for (Ian Janes)
12. Bottom dollar baby (Nathan Wiley)
13. Bring me down (Shyne Factory)
14. Sunny days (Lighthouse)
15. Your next bold move (Ani DiFranco)
16. Final goodbye (Christophe Beck, 2'28")
17. I promise you (Judith Owen)
Total Beck track timing: 7'59"
Total disc timing: 67'59"
Christophe Beck's music is performed by the composer and published by Joseph Bongwater Publishing (SESAC)