LUDOVIC BOURCE: THE ARTIST

The press release for the music is misleading.

When I read the press release I got the idea that I would hear some Prokofiev, Debussy, and Ravel. A reference to La Mer, Lt. Kije, Love for Three Oranges, or a Ravel orchestration would have enhanced the score. When I think of 19th century romantic composers I think of Brahms, Bruckner, Berlioz, Wagner, and others and I really didn't hear the symphony reference to any I mentioned. I enjoyed Estancia very much but this was really a work from the 40's and to my ear seemed out of place. However, I've not seen the film yet as it hasn't been offered for viewing in San Diego so maybe it does fit the picture. I can clearly hear Herrmann's For The Fallen in My Suicide, The Bride of Frankenstein in 1927 A Russian Affair even the monster motif. Pretty Poppy offered a nice bit of Gershwin and Peppy and George mimics Goodman's Sing Sing Sing. George Valentin is the melody I remember and I certainly couldn't call this "brilliant and catchy original music in the spirit of Chaplin, Steiner, and Waxman." The score was good but perhaps I was expecting too much from it.
Tom

Cool, I didn't knew this was performed by our Flanders Philharmonic.

Overall I was most pleased with both the material and the performance. I will look forward to seeing the movie.
tom

Incredible score for an excellent movie experience. Very touching passionate.

What retards.

PEARL HARBOR comes to mind, how can you throw that much money at a film and NOT have a decent script.

Hmmmm? You got me there Pawel, maybe you're right? Maybe they just told the actors to make it up as they went along.

Saw Team America World Police two weeks ago. The song Pearl Harbor sucked is funny.
I haven't seen Pearl Harbor. But I believe you.

I've read that too, funny that people still go to see a movie and know nothing about it

Reminds me of when I went to see Sweeney Todd. Never seen so many people leave the theatre as soon as the characters started to sing. Even the 'based upon the musical...' and 'songs adapted by' credits during the main titles didn't seem to give them a hint.

It seems to me incredibly narrow minded for people to ask a refund simply because there's no talking. It's a different way of telling a story, but that doesn't mean it can't entertain, be brilliant, funny, tragic, etc.!

From FSM On-Line

One such losing battle was the cue “My Suicide,” written to accompany the climax of the film in which George hits rock bottom. The final cut of the film was finished three weeks prior to the last recording date during the first week of April, as Bource was still trying to finish the cue. But “because the priority was to finish everything for Cannes [in May], Michel needed to present [the finished film] to the producers as soon as possible to reassure them of a project difficult to sell without music.” The climactic scene had been temped with Herrmann’s love theme from Vertigo for three months, “and every composer knows what that means,” says Bource. “Generally, you are condemned.” Vertigo remains in the final cut of the film, but Bource insists “Michel didn’t replace ‘My Suicide’ with Herrmann’s love theme. When the DVD comes out, you can put my music on that sequence.” Bource completed the cue on Hazanavicius’ birthday and dedicated it to him, “but we didn’t speak to each other during the last month. Why? Everything is in the title,” he adds, winking.

-Erik-

I thought the film was impressive in its form and pastiche, but the story was insanely boring. So my reaction was lukewarm. The score fell in the 'impressive pastiche' part, though, and deserves its Oscar nomination (and eventual win, I guess).

Here's my article on the film:

http://montages.no/2012/01/imponerende- … he-artist/

In case you hadn't heard, the guy won the Oscar for best score. Performed by the orchestra of the film festival in Ghent and the jazz orchestra of Brussel, and the piano performed by Jef Neve (from Jef Neve Trio) it does have a Belgian side to it as well. I'd have gone for Tintin myself.

This time the academy got it right but a word of caution from me. Do not pass final judgment on this score until you see the movie. Forget the acting and plot and just listen and watch. I'm very happy.
Tom