Erin Brokovich
Thomas Newman
" That is my WORK, my SWEAT, and MY TIME AWAY FROM MY KIDS! IF THAT IS NOT PERSONAL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Erin Brokovich was one of the blockbuster releases of 2000, receiving acclaim from critics and audiences around the world. It was also a champion at the box office and a favorite at the Oscars and Golden Globes (delivering Julia Roberts numerous wins in the category best actress). No prices for director Steve Soderbergh though, and neither for composer Thomas Newman (American Beauty was nominated instead). Today I guess it would probably receive a nomination or win considering it appeared in one of the movies of the year, but back then they were still favoring actual music instead of effectiveness. Because Erin Brokovich may be typical Thomas Newman material, it also has one negative aspect. Very little of it will be remembered as an actual melody / theme.
Erin Brokovich works as a background affair, inside the film but also on disc. Because the quirky ideas might work in context, it doesn't captivate on CD. The familiar use of piano, strings and guitars are assisted by the more quirky instruments (tongue drum, whacker tubes, phonograph, boogle), offering the movie a quirky experience that's hardly memorable, but effective nonetheless. And the problem is that this style is still heard today. No actual melodies and definitely no themes, but effective ideas that function as background material to its source. Because music is not important here, and it doesn't elevate the movie, it's only there to support.
So Erin Brokovich became a forgotten entry in 2000, all the while American Beauty went walking away with all the pride and honors. And even though there's a resemblance in style, American Beauty thankfully doesn't forget to state some kind of emotion and melody. Here the piano and string moments are definitely the most noticeable, offering recollections of better efforts like The Green Mile and occasionally Meet Joe Black. But all the rest, all that supportive mood and quirkiness (check out "Xerox Copy" and "Hinkley Reverse Mix") is there for one reason only. To support the imagery, not the soundtrack. For that it's lacking a whole lot of goodies and necessities that qualify as actual magical filmmusic.
Track Listing
1. Useless (1.13)
2. Xerox (0.45)
3. Pro Bono (1.10)
4. Classifieds (1.29)
5. Annabelle (0.46)
6. On the Plume (1.21)
7. Chicken Fat Lady (1.00)
8. Lymphocytes (0.55)
9. Miss Wichita (2.10)
10. Two Wrong Feet (1.27)
11. What About You (1.09)
12. Redemption Day: Sheryl Crow (4.28)
13. Chromium 6 (0.44)
14. Malign (2.40)
15. Holding Ponds (1.21)
16. No Colon (1.18)
17. Occasional Tombstones (1.07)
18. Xerox Copy (0.46)
19. Technically a Woman (0.48)
20. Water Board (1.07)
21. 333 Million (1.18)
22. Hinkley Reverse Mix (1.23)
23. Everyday is a Winding Road: Sheryl Crow (4.32)
Total Length: 35.08
Erin Brokovich works as a background affair, inside the film but also on disc. Because the quirky ideas might work in context, it doesn't captivate on CD. The familiar use of piano, strings and guitars are assisted by the more quirky instruments (tongue drum, whacker tubes, phonograph, boogle), offering the movie a quirky experience that's hardly memorable, but effective nonetheless. And the problem is that this style is still heard today. No actual melodies and definitely no themes, but effective ideas that function as background material to its source. Because music is not important here, and it doesn't elevate the movie, it's only there to support.
So Erin Brokovich became a forgotten entry in 2000, all the while American Beauty went walking away with all the pride and honors. And even though there's a resemblance in style, American Beauty thankfully doesn't forget to state some kind of emotion and melody. Here the piano and string moments are definitely the most noticeable, offering recollections of better efforts like The Green Mile and occasionally Meet Joe Black. But all the rest, all that supportive mood and quirkiness (check out "Xerox Copy" and "Hinkley Reverse Mix") is there for one reason only. To support the imagery, not the soundtrack. For that it's lacking a whole lot of goodies and necessities that qualify as actual magical filmmusic.
Track Listing
1. Useless (1.13)
2. Xerox (0.45)
3. Pro Bono (1.10)
4. Classifieds (1.29)
5. Annabelle (0.46)
6. On the Plume (1.21)
7. Chicken Fat Lady (1.00)
8. Lymphocytes (0.55)
9. Miss Wichita (2.10)
10. Two Wrong Feet (1.27)
11. What About You (1.09)
12. Redemption Day: Sheryl Crow (4.28)
13. Chromium 6 (0.44)
14. Malign (2.40)
15. Holding Ponds (1.21)
16. No Colon (1.18)
17. Occasional Tombstones (1.07)
18. Xerox Copy (0.46)
19. Technically a Woman (0.48)
20. Water Board (1.07)
21. 333 Million (1.18)
22. Hinkley Reverse Mix (1.23)
23. Everyday is a Winding Road: Sheryl Crow (4.32)
Total Length: 35.08