Soul Surfer
Marco Beltrami
" Spiritual score of Beltrami creates high waves "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the download only release
Soul Surfer is the incredible true story of Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer who lives in Kauai, Hawaii. When her arm is bitten off in a shark attack she has to do the impossible. Lose her fears and get back in the water to do what she loves the most. Surfing! Director Sean McNamara based the screenplay on Hamilton's autobiography and on the filmmakers' interviews with the family, creating a warm, hopeful and spirited tale of courage and belief. And unlikely composer Marco Beltrami puts it all in his wonderful thoughtful score.
I say unlikely, not because Marco Beltrami isn't capable of delivering something like this but because he's not used to bringing something like this. He is seen as the Scream composer, the dark rhythmic creator of dark fantasy and frightening murders. To hear him doing something so warm and hopeful makes the score all the more rewarding. And considering the tale puts everything we do in perspective as well, it goes to show that Soul Surfer is just that inspiring listen that can enlighten a hard day any time.
Just listen to the lovely main theme that opens Soul Surfer with "Main Titles". The Hawaiian chant captures very easily the essence of the story, underscoring not only the relaxing environment but also gives Bethany's strength and spirit a voice. These chants are heard often throughout Beltrami's music and enlighten just about any track during it. In "Main Titles" it leads us to the lovely main theme of the score, in "Shark Attack" it captures the shock with a hypnotizing disbelief. This track is perhaps the only time the composer's familiar tricks come out to play, creating an at times suspenseful setting.
The score all in all rests on just several specific moods. First off is the darker on edge approach. Besides the horrific (but still tonal) "Shark Attack" there's the on edge lurking danger in "Trying to Get Out'", but I think these are about it. Because Soul Surfer is above all a hopeful tale, and both the main theme as the songs enlighten the score very easily during your relaxing listening experience. The piano is an integral part of Bethany's emotional struggle, often underscoring her voyage with an emotional main theme version in "Homecoming", "Bethany and Dad" and "Half Pint Boards". The other instrument is the guitar and dances hopefully around "Main Titles" and in "Half Pint Boards", when it brings forward a tantalizing main theme version through the assistance of the Hawaiian chants.
Which brings me once again to the singing that defines Soul Surfer in general. It stands for the ocean, for the freedom, for the courage and will, for the emotional struggle as for the hope and spirit that still dangles in Bethany's mind. And once it over conquers all obstacles in "Bethany's Wave" you"ll hear Beltrami creating a purely inspiring piece of will and courage, bringing us towards the wonderful climax of Soul Surfer.
Composers usually tend to surprise us when they score a motion picture they usually don't get an offer for. And it made Marco Beltrami's inspiration all the more rewarding. Soul Surfer is a 40 minute breeze to listen to. The few horrific moments in the score are still handled with a tonal and interesting approach, while the rest centers itself around Bethany's revival and ultimate victory. In these moments Beltrami creates some of the most spiritual cues of his career. Making Soul Surfer lovely, hopeful, beautiful, spiritual, hell making it one of the lovelier surprises of this year.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (2.34)
2. Turtle Bay Surfing (2.12) Excellent track
3. Fireworks (0.35)
4. Shark Attack (6.22)
5. Alana Visits Bethany (1.18)
6. Homecoming (1.59)
7. Dark Day (3.38)
8. Back in the Water (2.38) Excellent track
9. Trying to Get Out (2.03)
10. Bethany and Dad (2.20)
11. Phuket (1.20)
12. Half Pint Boards (2.53) Excellent track
13. Hymn for Bethany (2.24)
14. Welcome to the Nationals (1.28)
15. Big Drum Competition (3.09)
16. Paddle Battle (1.51)
17. Bethany's Wave (3.26) Excellent track
18. Awards (1.59)
19. Bethany Gives Thanks (1.25)
Total Length: 46.21
I say unlikely, not because Marco Beltrami isn't capable of delivering something like this but because he's not used to bringing something like this. He is seen as the Scream composer, the dark rhythmic creator of dark fantasy and frightening murders. To hear him doing something so warm and hopeful makes the score all the more rewarding. And considering the tale puts everything we do in perspective as well, it goes to show that Soul Surfer is just that inspiring listen that can enlighten a hard day any time.
Just listen to the lovely main theme that opens Soul Surfer with "Main Titles". The Hawaiian chant captures very easily the essence of the story, underscoring not only the relaxing environment but also gives Bethany's strength and spirit a voice. These chants are heard often throughout Beltrami's music and enlighten just about any track during it. In "Main Titles" it leads us to the lovely main theme of the score, in "Shark Attack" it captures the shock with a hypnotizing disbelief. This track is perhaps the only time the composer's familiar tricks come out to play, creating an at times suspenseful setting.
The score all in all rests on just several specific moods. First off is the darker on edge approach. Besides the horrific (but still tonal) "Shark Attack" there's the on edge lurking danger in "Trying to Get Out'", but I think these are about it. Because Soul Surfer is above all a hopeful tale, and both the main theme as the songs enlighten the score very easily during your relaxing listening experience. The piano is an integral part of Bethany's emotional struggle, often underscoring her voyage with an emotional main theme version in "Homecoming", "Bethany and Dad" and "Half Pint Boards". The other instrument is the guitar and dances hopefully around "Main Titles" and in "Half Pint Boards", when it brings forward a tantalizing main theme version through the assistance of the Hawaiian chants.
Which brings me once again to the singing that defines Soul Surfer in general. It stands for the ocean, for the freedom, for the courage and will, for the emotional struggle as for the hope and spirit that still dangles in Bethany's mind. And once it over conquers all obstacles in "Bethany's Wave" you"ll hear Beltrami creating a purely inspiring piece of will and courage, bringing us towards the wonderful climax of Soul Surfer.
Composers usually tend to surprise us when they score a motion picture they usually don't get an offer for. And it made Marco Beltrami's inspiration all the more rewarding. Soul Surfer is a 40 minute breeze to listen to. The few horrific moments in the score are still handled with a tonal and interesting approach, while the rest centers itself around Bethany's revival and ultimate victory. In these moments Beltrami creates some of the most spiritual cues of his career. Making Soul Surfer lovely, hopeful, beautiful, spiritual, hell making it one of the lovelier surprises of this year.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (2.34)
2. Turtle Bay Surfing (2.12) Excellent track
3. Fireworks (0.35)
4. Shark Attack (6.22)
5. Alana Visits Bethany (1.18)
6. Homecoming (1.59)
7. Dark Day (3.38)
8. Back in the Water (2.38) Excellent track
9. Trying to Get Out (2.03)
10. Bethany and Dad (2.20)
11. Phuket (1.20)
12. Half Pint Boards (2.53) Excellent track
13. Hymn for Bethany (2.24)
14. Welcome to the Nationals (1.28)
15. Big Drum Competition (3.09)
16. Paddle Battle (1.51)
17. Bethany's Wave (3.26) Excellent track
18. Awards (1.59)
19. Bethany Gives Thanks (1.25)
Total Length: 46.21