The Accidental Tourist
John Williams
" a soft score from the master "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
A man who's son is murdered and who loses his wife through marital problems befriends a free spirited dog trainer. Eventually he has to chose between the life he now has, or the life he knew before it. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis, and nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Supporting Actress (the last for Davis's performance), The Accidental Tourist is one of John Williams' most emotional subdued scores of his career. Through creating a wonderful character in the film, the score on CD listens lovely but rather unmemorable nonetheless.
Before I get the whole John Williams fanbase on my neck with that little statement, I want to make it clear the music does what it needs to do. It supports Macon's period through every little bump and every little hopeful encounter. What Macon feels, Williams expresses and this through a simple yet very lovely main theme. This theme receives a lot more airtime than first imagined, and a secondary theme would have aided the experience tremendously. Because now the main theme is featured (and heard in full) in almost every single track. Mostly through piano, occasionally through strings, it follows Macon through every single moment of his day. Whether emotional and saddened in "Macon Alone", whether during one of the more optimistic moments like in "A Second Chance", whether during one of the most urgent dramatic pieces, namely "A New Beginning".
The only time the main theme isn't spotted is when a sad and cold "Bedroom Conversation" is held. Honestly The Accidental Tourist is calm and relaxing to listen to, but hardly memorable after a while. As ever, nothing can be said badly about the technical scale or the melodic approach, but a score that functions almost solely on a main theme is not exactly memorable once you hear it virtually every single cue. True, the main theme does sound always something different, mostly because of the way Williams makes Macon feel almost always different all the time. Making this score essentially a character on itself, in a film that definitely made its name in the year of release. For people who liked the emotional feel and sound of A.I., you'll enjoy this if you fancy a one theme laden score.
Favorite Moment - Main Title (1.28 - 1.58)
Repeated in every single track, the theme listens the best at the begin
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.32)
2. Macon Alone (4.42)
3. Trip to London (1.55)
4. The Healing Process (5.10)
5. Fixing the Plumbing on a Rainy Afternoon (3.14)
6. A Second Chance (3.12)
7. Wedding Scene (2.51)
8. Back With Sarah (4.04)
9. Bedroom Conversation (4.33)
10. Rose and Julian (2.08)
11. A New Beginning (3.27) Excellent track
12. End Credits (Second Chance) (3.13)
Total Length: 40.52
Before I get the whole John Williams fanbase on my neck with that little statement, I want to make it clear the music does what it needs to do. It supports Macon's period through every little bump and every little hopeful encounter. What Macon feels, Williams expresses and this through a simple yet very lovely main theme. This theme receives a lot more airtime than first imagined, and a secondary theme would have aided the experience tremendously. Because now the main theme is featured (and heard in full) in almost every single track. Mostly through piano, occasionally through strings, it follows Macon through every single moment of his day. Whether emotional and saddened in "Macon Alone", whether during one of the more optimistic moments like in "A Second Chance", whether during one of the most urgent dramatic pieces, namely "A New Beginning".
The only time the main theme isn't spotted is when a sad and cold "Bedroom Conversation" is held. Honestly The Accidental Tourist is calm and relaxing to listen to, but hardly memorable after a while. As ever, nothing can be said badly about the technical scale or the melodic approach, but a score that functions almost solely on a main theme is not exactly memorable once you hear it virtually every single cue. True, the main theme does sound always something different, mostly because of the way Williams makes Macon feel almost always different all the time. Making this score essentially a character on itself, in a film that definitely made its name in the year of release. For people who liked the emotional feel and sound of A.I., you'll enjoy this if you fancy a one theme laden score.
Favorite Moment - Main Title (1.28 - 1.58)
Repeated in every single track, the theme listens the best at the begin
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.32)
2. Macon Alone (4.42)
3. Trip to London (1.55)
4. The Healing Process (5.10)
5. Fixing the Plumbing on a Rainy Afternoon (3.14)
6. A Second Chance (3.12)
7. Wedding Scene (2.51)
8. Back With Sarah (4.04)
9. Bedroom Conversation (4.33)
10. Rose and Julian (2.08)
11. A New Beginning (3.27) Excellent track
12. End Credits (Second Chance) (3.13)
Total Length: 40.52