Nine Months

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When is Hans Zimmer actually in sentimental mood? Not many times since people see him always as the composer of Media Ventures' action music. Well Nine Months is so un MV like, it is stupid to believe anyone would bother to get it. It lies in fact closer to smaller intimate projects like I'll do Anything and Driving Miss Daisy but even those had charm, something Nine Months most definitely has. Secondly it is also a score that grows on you with each listen, even if it has its dead moments where sometimes the themes are repeated a bit too much. Third and foremost a thing that will interest people, this is one of the most heavy orchestral scores of Zimmer there is. At times I remember hearing the thick romantic strings of Hannibal in it, at times I remember to find the melody of A League of their Own somewhere. It is not a score that listens like a brilliant album but it is a simple and satisfying listening experience, just right for the background listen. Nine Months easily does these things right with an undeniable good charm.

Also good to realize is the fact that only 3 songs appear on the soundtrack, all of them not being this stupid and unmemorable crap. No, these songs were chosen for a reason and fit entirely different but well with the score of Zimmer, because they compliment the romance of the score in a good sentimental mood. 'The Time of your Life' is actually a song I prefer very much and the other two are known classics. Then the score of Zimmer kicks in and you easily hear the warm sound and the first theme of the score, played first on piano and later by the orchestra. It is however not the theme that makes the impression because that lies with the other one, appearing so gorgeously in 'It's a Boy' and 'We Can Work it Out', two of the more interesting tracks to discover because they contain these gorgeous swellings of the orchestra with a romantic side not felt much from Zimmer. Actually good to know is that Zimmer wrote this theme for his wife, a love theme written for the women he married and used in such good context in a movie like this. Other tracks to pinpoint at is 'Voodoo Woman' with its clear signals to A League of Their Own, meaning the more orchestral comic glimpses sometimes which don't sound nothing like it sounds here and 'From Russia ...', a track written by Nick Glennie - Smith, lasting for 58 seconds and different because it is not written by Zimmer. Quite frankly why it is here is beyond me but still, it is approachable.

Overall, Nine Months doesn't have actual flaws but rather simply a score that listens so easily it sometimes fails to impress. It is also a score that you have to feel comfortable with, being in a good mood is a start to say the least. The score also repeats at occasion the same material but just on the other occasions there is the sudden change, whether it is a piano or more comical note or a swelling of the themes. It perhaps is all a bit too mellow for some and it is indeed nothing of the greatness but you have to set standards. Nine Months is the diversity and orchestral score that many didn't see Zimmer compose and it has heart and a lovely beauty, easily points that fit well with the genre of the movie. So I actually recommend this to Zimmer haters who think he is just action material. More, if A League of their Own would be released in a full manner, it would even be better (since it captures brilliance that would make most people piss in his or her pants). So Nine Months is a warm and mellow score, covering a very good love theme and a happy romantic mood, all brought by thick strings and a Zimmer who is subdued if you compare it with the Crimson Tide he wrote in the same year. Easily for those who like mellow stuff with a slight edge of classical music in it.

Score: ***
Songs: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Time Of Your Life: Little Steven (5.57)

2. Let's Get It On: Marvin Gaye (4.00)

3. Turn Back The Hands Of Time: Tyrone Davis (2.38)

4. Baby, Baby (4.00)

5. It's A Boy (9.17)

6. Voodoo Woman (3.55)

7. Baby's Room (4.14)

8. From Russia ... * (0.58)

9. We Can Work It Out (5.02)

10. Open Your Eyes (4.33)

* Written by Nick Glennie - Smith

Total Length: 44.47

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=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===