The Whole Wide World

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Let's start from the beginning shall we. A soundtrack entitled The Whole Wide World, composed by Hans Zimmer and Harry Gregson - Williams. Wrong, a score by Harry Gregson - Williams and nobody else. Apparently this was going to be a score for Zimmer or a collaborated duo effort but for several reasons this was scored by Gregson - Williams alone and to say it in his words: "Hans didn't write any music for WWW - in fact he heard my score for the first time at the premiere." So those that love or hate this project would have to face there anger or joy to one singular person and in fact I believe there wouldn't be a lot of anger, The Whole Wide World is in fact 10 to 15 % dark and more mysterious tones and the rest features more romantic, lively tones and personality. Gregson - Williams didn't do something special in my eyes, he did however the correct thing and made it a solid and at times attractive listen. Why my interest never attended do this score, even if I thought that Zimmer wrote it in the past was beyond me, something didn't appeal to me, I appreciated it but it wasn't the kind of score I would pick out and listen to for several reasons. I think it has to do with the overall mood and certain way of sound, some moments are charming and these are the more romantic lively pieces, the themes of the score.

The sometimes darker becoming background mood is less appealing, but this isn't a Smilla's Sense of Snow, in fact see it as the better bits of that score with the bigger themes to appreciate them. There are moments to enjoy, including the main theme, a not to different composition from the point of view of Moll Flanders, and receives the best performance in the begin and end tracks and several moments during the score, 'The Telegram' and 'Letters at Sunset / the Cabin'. There is also a short but attractive cue, with violins in 'Conan Emerges' and at the end, after a minute of silence in 'End Titles'. Or the extremely short but bouncy 'Sombrero'. It isn't however a score I would pick for enjoyment, it has a bit too much parts that don't fully speak at me, the moments that do attract attention are worth the interest. I advice people that this isn't a Moll Flanders, Mark Mancina's score is in my book better at thematic quantity and more the enjoyment score, but it surely isn't a Smilla's Sense of Snow either. The Whole Wide World is for all its worth a solid and attractive listen on its occasions and confirms Harry Gregson - Williams' part in movie scoring history, even Zimmer had to figure that out at the premiere of this film.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Love Theme (2.42)

2. Two Sides Of Bob (6.18)

3. Conan Emerges (1.29)

4. Novalyne Reflects (2.51)

5. The Telegram (5.20)

6. A Yarn Unfolds (2.40)

7. Letters At Sunset / The Cabin (7.07)

8. Bob's Despair (1.41)

9. ... Let Go Of Your Mother (3.34)

10. Novalyne's Theme (3.08)

11. Sombrero (0.31)

12. End Titles (4.42)

Total Length: 42.19

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Harry Gregson - Williams ===