Field of Dreams

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It was a strange experience and still is. Why was Field of Dreams considered as an Oscar contender if that same year a classic like Glory was scored. And if Horner had to nominee one score that would have gotten the best chance of winning, I believe he would have chosen Glory instead of Field of Dreams, yet the second was the one that contended for the Oscar glitter and pride. We all know that the Oscar board works in mysterious ways and usually a score's effect will be placed before the listening experience. I'm not one to comment that Field of Dreams is anything but a misplaced Oscar contender, but Glory had the highlights, Field of Dreams didn't. It was all the atmospheric and light tone that captivated the people in the movie. And while sounding attractive on disc, it remains the purest form of a background listen without much else to offer. Sadly, Glory did it all better on disc. A movie's concept as enthralling as Field of Dreams' one isn't easy to get hold off. But as a composer it is the job of making the score sound so mysterious and light that it holds the movie together with a mood beyond thoughts and dreams. Horner with all his capacities did just that, and the result is an enjoyable if moody background approach. The main themes of the movie are perhaps the perfect example of that fact. The main theme, appearing in almost any track is light, soft and mysterious, often supported through piano it is the epitome of the entire score. It never becomes powerful in any way or doesn't even get its final performance.

The other theme, supporting the tracks 'Deciding to Build the Field' and 'The Library' are especially bouncy, there is more swing and especially attract your attention within a flash, meaning the score will only become noticeable when you encounter those moments. This is the biggest problem, the score has to sound so light and inconspicuous during the movie that the listener will surely listen through half of the score without noticing a thing. Sad because Horner's score being especially a nominee shouldn't become such an unnoticed listen. There are still other moments I picked up during my annual listen, 'Shoeless Joe' sounds incredibly similar to Alan Silvestri's Flight of the Navigator, with its solely sounding main theme performance and the eruption of a little jazz piece in 'Old Ball Players', that follows the path that Cocoon and Batteries not Included possessed. But it can not salvage Field of Dream's moody listening experience. Horner attended this exact same style later in Deep Impact and people considerate it still as a boring listen. While Field of Dreams isn't especially boring in that context, it is too inconspicuous for its feeling. A nominee should attract more attention, and especially on disc. Horner fans will surely love it and others who are captivated by its use during the movie will no doubt experience it with more feel then I did but those that find Glory the rightful nominee of 1989 will see it one way only. Field of Dreams is good but remains a light memory after its listen, sadly but true. It's really a score that builds more on fantasies then on reality, meaning it will fit the movie like a glove.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Cornfield (5.33)

2. Deciding To Build The Field (5.51)

3. Shoeless Joe (2.13)

4. The Timeless Street (2.38)

5. Old Ball Players (2.44)

6. The Drive Home (2.13)

7. Field Of Dreams (3.30)

8. The Library (2.29)

9. "Moonlight" Graham (2.02)

10. Night Mist (4.19)

11. Doc's Memories (3.17)

12. The Place Where Dreams Come True (9.05)

13. End Credits (4.06)

Total Length: 50.31

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

=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===