Unbreakable

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

For almost his entire career James Newton Howard felt that he was ignored, not by the board of the Oscars who awarded him with nominations but by the public and crowd. Only Waterworld gave him some recognition. But the world changed big time with scores as The Sixth Sense and Dinosaur, giving him the recollection he deserved long before. Finally did James step into the realm of big composers, with Unbreakable, Vertical Limit and the two Disney projects coming soon. I for one think that's it's about time for James to take the credit for all his hard work. And I have to admit, the hard work pays off. Unbreakable succeeds all my expectations and more then that. This is the second time that director M. Night Shyamalan and James Newton Howard collaborate, but this is no The Sixth Sense, the movie was impressive through its story telling but wasn't as strong as the The Sixth Sense, the score however is more acceptable. It is no wonder that both scores work amazingly well in context with the pictures, however it is the score for Unbreakable that brings the better music.

The first time I heard the score I didn't saw the picture yet and I assumed this would be another dark threatening, chilling score but as soon as possible those heroic mini fanfares and powerful building structures started to come I realized there was more musical structure outside the score. I mean that Unbreakable will sound the most positive outside the movie, but this score has the advantage about succeeding in the movie and remaining to sound perfect outside of it, no small part the success of a talented composer such as James Newton Howard. The score has a pair of central themes, the building mysterious theme in 'Visions', 'Unbreakable' and 'Mr. Glass / End Title' is partly based around structures of Grand Canyon and Snow Falling on Cedars but stays so seriously enjoyable, especially when the short finale comes in the movie it is truly impressive. The second theme is a "dare I say it" heroic theme, not heroic for a person but a theme portraying heroism and I truly thought it sounded brilliant accompanied with the visuals in 'The Wreck' and 'The Orange Man'.

The piano melodies and the mysterious string work remind us of The Sixth Sense but only one time the more dissonant part is discovered in 'Blindsided', this is no way as chilling as The Sixth Sense might have sounded like. I can not say that Unbreakable is the biggest sensation to listen to but for what it achieves in the movie and on disc it is special, entertaining and darn effective. Especially Howard fans will discover the solid line of his latest soundtracks, he especially composes his projects with an impressive mature style. If I would say that Unbreakable doesn't have the big highlights of another score I would be half correct, but I was surprised to find that this score was more positive then I first imagined. It is a incredible solid, if what light mysterious soundtrack and this due to James Newton Howard, he composes his themes with such a subtlety and finesse that it remains a incredible listen on the occasions you put it in your CD-player.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Visions (5.57)

2. Reflection Of Elijah (4.08)

3. Weightlifting (3.43)

4. Hieroglyphics (2.01)

5. Falling Down (2.27)

6. Unbreakable (3.23) Excellent Track

7. Goodnight (2.25)

8. The Wreck (3.45) Excellent Track

9. Second Date (1.31)

10. School Nurse (1.22)

11. Blindsided (1.55)

12. The Orange Man (2.29) Excellent Track

13. Carrying Audrey (2.36)

14. Mr. Glass / End Title (7.40) Excellent Track

Total Length: 45.31

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

=== Link to Composer Site: James Newton Howard ===