The Horse Whisperer

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The trailers with the most success at response are those that find the perfect match of video sequences and its identical fitting score. One stellar example is Hans Zimmer's The Thin Red Line's most beloved track sequenced right into the grand attack of Pearl Harbor. Other important and equally used moments are Randy Edelman's favorite tracks of Come See the Paradise and Dragonheart and Craig Armstrong's stunning choral tracks of Romeo + Juliet (Nellee Hooper had nothing to do with it) and Plunkett & Maccleane. Of course there are so many more, yet I discovered one other composer with that art, Thomas Newman. And I discovered how well the best moments of The Horse Whisperer worked in The Green Mile trailer. True, the scenes were a perfect match, and those several moments receive more impact when you hear them in a different set. And when you hear those samples you think you have a real winner, but I thought The Horse Whisperer brought something a bit too less for my liking.

The year offered Meet Joe Black, one of Thomas Newman's most beloved soundtracks and The Horse Whisperer, Newman's paste job after John Barry was fired from the screenings. No matter how Barry's score sounded nor looked, Newman's own creation surely fits with everything you have in mind with the movie, you receive the emotional high spots, the guitar solos to reflect the American outdoors and some moments that truly inspire the scenery and moments in the movie. As ever, Thomas can bring that in a flash and no doubt that it will work grand on screen. On disc however it doesn't bring it in full motion, just the best moments shine and those are examined closer, for a review worth's sake. The score can be described as meandering but at times as a gorgeous attempt, those moments are 'Double Divide' offering the main theme of the score, soft yet beautiful in its construction. It receives its short but excellent performance during 'Montana', a real highlight. 'The Rhythm of the Horse' is perhaps the best moment, a perfect match of a rhythm, it feels as though the horse starts walking gently before building up the pace, the moment of pure spine tingling music becomes stronger, better and more magical with each note. 'Hereford Cross' uses the horn fanfares a la Broken Sword (the computer game, probably no one heard or played this title before) and a nature sound not too far away from Michael Kamen's certain interpretations in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Both 'The Very Act of Being' and 'Grace' bring some excellent musical translations of Thomas Newman but only 'The Vast Continent' becomes the inspiring highlight at the end, with another short but supreme powerful piece of music. Sadly 'End Title' doesn't offer both magnificent themes, only the rhythm theme from track 12. The Horse Whisperer is at times Newman at his best but not everything is that inspiring. From the 28 tracks you could easily have minimally 10 tracks that don't inspire much, bring the background of the movie to life but on album they somewhat become uninteresting. It would have been a far better score at the end without those moments. Comparisons to make with other soundtracks are Black Beauty, Meet Joe Black (the piano solos and certain moments of score) and How to Make an American Quilt (the guitar solos and feeling of the actual composition). The Horse Whisperer is at times perfect for its mood and fitting for its scene, it also brings the moments people adore of Thomas Newman, but at other times it loses my concentration and interest, and sadly they destroy half the impact the good parts have made, making it only the mesmerizing score on its occasions.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Angus (0.55)

2. Double Divide (1.36)

3. The Whisperers (2.21)

4. Accident (1.45)

5. There Was Snow (Opening) (3.17)

6. Hooking On (1.23)

7. Montana (1.23) Excellent Track

8. Pilgrim's Progress (1.58)

9. Runaway Meadow (3.00)

10. Badlands (0.46)

11. Voice Of God (1.00)

12. The Rhythm Of The Horse (3.13) Excellent Track

13. Rancher's Wife (1.30)

14. Iron (1.33)

15. Simple Truths (3.21)

16. Hereford Cross (1.15)

17. Tunnel (1.26)

18. Awkward Talk (1.58)

19. Your Misfortune (None Of My Own) (2.52)

20. Hooves (1.14)

21. Hobble (2.52)

22. The Very Act Of Being (2.24)

23. Grace (3.06)

24. Lazy J (0.58)

25. Creek House (1.14)

26. The Vast Continent (3.38) Excellent Track

27. Percheron Stallion (1.49)

28. End Title (3.44)

Total Length: 57.56

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Thomas Newman ===