The Music is Crap


In so many ways this is an excellent, well acted, well directed, and (mostly) well written film. Eastwood then shoots himself in the foot with a lame, overly sentimental, amateur score that seriously comprimises his film. He should really stop writing his own music and let the professionals get on with it. Eastwood is not a composer he's a diddler and every one of his scores, but especially this one, untlimately detracts from his films. Someone should be a true friend to him and tell him the truth.

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surely you must be joking - the scores of several of his films are so
relevant, poignant and in the case of Changeling, so in line with the
action on the screen - no one else could have done it better than Clint -
he obviously "felt" the music...............


TeamYou've Got A Very Important Date, March 5, 2010

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.. an elegaic lament, not in the least bit 'sentimental' & one of Eastwood's best compositions to date. I'm not going to waste my time arguing with your opinion but here's one Oscar winning professional commenting on Eastwood's supposedly 'amateur' scoring.

[Questioner]: Can you describe what it’s like to watch a film you’ve written, and listening to the score as a viewer. What the music does to what you put on paper. How it might aid and also complicate your words?

PAUL HAGGIS: I think Million Dollar Baby is probably a good example of that. I thought Clint’s score for that was quite beautiful, quite simple, not at all what I had imagined. It really, I think, pulled the emotion, rather than sentimentality off the page and onto the screen. Its spare quality really, truly brought the drama to the fore.

http://soundtrackgeek.com/2009/08/14/ischia-global-film-music-fest-int erview-2-paul-haggis/
I think we could do with a lot more 'amateur scorers' like Eastwood who understand that less is often more & that you don't need big orchestral scores to bring out the emotion in a movie. Doe Eyes from The Bridges of Madison County, Claudia's Theme from Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby & Changeling, all of them simple, elegant, beautiful themes well used.

Mai Yamane! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD83P-vn5JI&feature=related

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I thought Eastwood's score was touching and heartbreaking.

Last Watched:
Star Trek (2009) - 8/10
The Fountain (2006) - 8/10

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I wouldn't have put it this crudely although I do share the sentiment to some extent. However I would say that questioning his musical abilities is irrelevant, since he has consistently given us one touching film after another.

I hugely respect the man for being an 'auteur' in the truest sense of the word, even writing his own soundtrack (or a basic outline) for his movies: in truth it is not something with any great musical depth (mostly pandiatonic harmony in C major) but his movies are not any less brilliant because of his obstinacy and love of music.

If nothing else it shows you that with a balanced use of orchestral resources (and above all correct, in the effect one wishes to obtain) any ditty can happily make it onto celluloid. The brilliance of men like Hermann or Williams (to mention two men 'en-passant') is that they envision the whole 'tableau' without the need for additional orchestrators (although there always are.)

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Here's lookin atchu...kid

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I thought Eastwood's score was touching and heartbreaking.


Agreed! I love the music that Eastwood writes for his films. I even sat and listened through most of the credits, just enjoying the music. He really puts me in a good vibe and IMO it always meshes very well with the movies. Apparently some people don't like it, but personally I'm a big fan.

http://www.youtube.com/anotherschmoe

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I thought I was crazy for thinking this, but I see I'm not alone. The score was something straight off of Hallmark Hall of Fame or Lifetime... everytime a serious dramatic and touching plot point would happen I'd be moved then the music would start and I'd roll my eyes... I really think it detracted from the scenes and did the exact opposite of what it was inteded to do. I'm sure a lot of people won't notice it, but I did.

Liked the movie and have mad respect for Clint though.

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I think Clint's minimalistic scores are beautiful, but I did think this was too much like Unforgiven, and that was somewhat distracting rather than enhancing.

~LjM
Way down deep I'm very superficial.

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Agreed, I did notice when the same style music popped up in 'thought provoking' moments. I never generaly notice the score in films which makes them the best for me as they just raise the emotion with out beating you over the head with it.

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Royale with cheese!

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Wow. Was Clint lazy or cheap? I don't recall hearing the SAME PIECE OF MUSIC over and over again in any 'serious' film as much as I did here. It distracted rather than enhanced. And since the first few notes are the EXACT same as the "Butterfly of Love" song by Glen Campbell guess what ear worm I caught? BTW, Mystic River was WAY better - a Shakespearian tragedy in it's scope.

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I disagree.I think he was great composing the music,because that melody sounds so sad and sweet..I could not help crying when i listened the music and tought of Walter,how he was killed,and how his mom had to deal with the fact of she was not seeing him anymore.Also,if you think of the idea of all kids who died tragically and join that with the music,you feel like crying.Really the music sounded very heartbreaking,sweet and painful with the whole story.

Jimmy Doyle and his orchestra

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He's no John Carpeenter.

When I heard him sing at the end of Gran Torino I almost died of laughter. Clint should not be doing music.

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I completely agree, that's one of the few problems I have with this movie. It was totally from a Hallmark movie or something and it distracted me from the story!

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I think the music was great in this movie! I have no idea what the TC is complaining about.

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