MovieChat Forums > The Favourite (2018) Discussion > Sound Track.......awful

Sound Track.......awful

posted 5 years ago by edge (119)
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I found the soundtrack to be awful. The same note from a string instrument over and over again. Then overly loud chamber music. Now, I have admired the work of Phillip Glass who uses repetative schemes but he adds to them building a hypnotizing and elegant piece.Sarah Giles is no Philip Glass! I found this soundtrack to be intrusive at times. And, at other times, distracting. Rather than adding to the film, it was irritating.

PS It is a great film.

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O-Ren Ishii: ...for kids.

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[–] mudsharkbytes (165) 5 years ago

Soundtracks are supposed to be effective at supporting the story, which does not always translate to musically pleasing, though it’s nice when both are satisfied. Personally, I found the long repeated notes incredibly effective at supporting the scenes the cues were used in, and, the period music was equally enjoyable. Then again, there’s no accounting for taste.

[–] edge (119) 5 years ago

"Then again, there’s no accounting for taste."

Hmmm, there is accounting for taste. It is the critic's raison d'être. It is the reason this site exits. To afford people the ability to express their views and spark cordial and healthy debate. The soundtrack did not propel or enhance the overall story telling, in my opinion. To my taste, it was obtrusive. Of course we know about Clint Eastwood's famous/?infamous quote regarding opinions.

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[–] mudsharkbytes (165) 5 years ago

In the scenes in question here, the soundtrack created a sense of ennui with a touch of nausea - to me anyway. Neither of these are pleasing sensations, but they are appropriate to the “action” such as it were.

I would not choose to listen to the music used there for pleasure, but I appreciate how it supported the scene.

Virtually the entire score to “Under the Skin” was along the same lines - not much to listen to, but quite supportive of the movie.

[–] edge (119) 5 years ago

From my prior post, "The soundtrack did not propel or enhance the overall story telling, in my opinion. To my taste, it was obtrusive."
I get it, some story lines maybe uncomfortable and creepy. And as such, a soundtrack that is creepy would foreshadow and enhance those uncomfortable feelings. But, that might not be something one would listen to while having dinner.
In the case of this film, the sound track was bad, obtrusive and not in the background of the story but in the foreground. And, it was too loud. [ I did wonder if that was a result of the venue rather than the film.] I found it a pity because everything else about the film was stellar!

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[–] mudsharkbytes (165) 5 years ago

In terms of taste there is no real way to come to a consensus.

I find your observation about it’s obtrusiveness interesting though. From what I remember, having only seen the movie once, was, in the scenes where it is used, the soundtrack enters at nearly the limit of audible perception and grows to the point where it becomes, as you point out, obtrusive. I’ve no doubt this was deliberate as each scene grows dramatically in a similar fashion. I do agree that the soundtrack does leap out of the background and forces you to deal with it perceptually, and typically soundtracks are more subtle than that.

I remember when we were watching it my wife having a similar reaction to yours, thinking the composer must’ve been excessively lazy to compose such a simplistic soundtrack. I actually think the music in question wasn’t composed for the movie but was a selection from one of the scores listed at the end, possibly by Ligeti or Luc Ferrari but I’m not sure. I told her I actually thought it was a ballsy choice for the very reasons she was grousing about.

[–] edge (119) 5 years ago

In terms of taste there is no real way to come to a consensus.

Obviously on this issue, it seems a consensus is difficult. Some agree with me, like your spouse, and some, like you, do not. On other matters of taste i believe there is often a consensus. Though, it will never be one hundred percent. Sgt. Peppers is a great album.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

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[–] edge (119) 5 years ago

So, you know other people that are in my 'camp.' There are probably more people in 'your camp.' The music from the Baroque period is fine. This soundtrack was too loud and obtrusive. Rather than enhance the story telling, it was distracting. But, that is why the ice cream stores have 25 flavors.

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[–] Maximus256 (62) 4 years ago

I too found the single repetitive note to be jarring, discordant, and disturbing and I wanted it to end. But yet somehow I found the music was fitting to the scenes where it was used. It emoted claustrophobia and I felt I just wanted to escape - probably like Anne felt, too.

The majority of the film takes place in the palace, either in Anne's bedroom or in the court chambers. Anne is trapped in a life/role she is not suited for, in a building she can't escape, and in a body that is failing and racked with pain. Plus she is bored out of her mind, and likely has some psychological issues to deal with, as well. So that simple one note score seemed to exemplify and emphasize Anne's despair, torment, helplessness, etc. The score isn't pleasant but its effective.

I guess the main purpose of any film score is not to provide nice music to help us pass time while watching the movie. But instead to further under-score what's being communicated in the scenes themselves.

[–] edge (119) 4 years ago

That was a very well thought out discourse. But, I believe the decibels utilized to broadcast the score was too much. And, the score itself was irritating. Surely, Anne was uncomfortable in her own skin and predicament. I understand your point that the score was unpleasant on purpose to project Anne's malaise on to the audience. I believe it could have been better and certainly toned down.

Queen Anne: I’m ready for the Russian ambassador.
Lady Sarah: Who did your makeup?
Queen Anne: We went for something dramatic. Do you like it?
Lady Sarah: You look like a badger.
Queen Anne: Oh.

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[–] TheArgentinian (6413) 3 months ago

The score was perfect. A mix of classic period film music and modern dissonant sounds.

[–] edge (119) 3 months ago

Ah, there it is. From your own response, "Dissonant sound." A definition I found states, "Dissonance is when two or more tones clash and create a harsh, unpleasant sound." Notice that last bit, "A harsh, unpleasant sound."

Abigail: As it turns out, I'm capable of much unpleasantness.

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PS I just viewed "Poor Things" by the same director. There were parts of the soundtrack that also had, "Dissonant sound."

[–] TheArgentinian (6413) 3 months ago

The score is not supposed to give you warm, fuzzy feelings. It's meant to be unsettling.

[–] edge (119) 2 months ago

Well, if that was Sarah Giles' intention to make viewers "Unsettled," Sarah succeeded.

"Bad music disturbs me, but wonderful music disturbs me even more."
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

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