Veteran director Sydney Pollack tackles contemporary international intrigues in this political thriller about a UN interpreter (Nicole Kidman) who claims to have overheard an assassination plot, and the Secret Service agen... more »t (Sean Penn) who's assigned to protect her. Composer James Newton Howard (a 2004 Academy Award nominee for his haunting score to M. Night Shyamalan's otherwise disappointing The Village) conjures up a brooding, mostly orchestral score that eschews traditional melodic motifs in favor of an often sophisticated musical tapestry of mood and tension. His soundtrack's dark corners are leavened by flashes of tribal drums and ethnic modalities that emanate from the plot's African concerns, yet Howard's music is primarily modern. It's not above some obligatory stem-winding and occasional flashes of McAction Film bombast, but overall it?s a crafty evocation of mood and suspense from one of Hollywood's most consistently compelling musical talents. --Jerry McCulley« less
Veteran director Sydney Pollack tackles contemporary international intrigues in this political thriller about a UN interpreter (Nicole Kidman) who claims to have overheard an assassination plot, and the Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) who's assigned to protect her. Composer James Newton Howard (a 2004 Academy Award nominee for his haunting score to M. Night Shyamalan's otherwise disappointing The Village) conjures up a brooding, mostly orchestral score that eschews traditional melodic motifs in favor of an often sophisticated musical tapestry of mood and tension. His soundtrack's dark corners are leavened by flashes of tribal drums and ethnic modalities that emanate from the plot's African concerns, yet Howard's music is primarily modern. It's not above some obligatory stem-winding and occasional flashes of McAction Film bombast, but overall it?s a crafty evocation of mood and suspense from one of Hollywood's most consistently compelling musical talents. --Jerry McCulley
CD Reviews
Fantastic album, if you're serious about film scores
James Luckard | Los Angeles, CA | 05/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"James Newton Howard has been consistently crafting stunning scores for years now, without the notice he deserves. Would any of M. Night Shyamalan's films have half of their power without his breathtaking music? Look up almost any romantic comedy of the last ten years, chances are he scored it. He created the definitive sound with "Pretty Woman" and "Dave."
"The Interpreter" finds him in urban thriller mode, which he did so well in "The Fugitive." There are hints of that score here, as well as some of the Shyamalan scores. Like Williams or any great film composer, Howard has a distinctive sound, and it's a pleasure to distinguish it from the mass of sound-alike film music.
Howard creates an intelligent, chilly mood for this thoughtful thriller. Blending in African sounds and traditional songs at times, he gives a sense of Kidman's character's roots, while always staying modern and spare, fitting the New York setting.
The cue "Simon's Journals," is from a pivotally emotional scene for Kidman's character, and is a highlight, blending percussive African rhythms to create a powerful effect. Tracks 12 and 13, however, are what I end up playing over and over. They play as one continuous piece in the film, and form the ten minute action finale of the film, as the assassination plot unfolds.
Highly recommended to film score collectors."
F-Stop Blues
Thomas Southall | 09/29/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Bruno Mertens "cyberghandi" the song you are after is F-Stop Blues. It is by Jack Johnson, and you will find it on his album Bushfire Fairytails. Great song. Great Album.
Oh, and great film!"
Looking for the title of a song...
Bruno Mertens | Bruges, Belgium | 06/09/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I saw the movie today (hey... Europe is always several steps behind...) and I really liked it although it's certainly not Pollack's best. I did enjoy the score (very reminescent of Howard's work in The Village). I would like to thank several reviewers for pointing out the song in the bar by Lovett. But I'm looking for another track as well. When one of the agents is in his car we can hear another song (I think it's right before Nicole's charachter enters the car, before the bus-situation). It seemed like a very mellow acoustic track sung by a male artist (very Jack Johnson-style, maybe even him, although it's certainly not on his albums as I know them all by heart). Can anyone help me with that? It would mean a lot to me. I've looked everywhere (google, official site) but I can't seem to find it. Obviously it would have to be in the end credits but since the movie just came out here... Does anyone have it in DVD? Can anyone help me with that? Thanks!
anthony_mertens@hotmail.com"
Jukebox selected song by Sean Penn
van zant | Madrid, Spain | 06/02/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Great Film and also a great soundtrack...But I'm looking for who's singing the song that Sean Penn select after plug off the power chord of the jukebox machine...It seems that is the favourite song of his recently dead wife...Could anybody help me to find the title of that song and the artist that sing it?"
If I had a Boat
Silas | Denver, CO | 05/10/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The song your looking for is by Lyle Lovett, If I had boat. I agree great song."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1![The Interpreter [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//l/36/7836/737836.jpg)