Search - Philip Glass :: The Illusionist

'More' of Philip Glass

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 01/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some of our finest classical music composers have written brilliantly for the movies: Shostakovich, Britten, Prokofiev, Korngold, Stravinsky are but a few of the names that come to mind. Add, now, the name of Philip Glass to that gifted group - his score for the film THE ILLUSIONIST is not only a fine addition to the mood of this period film, it is also a step in orchestration growth for Glass.



While everyone praised his sense of clarity and minimalism in his score for THE HOURS, an approach that so keenly fit Cunningham's story, the movement into the 'romantic, lush' realm of the turn of the century musical climate that would have accompanied the story of 'The Illusionist' finds Glass scoring for a larger, somewhat more traditional orchestral palette. And as performed by the Czech Film Orchestra (the film was indeed created in Prague) it is a lush and elegant enhancement of the mood. Thankfully Glass' motif approach and minimalist thinking are not abandoned: anyone can readily recognize the musical signature of the composer in every bar of the score. The pleasure is that Glass measured his own ideas alongside the timeframe of the story, and as usual he got it just right.



This is one of those musical score soundtracks that stands well on its own and for those who are particularly fond of Philip Glass' music, this CD is one to own. Grady Harp, January 07"

As Haunting and Compelling on Its Own as in the Film.

mirasreviews | McLean, VA USA | 04/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's not often that a film's score is so captivating that it makes as strong an impression on me as the film's visual elements and writing. Philip Glass' score for Neil Burger's film "The Illusionist" is one such score that had me rushing to buy the CD. Set in Vienna circa 1900 in the world of the magic arts, the film's rich browns, blacks and elegant illusions work in concert with this score to create a transcendent, mysterious world where nothing is as it seems. There are many scenes without dialogue where the music says what words or actions could not. It literally pulls the audience into the film, enticing us to inch closer to the screen. The score is lush, haunting, with a big orchestra sound that is never overbearing but doesn't fade out of the audience's consciousness either.



There are 21 tracks on the CD for a total of 51 minutes of music. The tracks seem to radiate from the film's theme, "The Illusionist" (2:24), which introduces the CD. I don't know much about classical music. I can only describe this piece as velvety, dramatic, with 2 distinct layers of sound, and thoroughly captivating. It conveys the idea of a mystery of some substance. The music is itself a conjurer of things unknown. The other tracks are variably suspenseful, majestic, mysterious, ethereal, uplifting, contemplative, and occasionally even pompous.



Philip Glass' score for "Notes on a Scandal" was nominated for an Academy Award the same year he did "The Illusionist". I haven't listened to that score on its own, so I can't say if it is as good as this one when taken out of the context of the film. But it doesn't serve the film as well. The music of "Notes on a Scandal" functions primarily to heighten drama. I found the score, like the characters, to be overwrought in the last third of the movie, which put me off. It's obtrusive in a couple of scenes. The music for "The Illusionist" plays a more delicate and integral role and is more introverted. This is stunning music, in or out of the context of the film. I've listened to it nearly every day for months and haven't grown tired of it. There is an essay by writer/director Neil Burger about the music inside the CD cover insert."