Published on Aug 15, 2003
I know that readers hate to see this disclaimer on any film
soundtrack I review, but
Finding Nemo is yet another film I haven’t seen. (Quite
possibly, the only people who hate this disclaimer more are the
publicists who are working these discs.) However, I have been
planning to see this film ever since I saw the first preview for
it, and by the time you have read this review, chances are good
that I’ll have plunked down serious coin to both see it and reserve
a copy on DVD.
There are apparently many good reasons why
Nemo has overtaken
The Lion King as the highest-grossing animated film in
history. And while the almost Midas touch of the powers that be
over at Pixar has to be lauded, one cannot discount the beautiful
score created by Thomas Newman. Capturing both the beauty and the
danger of undersea life — quite often at the same time — Newman
paints a picture of Marlin and Dory’s search for Nemo without
needing a single visual cue.
In the liner notes, director Andrew Stanton says he wrote the
screenplay for
Finding Nemo listening only to Newman’s scores. It is in
this manner that a symbiosis of audio and visual images combine to
create something special. Yet for those few unfortunate souls who
haven’t seen this film yet (cough, er, ahem…), Newman makes you
comfortable in exploring this world, albeit blindly, for the first
time.
Newman keeps the Australian theme alive with subtle hints in
pieces like “Wow” and “Finding Nemo,” keeping the spirit of the
film alive with every gentle note that pours through the speakers.
You can’t help but love the playfulness of tracks like “The Turtle
Lope” or the almost Aborigine-type feel of “Mt. Wannahockaloogie,”
a track which sounds so pure that I found myself listening for
instruments like a didgeridoo.
You almost find yourself even shuddering at the early doom that
awaits Marlin’s family on “Barracuda,” and the struggles of search
and escape on such works as “Lost,” “Filter Attempt” and “Fishing
Grounds”. It’s a masterful composer who can keep the peaks and
valleys of the movie alive in the music, and Newman has nailed it
perfectly.
I even have to give credit to Robbie Williams for his
on-the-button delivery of the closing track “Beyond The Sea.” A
star across the pond who has never made it to superstar level in
America, Williams proves with this track that he has the goods to
make it to the next level, taking a classic track and giving it new
life without ruining the original vibe. Well done, sir, well
done.
I often hesitate picking up soundtracks because, while they may
provide immediate joy (especially after seeing the movie), they
tend to end up collecting dust on the shelves through no fault of
their own.
Finding Nemo is a solid enough effort that Newman’s music
can stand on its own without needing the breathtaking animation of
the film to go along with it. Of all the discs I’ve had the chance
to listen to this year,
Finding Nemo may well be the prize catch of them all.