Road to Perdition

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0044001716720 Label: Universal Classics Manufacturer: Universal Classics Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Universal Classics Release Date: 2002-09-23 Running Time: 70 Studio: Universal Classics
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Editorial Reviews: Director Sam Mendes's much-anticipated follow-up to his Academy Award-winning American Beauty finds him exploring the period gangster film--but with a moral fibre and undercurrent of family tragedy familiar from his Oscar triumph. As he did with Beauty, Mendes again wisely entrusts the film's music to Thomas Newman, a composer with an instinctive knack for getting inside a film's characters via innovative and often orthodox methods. As many of Newman's preceding scores have been rhythmically driven and rife with improvisation-driven experimentalism, it’s good to hear his equally distinctive writing for orchestra largely take centre stage here again. But Newman's inquisitive musical instincts can't be denied, and his melancholy string writing is leavened first with subtle uilleann pipe flourishes that echo the characters' Irish-American roots, then with savoury, yet ever-restrained touches of his own ethnic-defying instrumental colour and rhythmic accents. It's another moody and introspective gem, seasoned with some lively period jazz (courtesy of the Charleston Chasers, Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra, and Chicago Rhythm Kings) and a warm, final surprise: a duet of John M Williams's autumnal title track performed by none other than stars Tom Hanks and Paul Newman.--Jerry McCulley
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Exceptional Comment: I know that some people were disappointed with the film from which this soundtrack comes. I enjoyed the film but always felt that the music was almost too good - it stood out so much that it was almost a distraction. Some years later and having just bought this second hand through the amazon market place I am pleased to say that it still sounds great. Like a lot of orchestral movie soundtracks, not every track is one you would choose to re-listen a lot, but at least half the stuff here is fab - gentle piano and strings. Plus, they have included a couple of band performances from the songs actually played in the background during the film AND the last track is a piano duet between Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, taken directly from the film. With over twenty-five selections, you cannot complain. I fully expect to hear bits of this music in other films over the coming years - this always happens with really great soundtrack music, as this is. Customer Rating: Summary: What a Way to Relive the Movie! Comment: No doubt about it, Thomas Newman is one hell of a composer. And this soundtrack proves just that. I had seen the movie and absolutely loved it from start to finish, and I remembered the music really standing out to me. It was dark, haunting, and touching, all at the same time. So, I decided to get the soundtrack, and I am glad I did. It really is like reliving the movie. I really enjoyed listening to the movie score. It's breathtaking and amazing. It can be soft, dark, haunting, and beautiful. The music really is something to hear. I especially enjoy the piano playing that takes place on this score. The soundtrack also includes some actual jazz songs that appeared in the film, as well. I really enjoy all of the tracks, but the ones that stand out to me the most are "Rock Island, 1931," "Murder," "Blood Dog," "Grave Drive," "Road to Chicago," "Ghosts," "Lexington Hotel, Room 1432," "Road to Perdition," and the "Perdition" piano duet performed by Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. But the other ones that I did not list are very amazing as well. If you love the movie and you love a great movie score, "Road to Perdition" is the one for you. In the tradtion of "Unbreakable" and "Insomnia," this score gives you different moods, like happiness, dread, fear, danger, sadness, anger, and redemption. A great purchase, if you ask me. Customer Rating: Summary: Oh my god.... Comment: loved the film...love the soundtrack. I have always loved Thomas Newman...everything he touches is instantly good. But this has to be my favourite. The title track and the opening song just make me feel so.....i dunno...it's a feeling i can't explain. lol. i cud die listening to this album. GO BUY IT. Peace. Customer Rating: Summary: Great! Comment: Don't let my giving this score 'only' four stars fool you, this is a great score. However i dislike giving out 5-Star ratings to anything that is not an absolute work of art. In recent years the only scores i would give a five star ating to would be Howard Shore's beautifully magical score for 'Lord of the Rings,' and John Williams' eye scorching tunes for 'Schindler's List'. Newman has created beautiful scores, and it would be a crime if he never got at least one Oscar for best Scoring, which he deserved for the 2002 Oscar awards. What i love about Newman's scoring is that it has the ability to be personal, melancholy and rousing at the same time, like his tune in 'American Beauty' when you see Rickie's character for the first time, Gorgeous! For this score he again shows his diversity, with both tunes that are beautifully large in their sounding, like 'Road to Chicago' and 'Rock Island', but also beautifully quiet and discreet, like 'The Farm' and 'Grave Drive'. Mendes' realistic, personal portrayal of people complemets well to Newman's music, or the other way around. The movie 'Road to Perdition' was a beautiful one, with the Directing, Acting, Music, Production Design, Costumes and Conrad Hall's inspired Cinematography all complementing each other in a movie that deserved more Oscars, one of which should have been for best scoring. Sure, like my roomates say (who don't all apprieciate my love for Movie scores) not all songs are brilliant, like the three useless 'Jazz' singles, or serveral rather overly flamboyant tunes ('Meet Maguire', 'Murder') but it is truley an great score and one every modern 'classical' music lover should own. Customer Rating: Summary: Astonishing! Comment: It is as good as the movie, and the movie (in spite of the Academy) was the best 2002 movie and one of the very best in its genre ever...Newman's soundtrack makes it spectacular from the beginning to very end. I think it is a must. More Reviews