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 Posted:   Jan 29, 2015 - 12:34 AM   
 By:   Ludwig van   (Member)

Part two of my posts on the Best Score nominees for this year's Oscars, this one on Desplat's THE IMITATION GAME.

http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/oscar-nominees-2015-best-original-score-part-2-of-6-alexandre-desplats-the-imitation-game/

A subtly effective score.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 29, 2015 - 6:32 AM   
 By:   Gorbadoc   (Member)

Very interesting article on the score that is by far my favorite of this year's Oscar nominees.

I especially like your observations on the musical translation of Alan's reluctance to “harmonize” and Christopher being the basis of Alan's emotions.

Keep up the good work, I'm looking forward to your other analyses!

 
 Posted:   Jan 30, 2015 - 12:31 PM   
 By:   Grecchus   (Member)

I have not seen the film, nor heard any of the music till now, Lud.

But your analysis can be understood and comprehended based on the historical record that has flooded the public awareness since Turing emerged from his posthumous dark shadows and, consequently, into a more tolerated light. Rescued, as it were, from a kind of suspended relative obscurity. The declassification of Bletchley Park has obviously gone a long way in the reviewing of Turing as a historical figure of significant import.

So there's really no need to see the film! smile

Just one more thing. Is it possible Desplat was also formulating the music to mimic the nature of algorithmic code itself in the musical structures being lent to some of the film's scenes? Even if not, Desplat's style is just about word perfect in which to wrap up a storyline such as this. Then again, film music is a form of coded information, is it not?

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 31, 2015 - 4:55 PM   
 By:   Ludwig van   (Member)

Just one more thing. Is it possible Desplat was also formulating the music to mimic the nature of algorithmic code itself in the musical structures being lent to some of the film's scenes?

Could be. On a much simpler level, there's a nice instance of coordination between machine and music when Alan starts the Christopher machine for the first time. The intermittent turning of the machine's cylinders creates a rhythm that Desplat uses to start the cue and merge it seamlessly into the scene. Here's the cue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-2V6_kgRFw

 
 Posted:   Jan 31, 2015 - 5:09 PM   
 By:   Grecchus   (Member)

Thanks. It's a fairly even monotonic piece. No highs, no lows - just wheels in motion with a lot riding on the outcome - which is more or less assured because it just keeps on going with relentless precision. Almost like an anti-climax. It's been done lots of times before in movies with steam train travel montages - you know - chuff, chuff, toot, toot . . .

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 31, 2015 - 5:51 PM   
 By:   joan hue   (Member)

Just wanted to say, Ludwig, that I found your whole article fascinating. Also, I enjoyed the cues you used as well as your interpretations. I thought this score extremely effective in this movie, and I thought the movie was great.

 
 
 Posted:   Jan 31, 2015 - 6:37 PM   
 By:   Ludwig van   (Member)

Just wanted to say, Ludwig, that I found your whole article fascinating. Also, I enjoyed the cues you used as well as your interpretations. I thought this score extremely effective in this movie, and I thought the movie was great.

Thanks, Joan. I hope you enjoy the other posts to come.

Grecchus, yes of course you're right about the long tradition of mickey-moused train music in film. In fact, it even crops up in THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL in this cue when Zero and Gustave are on the train by night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6p4rN0iB7w

 
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