Wow, that was extremely impressive! Never heard anything by this composer before. I'll definitely be getting this score! Very exciting, so happy Varese picked it up. The movie looks so badass too!
I find both Jon's and Karol's reviews of Johannsson's score absolutely fascinating. Both seem to indicate that this score would not be a pleasant stand-alone listening experience ( no heroic themes or melodies) and yet the score fits this movie's narrative. It is a score that is obviously very different from the score he wrote for The Theory of Everything, a score I really liked.
Such reviews lead me to want to follow this composer because he is obviously very versatile. His music will fit the visuals and narratives; he won't be pigeon-holed into composing horror or westerns, or science fiction, etc. Such scores kind of remind me of Tiomkin who composed on one hand the melodic Friendly Persuasion and on the other hand the scary score for The Thing From Another World. (Or Williams' Schindler's List and War Of The Worlds.) Being able to compose music for any type of a narrative is the signature of an excellent composer IMHO.
Such reviews lead me to want to follow this composer because he is obviously very versatile. His music will fit the visuals and narratives; he won't be pigeon-holed into composing horror or westerns, or science fiction, etc. Such scores kind of remind me of Tiomkin who composed on one hand the melodic Friendly Persuasion and on the other hand the scary score for The Thing From Another World. (Or Williams' Schindler's List and War Of The Worlds.) Being able to compose music for any type of a narrative is the signature of an excellent composer IMHO.
Right, but let's not forget a key factor here: Those guys could could really, truly, thoroughly COMPOSE. Has Jóhannsson proven that yet? Nothing I've heard from him has indicated as such.
I saw the film last week, and highly recommend it. I won't be buying the score, however. It certainly ramps up the tension in the film, but, for me, it just doesn't make it as a stand-alone listen.
Not seen the film and never heard of the composer, but after seeing this thread I thought I'd check the score out. It's great. I've been leaning more towards scores like this and Under the Skin in the last few years that aren't traditionally easy listens. The reviews and opinions here helped. Thanks.
Not seen the film and never heard of the composer, but after seeing this thread I thought I'd check the score out. It's great. I've been leaning more towards scores like this and Under the Skin in the last few years that aren't traditionally easy listens. The reviews and opinions here helped. Thanks.
Oddly enough, I rate this and Under The Skin (along with Cloud Atlas) as my favourite three scores of the decade so far.
If you doubt his ability to 'compose', as you so demeaningly put it, please do provide a more elonquated response than justifying this with Boggan's comments, the composer of the infamous Symphonietta 2, the most panned internet composition of the 21st century.
You may want to listen to his very minimalist but utterly beautiful score to Prisoners (some exciting Arvo Part inspiration there with a spiritualist influence). Before you start dismissing him as a composer, he has made two other large Hollywood score which are all totally different in style to Prisoners. Sicario is more Reznor or Zimmer but totally crucial to the film and wholly original. The Theory of Everything is inspired by Desplat and Glass perhaps but has the ethereal hallmarks that shape the man's composition.
