Reviews of the movie are in and most of the reviews seem to be negative about the score (all the quotes below are from different movie reviews that mention the score that I have collected):
"Gordon Willis managed to do some great things photographically with the newsroom setting in All the President's Men, but this film is exceedingly plain visually, while Howard Shore's low-key score becomes monotonous."
"That issue is compounded by McCarthy's near-sacred reverence for his subjects, a tendency that's especially frustrating near the end, when Schrieber delivers a didactic speech about journalistic ethics as Howard Shore's music swells."
"As the investigation grinds on for months, with Howard Shore’s score busily marking the passage of time in the background, Robinson and his team realize their job is not just to expose “a few bad apples” (at least 87 priests in the Boston area may be offenders, enough to qualify as a genuine psychiatric phenomenon), but also to prove the existence of a systemic cover-up at the highest levels of Church — one that goes beyond Cardinal Law and extends into the very heart of the Vatican itself."
"It's another feat, then that the film looks as good as it does: DP Masonobu Takayanagi's photography (which will also be seen in 'Black Mass') is never showy but it is graceful. And there is a lot of it: McCarthy seems to have ample material to work from in the edit in order to make montages of people poring over lists of names line by line, not just cinematic (Howard Shore's sensitive piano-based score helps here too), but actually kind of thrilling."
Howard Shore releases Spotlight on cassette. Now THAT is HILARIOUS. Why would someone release something on cassette these days, and why Spotlight of all things and not one of his popular scores?!
"Spotlight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) from Howe Records will be available digitally Nov. 6th, CD November 13th, and cassette November 27th."
Saw it last night and found it riveting, pulsating suspense. And Mr. Shore captured the pulse nicely with the piano approach. Oh, not that I would purchase the soundtrack, it's not stand alone worthy to m'ears but his work is above serviceable and accents the sensitivity and horror of the story. Somewhat Northlike i.e. psychological scoring that captured the ensemble collectively if not individually at times, but mostly collectively. They knew they were on to something and something big--with all sorts of pain in varying degrees. Wanna see it again, love being engrossed in dark cinematic confines.
Saw the movie this afternoon and thought it a really impressive piece of work. Excellent score as well, which, for me, I suspect will be a good listening experience in stand alone mode . Ordered..........
I loved the movie (my vote for Best Picture, if indeed I was allowed to vote), but the score kinda slid past without leaving much of an impression. I think Shore wrote a score that the movie needed, but I just don't have any recollection of it at all!
I loved the movie (my vote for Best Picture, if indeed I was allowed to vote), but the score kinda slid past without leaving much of an impression. I think Shore wrote a score that the movie needed, but I just don't have any recollection of it at all!
