Customer Reviews

In Bruges [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you enjoyed the movie "In Bruges" as much as I did, then you know a big part of the movie's charm was its lyrical and haunting score. So as soon as I finished watching the DVD, I ordered the soundtrack CD off Amazon, ecstatic to hear the full-length versions of the movie's amazing music.

Unfortunately, I did not get the full-length versions as I had hoped. Rather, I got a collection of 1-minute-ish snippets of the music cues from the movie.

Look at Amazon's track list. Aside from the songs from other artists, you will see that all tracks except two are less than 2 minutes long. That's simply not enough time to develop a motif into a fully evolving musical piece.

And when the motifs are as beautiful as the ones in this CD, it's criminally frustrating to have a track end just when you are about to fall into its mesmerizing flow. So many tracks could have benefitted from having at least an extra minute (or even extra 30 seconds) added to its length to build up and develop more fully.

There is no question that the music in this CD has captivating hooks and excellent arrangements to go along with them. And if there was at least just ONE track (say, 5-6 minutes long) that allowed the music to unfold and explore more of its musical possibilities, then I would not hesitate to give this CD a full 5-star rating.

But as it stand, the CD feels more like a collection of snippets than a complete work of musical soundtrack -- an unfulfilled glimpse into the grand scope of what the piece could have been.

I had very high expectations for this CD, and I have to say, I am sorely disappointed.

Carter Burwell is at the top of his game with this fantastic score.

In Bruges is a great film to begin with, and the score only adds to this. In perhaps his best work since Fargo, Burwell creates several beautiful themes with a limited range of instruments, and provides an interesting texture to a movie full of interesting textures.

Highlights include "Shootout, Pt. 2," which is possibly the best theme on the disc, and "Prologue," which is a wonderfully contemplative piano piece that lets Burwell's wonderfully understated composition shine.

Highly recommended, as the score manages to be an interesting standalone listen, as well as a perfect companion to the film.

this soundtrack is one of my favorites.
the movie was terrific, and since getting the soundtrack, I've been listening to it almost non-stop.
highly recommended!

Spectacular movie, spectacular soundtrack. Can't say much more. I dislike violence in all forms, and the movie had more than its share. It still did not detract from my enjoyment of the story, the acting and the entire experience

Ordered the album but didn't get any of the "album only" songs. Could not find any way to respond but to write an honest review. Clearly the music side of Amazon has not matured like other aspects of amazon. This from someone who has spent thousands of dollars with Amazon. Very disappointed...

I like the music a lot. If you enjoyed the movie, order the music. It's rather ethereal.

When I saw this movie not only did I enjoy watching it, but the soundtrack was particularly haunting and beautiful.

Whenever I listen to it I remember the beautiful town of Bruges and that wonderful movie.

It's also easy to pick it out on a piano. Dreamy.

Ronni

There are movies where the soundtrack plays on, and it adds to the theme of the movie. Then there are movies, where the soundtrack adds nothing. And then, there are movies where the soundtrack more than adds to the movie.

The soundtrack of "In Bruges" must fall in the third category. I can't recollect many soundtracks that accentuate the mood of the movie it is supposed to hold up, especially a movie as complex as "In Bruges".

To be honest, I'd not heard of Carter Burwell before this soundtrack, but I was watching this movie earlier today, and the background music moved me so much, that I stopped the movie (was on DVD!), went online and bought the soundtrack right then and there! Burwell has earned his places of respect in my list - entering way up there, with the likes of John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Henry Mancini, Danny Elfman and James Horner.

If you liked the movie, you'll love the music.
Overall: 5 / 5.