Customer Reviews

Finding Forrester (2000 Film)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The Finding Forrester soundtrack is enjoyable. Such as this, music in a movie can often enhance the meaning to watchers. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's 'somewhere over the rainbow' is the perfect song for this movie and message it is trying to send. Israel's music is, in itself, is very beautiful and should be appreciated since he is know longer living. I was able to attend a tribute concert for him last summer at Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a legend to Hawaiian music. Israel's 'somwhere over the rainbow' was preveiously release on his Facing Future cd; it is a must have.

The "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" medley is by the late, great, Hawaiian singer, Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo`ole. There are web sites dedicated to him, and other music is available, with the Makaha Sons and solo. He was born May 20, 1959 and passed away at age 38. It is always something special to hear his voice floating in the air around us.

This is one of the few soundtracks which chooses "songs" over a score, and it still produces a work of marvelous integrity. I'm probably one of many who considered immediate purchase of this CD upon seeing Miles Davis's name amongs the credits. Where I may rank among a fewer number of people is that I bought it because its producer, Hal Willner. Hal is one of the most intelligent ans tasteful producers in the business. You may remember some of his most notable works. He put together collections of Kurt Weil, Charles Mingus, and Thelonious Monk's music, in each case performed by people specially brought together for these sessions. In addition to this, what always stands out in Wilner work is his choice of musicians, selecting people who are not normally associated with the composers being honored. For instance choosing Lou Reed to sing Weil's "September Song", to name one such choice. Yet the key here is that the ultimate result is not a "crazy marriage" but a lovely, unexpected association. In Finding Forrester, he chooses Miles as the thread of the movie's sound. I think is no coincidence that the tunes (in some cases is not the whole piece) represent a period in Davis' life in which he was a reclusive, as the main character is in this movie. There's a contemplative quality to these pieces, specially "Little Church," which establish Forrester's world as much as it probably defined Miles' mood. Two more notable additions are Bill Frissell and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Both of them rendered versions of "Over the Rainbow" that are worth buying the CD by themselves. Ornette Coleman's contributions, challenging and personal as any of his compositions are, work very well in the context of the movie but are, somewhat, disruptive to the listening flow. Overall, one of the greatest soundtracks this year. I don't give it five stars because it does not beat buying Miles' (where most of these tunes come from). Welcome yourself to the brilliant insight of Hal Wilner, bask in Miles' music, and get yourself a copy.

FINALLY!! I now own the most beautiful, poignant, simply elegant version of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World" medley. This song alone is worth the CD's full retail price. I fell in love with this song when I heard the haunting "MMM MMM MMM..." intro on the etoys.com commercial and the second half of the medley on a PBS nature program promo. GET THIS CD!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!

I noticed some reviewers were looking for the song at the end of the film and during the bike scene of Finding Forrester. The composer is Bill Brown. You can download the song at Billbrownmusic.com

I was looking for it too and I found it. I hope this helps.

It is unfortunate that neither Amazon.com or the movie credits list Hawaiian treasure Israel Kamakawiwo`ole as the singer of the gentle medley of "somewhere over the Rainbow/what a wonderful World". I first heard his angelic voice on a world beat station out of Portland, Oregon last December and immediately came to this site to find out who/what - the combination of his incredible voice and ukelele are genuine and refreshing and appropriately applied to an inspiring movie.

Gus Van Sant, the filmmaker responsible for "Finding Forrester," chose Jazz pioneer Miles Davis to guide us through this complex drama. Van Sant, who used Elliot Smith's lonesome ballads to pull heart strings in "Good Will Hunting," uses some of Miles Davis' most solitary and contemplative music to accopmany his film on writting. In fact the last track on the album "In A Silent Way" musically parallels the act of writting and thinking. The song is complex but gentle and features Miles at his creative, post-fusion best. "In A Silent Way," and all the tracks on this album (some by Bill Frissel) are like well behaved children, evoking all the complexities and beauty of life yet demanding no atttention or energy. perfect music to accompany the solitary act of writting or just a quiet day.

The infusion of Jazz in the scoring of a movie that was designed to appeal to a wide audience was risky even with Sean Connery in a starring role and executive producer. Jazz and youngsters!!? It worked because the opening scene screamed Hip Hop and "this movie is urban hip!" The genuinely creamy texture of "Over the Rainbow" made me run to the nearest computer to order the CD. Neither one disappointed me.

There should be a clarification of the editorial review because it is misleading. Sean Connery plays a recluse and famous popular author whose book is a reading assignment in a school for intelligently gifted students. The reluctant hero of the story gets into this school via his high test scores and basketball skills. This kid has two loves; basketball with his buddies "from the hood" and writing. By simple peer pressure, he meets Forrester "on a dare" from his buddies. The reclusive, binocular loving Forrester lives in an apartment overlooking the basketball court. The Internet only comes into play when it is necessary for the kid to find out who Forrester really is. I think the editorial reviewer fell asleep during this movie because it does move a little slowly, but it is slow as in the fluid sounds of Jazz. Get it? Wake up!

I bought this CD for Israel Kamakawe-ole's rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a wonderful world, and I ended up falling in love with the musical stylings of Bill Frisell. This CD is very Jazz heavy, so be forewarned.

The soundtrack to this movie, Finding Forrester, gives one a unique blend of great musicians such as Miles Davis mixed with Bill Frissell. Beautiful soundtrack that never took one away from the movie but enhanced every moment with inspirational Africna American Choir singing to a mellow Somewhere Over the Rainbow.