Customer Reviews

Pleasantville: Original Motion Picture Score

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3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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I've been a fan of Randy Newman since his "Little Criminals" album of 1978. And although he probably didn't do much more than lip synch in it, I consider his "I Love L.A. video to be the best video ever made (take that, you Thriller fans)!

But Randy Newman's musical forte is in scoring and soundtrack work, whether for television shows like the late and unlamented "Cop Rock" or for movies, like "Ragtime" and "The Natural", just to name a few.

"Pleasantville" falls into the latter category. His score of the 1998 movie starring Tobey Maguire is his best work yet. "The Pleasantville Theme Song" is very evocative of 50's tv shows like "Father Knows Best" and fits the mood of the movie.

"Real Rain" is a particularly beautiful piece of music, especially the climax of the piece. In the movie, you hear it both in the rain sequence and in the scene where Bud sees the color television sets in the window of the appliance store. It sets a mood of unfolding and discovery of the new and works incredibly well.

But the best piece of music on this soundtrack, as mentioned by other reviewers, is "The Mural". Again, this piece is used twice in the movie: once when the townspeople see the mural, and earlier in the movie where Bill Johnson is looking through the art book that Bud has brought him from the library. I get teary-eyed listening to this piece, and I don't know of a single piece of music in any score of any movie that creates such emotion except for "Father Kobe's Preaching" from the soundtrack of "The Truman Show".

I think it'll take Randy Newman a while to outdo himself on this one.

This CD may be hard to find now; if so, consider just buying the DVD and setting your player to hear the music tracks, uniquely interspersed with Randy Newman's commentary. It is fascinating.

You may know that Randy Newman's family is steeped in music, expecialy film composition. His father was Lionel Newman. He's written many popular songs, but his music for the movies will probably last the longest.

His music for Pleasantville is the best he's ever done. The opening of the "Pleasantville Suite" better expresses unrealized yearning than anything I've ever heard. Newman's already worked in the style of Aaron Copland in many of his film scores, perhaps most memorably in "The Natural," but the tilt he puts on this style for Pleasantville is fascinating.

Following the film's demeanor, he has to work from patronizing "Americana," into playing along, and finally into complete involvement in order to support the deepened understanding the characters grow into.

Pleasantville is a story about trapped people happy not knowing they're trapped, becoming desperately unhappy with knowledge, and finally living out an unknown future. Newman's music suits perfectly. He already is recognized for his gift in film score; this work seals that reputation.

Randy Newman is a composer you may know from his work in several Disney movies, such as 'Toy Story', 'Toy Story 2', 'A Bug's Life', and 'James and the Giant Peach'. As far as I'm concerned, Pleasantville is his best work to date. Newman did an excellent job in referencing tv music from the 50's, as well as just composing some of the most beautiful movie music ever. 'Real Rain', 'The Mural', and 'A New Day' are some of the best tracks on the CD. He also does a fine job composing music for the few serious or menacing cues in the movie. My only complaint is that this CD is quite short. One track is only 15 seconds long. But then again, I don't recall them leaving anything out, so I guess I can't complain too much. However, just for the sheer beauty of the music, this CD is worth the buy. Hey, at least Randy Newman does us all a favor and doesn't sing on this CD!

This score by Randy Newman is the best score that was produced by any score composer last year. The "Pleasantville Theme" is very reminiscent of those old TV shows, capturing the essence of the fifties. "Real Rain" is one of the most beautifully written pieces of score ever written, with the most wonderful strings I have ever heard. Although, the real emotion jerker, I feel, is "The Mural." Every time I hear that, I get goose bumps. It is the most beatiful piece of score that could compliment such a beautiful piece of the film; while looking at a colorful mural of the reckonings of Pleasantville. It has a beauty and resonant quality that is so wonderful, you find yourself giving in to it, visualizing all things good in your mind, as the cymbals make their climatic sound, sending the shivers down your spine. Even though this score was not awarded with the Oscar it deserved, it will live on as one of the most compelling and beautiful scores, not just for Randy Newman, but for all time.

There is an exceptional track in this--"The Mural". Otherwise, just a very dreamy soundtrack with splashes of reality here and there. A wonderful movie, too. Somewhat Elfman-esque, with the dreaminess of the main theme and the use of voices. The tracks are short, and are by turn funny or whimsical.

I love soundtracks and this is one of the best soundtracks ever written. It just makes you want to curl up on the couch in a blanket with hot cocoa. Randy Newman is great.

I loved Randy Newman's score from the first time I saw the movie. It provides a perfect accompaniment to an excellent movie, and is outstanding by itself as well. "Real Rain" is a beautiful melody and works well with the scene. "Another Day" is also fantastic. Highly recommended!

This soundtrack shows exactly how great Randy Newman can be. The music truly captures the spirit of the film. Sure, it's short, but worth every penny.

I must admit that I am no music expert, really. I may be in band, and I may aspire to someday myself become a composer. But in all there is to know about style and such, I have only picked up what my quite well-trained ear has picked up from my collection of classical and film score CD's. In Pleasantville, I did hear traces of what my mind registered as Copland, and I pride myself on the connection. But what I heard mostly was Newman; more importantly, I heard music. Pleasantville is one of my most cherished CD's. I wish it were longer. I also wonder why the tracks are out of order--maybe it is to display with what expertise Newman switches from mood to mood. The music is colorful, rich at times and monotonic at other times--creative, to say the least. The opening theme sweeps you into a town where worry and trouble are far from the mind of the citizens. Bud's A Hero in more ways than one, as a tense theme mounts. Real Rain begins to slowly trickle, and soon turns into a beautiful piece that teaches us that perspective is everything--even rain can be a lovely thing, to those who have never felt it. And just when you think you're safe from change in the bowling alley.. You can go on and on about your favorite composer. Newman this, Goldsmith that...but one thing I have learned is that everyone has their horrible scores and everyone has their greatest. I have heard many a score in the short time I have been around. I own and frequently listen to my fair share of Elfman, Kamen, Horner, Goldsmith, and everyone else. There are, however, only two CD's I own out of 105 that move me in a deep, emotional, unbelievable way EVERY time that I listen to them (and believe me, I could listen to them forever): Edward Scissorhands, by Danny Elfman, and Pleasantville, by my good man Randy Newman. Buy it, love it, live it--and watch the movie nearly win an Oscar!

Randy Newman's lovely and lyrical score to PLEASANTVILLE is one of his most enjoyable works, ranking with THE NATURAL and AVALON as one of his finest scores. Not surprisingly, Newman's music for PLEASANTVILLE is steeped in "Americana" as it was for those two earlier films. Newman's best music owes a debt to Aaron Copland, an obvious influence. This score is no exception. But what is also interesting to note is that Newman seems to excell when dealing with films set in early to mid 20th Century America, regardless of their subject matter. This is a great score to a disappointing film. No doubt Newman should again receive an Oscar nomination (if not for PLEASANTVILLE, then for the equally fine A BUG'S LIFE) this year. It would be nice to see him finally win.