United 93 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [SOUNDTRACK]

John Powell (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B000FMGTVW
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #188,103 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As fans of his work for the Bourne movies know, John Powell's strength lies in the way he integrates electronics into efficient, relatively straightforward scores. United 93 may be his most subdued effort yet. Powell could just have written easily identifiable themes for the main characters, or at least themes distinguishing the passengers and the hijackers: instead, he's come up with a general mood rather than distinctive cues. It's pretty amazing, though, to hear the subtle details that have been worked into tracks that, on the surface, are fairly uniform. On "Pull the Tapes," for instance, clattering drums suddenly surge out of oppressive low frequencies before retreating back; later, the electronic heartbeat-like pulse quickens, suggesting mounting anxiety while the drums can be still heard in the distance. It's simple and very effective. On "The Pilots," strings hesitate, as if on the verge of an abyss, while a dull beat pounds relentlessly; the lengthy suite "Phone Calls" relies on ominous low frequencies to evoke dread, until brass starts wailing around the six-minute mark, confirming the impending horror. Note that Powell's own young son, Oliver, contributes the eerie vocals on "Prayers" and "Dedication." --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Powell Provides A Subtle & Haunting Score To Paul Greengrass' Emotional Film, July 2, 2006

By	Kaya Savas (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews

John Powell is a very versitile composer. He can score any genre with any tone and his music always plays a huge role in the films he composes, very much like everyone at Media Ventures. Director Paul Greengrass seems to have already found a new composing partner in Powell. He composed The Bourne Supremacy for Greengrass, now United 93, and Powell is slated to compose The Bourne Ultimatum also directed by Greengrass. With United 93 Powell decides to go with a subtle and haunting score that you barely notice in the film. The film is an emotional powehouse that is expertly made and will shake you at your core. A heavily present musical score is not really needed for a film of this nature, and Powell definately knew that.

This score is as haunting as it is beautiful. The majority of the score is actually nothing but electronic percussion and synthesizers, and is used for the tension building of the film's nature. The first and last tracks are definately the highlights of the album since they are both so similar and different at the same time. The first track will send chills down your spine as it suggests the impending doom of flight 93. The very last track has a completely different tone and is more relaxed, but you can still feel the sorrow and heartbreak in the music. It brought me to tears when I listened to it for the first time. Powell also uses a solo boy vocal in those first and last tracks to an astounding effect. All the boy is singing is a simple "la . . . la . . . la . . . laaaaaa" with a sweeping string ensamble in the background. There is so much emotion in the one voice, the one innocent fragile voice of the entire score. John Powell continues to show he is one of Hollywood's most versitile and talented composers with this subtle masterpiece.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Score For A Remarkable Film, June 26, 2006

By	Erik North (San Gabriel, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I don't think there is too much question that UNITED 93, the story of the one hijacked aircraft that fell short of its intended target on September 11, 2001, will end up on many film critics' Top Ten lists of the best movies of 2006. Writer/director Paul Greengrass and his cast did a superb job of trying to recreate what may have gone on during that flight's terrifying journey.

But credit should also be paid to composer John Powell for creating a brooding and atmospheric score that perfectly fits the film's quasi-documentary feel of psychological horror. It is frequently dissonant, consisting of low bass, drum beats, and synthesizers, setting up the film's nightmarish true-life story without drawing excessive attention to itself. One can draw some parallels to John Williams' score for MUNICH, or to Jerry Fielding's for Sam Peckinpah's 1971 horror masterpiece STRAW DOGS, for Powell's UNITED 93 score being the kind that gets under your skin without being overly distractive. With so much emphasis being placed on audience manipulation in many a Hollywood film score or soundtrack, UNITED 93 does it the best way by sucking the audience in and have them listen to how the music sets up little things that add up to the whole picture. This is a staggering piece of work that should, and will hopefully, be recognized come Oscar time in early 2007.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars United 93, June 20, 2006

By	Jordan "Jordan" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

What a remarkable and beautiful score this is. The background vocals in some tracks are pure divine. This soundtrack gives you a clear idea of the movie and how it was for the men and women killed in 9-11. Let this music be harmonized in our spirites and let the men and women that died in 9-11, remain peacefully with god...

1. Prayers 5/5
2. Pull The Tapes 4/5
3. Take Off 4/5
4. 2nd Plane Crash 5/5
5. Making The Bomb 4/5
6. The Pilots 5/5
7. The Pentagon 4/5
8. Phone Calls 5/5
9. The End 5/5
10. Dedication 5/5

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3. The Da Vinci Code oringinal soundtrack
Hope you enjoy this masterpeice...

Jordan
Overall grade* A-