[.ca] Finding Nemo

From Amazon.com:
Will it become another rich Newman family tradition? Picking up the baton his cousin Randy carried so skillfully on Disney/Pixar's four previous pioneering computer animation features, composer Thomas Newman was undaunted, bringing his own highly original scoring sensibility to the studio's latest digital daydream--an effort that's also the younger Newman's own debut score for an animated feature. Tom's consistently unique approach to matters of rhythm and percussion are as forceful and inventive as ever in this undersea adventure, while his passages for orchestra resonate with the same quintessentially American pastoral melancholy his songwriting cousin has long employed in his work. The result is dynamic, diverse, and uniquely personal as any modern animated feature. Especially rewarding are the jazz/exotica/kitsch flourishes Newman playfully throws into the mix, diffusing his ever nervous rhythms with unexpected, quirky colorations. It's a must for any fan of Newman's evocative canon. Contemporary crooner Robbie Williams rounds out proceedings with a faithful, jazzy take on Bobby Darin's classic "Beyond the Sea." --Jerry McCulley

Thomas Newman Succeeds Again:
First, let's get my bias out of the way: I'm a longtime fan of Thomas Newman film scores. This one is not my favorite of his, but it is very good nonetheless, and totally captures the feeling and the flavor of the movie. It is good enough that, while watching the movie the first time, I heard the opening few minutes of music and not only recognized that Newman was the composer, but knew that I wanted to buy this CD once I left the theater. The fact that the tracks are so short means that you don't get to hear any of the great little themes for more than a minute or two at a time, but when you listen to the album as a whole, it's very satisfying -- you sorta have to let the music wash over you and not pay too much attention to individual tracks. For people who like this music and want more Thomas Newman in their lives, I recommend The Shawshank Redemption and Meet Joe Black (my favorite Newman score) for nice orchestral music, and American Beauty and Road to Perdition for a more percussive, quirky flavor.

Question...:
THIS IS NOT A REVIEW, IT IS A QUESTION ABOUT A SONG ON THE MOVIE, SO DISREGARD THE RATING... Has anyone noticed that Newman has a similar riff on the Pay It Forward soundtrack as he does on Finding Nemo? The song that it occurs on in Pay It Forward is Possibility and is a recurring theme throughout the movie. I also noticed the exact same melody at the end of Finding Nemo (sadly, I have not watched the whole movie, but I worked at a movie theatre and heard it on the credits as I was cleaning up). The melody occurs in the end credits when the baby turtle swims across the screen, followed by the rest of the turtles, who swim past quickly. Does anyone know the name of the song that it is on in Finding Nemo? Just curious, I really like the piano on it; it reminds me of Linus & Lucy, for some odd reason (if the rest of the soundtrack is reminiscent of this song, then it richly deserves five stars. Thanks.

Over the Ocean, Beyond the Sea:
When I first saw "Finding Nemo" in the theatre, I wasn't yet aware just who had composed the score for the film. However, it became clear to me in the first few scenes that nobody other than Thomas Newman could have created those lush string arrangements and soft piano solos... and I couldn't have been more delighted. Thomas Newman has quickly become a favorite of mine over the past few years. His scores are highly original, and despite the fact that he composes a wide range of music for many different types of films, his style is very quickly recognizable. He always suits his music to the subject matter of the film, a choice which works perfectly for "Finding Nemo." Throughout the film, Newman's music evokes the feeling of the ocean. There is a depth to it, a vast expansiveness that accentuates the physical presence of the water of the sea. Soft, muted piano movements and strong brass themes, all layered over a rich background of strings throughout. Simply put, it's beautiful music, whether you listen to it in the film or all by itself. While evocative of the setting of the film, Newman's music for "Finding Nemo" also works powerfully on the emotional level. Each short piece seems composed specifically to enhance the feeling of a scene, and each accomplishes that goal. Sadness, joy, danger, and humor are all expressed -- sometimes one at the same time as another -- but never overstated. Unlike many composers, Newman's real talent is being able to express emotion through his music subtly, without overplaying anything. He injects the music with just the right level of emotion, and lets it simply wash over the listener, giving them room to experience the emotions the score evokes without forcing it upon them. It is a rare talent, and prevalent throughout this score. The final thing I appreciated about "Finding Nemo" was that Newman didn't approach it as "just a kids' movie." Many skilled composers seem to feel the need to simplify, or even dumb down, their themes just because a film is targeted for children. It is a trap that often makes the music suffer. Newman does not fall into that trap -- the music for "Finding Nemo" is mature and complex, and works brilliantly for the film. Newman doesn't pander to the audience, and I think that's what make the music (and the film) work so well as a whole. This is not my favorite Thomas Newman score, but it is certainly representative of why I've come to love his music so much. As in most of the films he has worked on, I come to the inescapable conclusion that any other composer would not have expressed the feeling of the film as skillfully, or moved the audience so much. The final measure of the score's success is (as it should be) how well the music merges with not only the events of the film, but the themes and the emotions of it. Newman's music for "Finding Nemo" does it all perfectly, and with astonishing grace. Simply put, this is what good movie music is all about.

Fun, energetic and beautiful:
Thomas Newman was the perfect choice of composer for this film. His style is instantly recognizable, as is his melodic touch. The score travels through nearly every musical genre - which perhaps is the reason for its success. Most fans of Newman will pick up hints of American Beauty and Road to Perdition, while even casual listeners will enjoy it's upbeat, energetic nature. The highlight track is the stunning "Nemo Egg" (later reprised in "Fronds Like These") - but virtually every track is excellent in its own way. It even has the "underwater" atmosphere, and the exotic instruments and percussion (superb arrangements) just add to this soundscape. Perhaps the tracks are a bit short (they seem to rise up just to end off), but in terms of originality and charactar, this score is superb. I doubt any other composer in Hollywood could have done a better job. Treat yourself. Get it.

...Hovering between great to just good:
The movie is great, so is the music for it as well except I don't think kids that enjoyed the movie will really appreciate the beauty of the score because in the past Disney/Pixar have associated their movies with songs with vocals, namely the characters in the movies singing the songs...and obviously they break that trend here in Finding Nemo. So this soundtrack could only be geared for any adult because as you and I know, kids hate any form of classical music or would feel a little embrassed to admit to it. Putting all of that to the side, this is still a very good score but not Thomas Newman's best, not in a long shot and he seemed like a very unlikely candidate for this kind of film because his prior scores have always been very dramatic and obviously there would have to have some amount of humour feel to this score but he does pull it off. I find the tracks are much to short and it hards to actually form a emotional attachment to the music and there are several tracks that lead you that way but to suddenly have it stop...I feel as though I was being teased with something that would be so profound but that would only be short lived.

• Wow
• Barracuda
• Nemo Egg (Main Title)
• First Day
• Field Trip
• Mr. Ray, Scientist
• The Divers
• Lost
• Short-Term Dory
• Why Trust a Shark?
• Friends Not Food
• Fish-O-Rama
• Gill
• Mt. Wannahockaloogi
• Foolproof
• Squishy
• Jellyfish Forest
• Stay Awake
• School of Fish
• Filter Attempt
• The Turtle Lope
• Curl Away My Son
• News Travels
• The Little Clownfish from the Reef
• Darla Filth Offramp
• Lost in Fog
• Scum Angel
• Haiku
• Time to Let Go
• Sydney Harbour
• Pelicans
• Drill
• Fish in My Hair!
• All Drains Lead to the Ocean
• ...P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney
• Fishing Grounds
• Swim Down
• Finding Nemo
• Fronds Like These
• Beyond the Sea