The Illusionist - OST (Philip Glass, 2006)

[X.]

Philip Glass is an old fogey. I mean that as a compliment. Glass can be compared with the great masters of classical music. His is the kind of epic, opulent sound that has 'epic but intimate' written all over it. The kind of sound that makes you want to go rent a tux and start attending the local concert hall (if you have one, we don't.)

Using a complete orchestra as support, Glass takes full advantage of "The Illusionist's" period setting -- the 19th century Vienna -- to create an rich, evocative sound. The film is about magic and mystery and romance and politics. But you wouldn't necessarily need to see it first to know this. This score is majestrial enough. The album has 21 tracks each ranging on average 2 minutes. Played back-to-back, they play perfectly as stand-ins to the story of the film. The titles of the tracks betray this insight: "Do You Know Me," "Chance Encounter," "The Locket"...right up to the end with the cheerful "Life in the Mountains."

The opening track aptly titled "The Illusionist" is minimalist and moving; it immediately establishes the tone of the film and this album. Other favourites include "The Orange Tree" and the foreboding and menace in "Eisenheim Disappears" which also has an unmissable piano pop as the track tapers off. Very sinister. This has to be one of the best film scores ever.

Rating:
out of

[fizz]

From what I heard in the film, this is a great score and one of Glass' best, though nothing can top the phenomenal music in the underwhelming film Undertow. Ak, what did you think of his work in the atrocious The hours. His music was perhaps the only reason i sat through that entire film.

[X.]

Haven't seen "The Hours," fizz, but I've heard such great things all about Glass' score...

[kaytee]

How can you guys concentrate on the Music and the movie at the same time. If i'm watching a movie then I'm concentrating on what is happening on the screen and the dialogues not to the music. If I want to hear music then i will go to my MP3 player.

[X.]

We're not talking about Bollywood movies 

[fizz]

Kaytee...I don't agree. Thats like asking: "How can you concentrate on the performances of an actor when you are watching the film?"

To me, like anything else, a film is based on components that work together and the music or the score is one such element. Curiously, one of the first things I noticed and immediately felt good about when 'The Illusionist' started playing was the strength of the music. I had similar reactions to some of the films of M. Night, like the excellent opening to 'Unbreakable' which you pick up as soon as the film begins.

[shariqq]

Even Signs. and most obviously in Lord Of The Rings.

[kaytee]

I agree with your views but honestly I can never remember the music in a movie. I have seen Unbreakable 3 times and love the movie but I still cant remember what music you are talking about. Maybe I perceive movies differently.

[shariqq]

For me, it is generally only the Theme music from these movies instead of the whole Soundtrack. Themes form Unbreakable, Batman Begins, LOTR, Requeim for a Dream are something I listen to a lot in my car.