|
| Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain
(Amélie)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share on Facebook
Buy this cd at Amazon.com : $10.99, iTunes : €9,99 (or less)
 | | Directed by: Jean Pierre Jeunet
Actors: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Yolande Moreau, Artus De Penguern, Urbain Cancelier, Dominique Pinon, Maurice Bénichou, Claude Perron, Michel Robin, Isabelle Nanty, Clotilde Mollet
Date: 25/04/2001 Genre: Comedy Romance
Duration: 120 minutes Country: France
More info at Cinenews |
Write now your own review for this soundtrack!
|
Reviews
Filmmusicsite.com editor score: 9/10
Review of Andreas Lindahl, submitted at 2008-01-20 21:25:40, score: 8/10
Amélie. Or Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain as the original French title reads. Both the film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen, City of Lost Children and Alien Resurrection), and its score are some of the best hidden gems of 2001. I wouldn't be too surprised if the film actually wins an Academy Award for best foreign film. And don't be surprised if the music, by Yann Tiersen, gets a nomination for best score, as well. Who knows, it might even win. The Academy seems to like melodic and lyrical scores for European films Il Postino and Life is Beautiful both come to mind). And you know what, although the Academy mostly works in mysterious ways, them giving an Oscar to Tiersen is something I could live with.
With a wonderful Audrey Tautou (is it legal to be that cute?) in the leading role, Amélie revolves around the life of a shy and innocent young girl named Amélie Poulain, who lives alone in a small apartment in Montmartre, Paris and spends her days working as a waitress in a café. One day, just having heard the terrible news about the death of Princess Diana, she finds an old, dusty box filled with photos and toys, behind a wall in her bathroom. She decides that if she can find the owner (now an adult man), return the box to him and make him happy, she will dedicate her life to helping people. If the film sounds charming, warm and colorful to you, the reason probably is that it actually is charming, warm and colorful.
The same goes for Yann Tiersen's score. Charming, melodic and innocent, it reflects the nature of the naive Amélie really well. There are no "Mickey Mousing" in this score. Tiersen seems to pay attention to and underscore the mood of the scene, rather than following the action on screen in every detail. Thankfully. Because this makes it incredibly easy to enjoy this score on CD, as a standalone listen.
Heavily influenced by traditional French music, the music is performed by strings, accordion, piano and a small number of other instruments. Tiersen performes the majority of the instruments himself, from the piano and vibraphone to the banjo and toy piano. Strings are used in a couple of cues, but the orchestral sound is mostly very small throughout the entire score. There are a lot of solo performances by the piano and the accordion, and with cues dominated by lively waltzes this is a score that without doubt makes the listener happy. After having seen the film, I left the cinema with a big smile and every listen to this score leaves me with an equally large smile and a warm heart. Something I always welcome here in the cold and dark winters of Scandinavia.
Two source cues, not composed by Tiersen, are included as well. Although they are quite decent, they're somewhat distracting since they interrupt the flow of Tiersen's score. Amélie is not for everyone, though. If you don't enjoy cheery, happy music with a French twist, performed by accordion and piano stay as far away from this score as you possibly can.
Read other recent reviews by Andreas Lindahl: The Rocketeer, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Phantom of the Opera
Tracks
1. J'y Suis Jamais Allé
2. Les Jours Tristes (instrumental)
3. La Valse D'amélie
4. Comptine D'un Autre été : L'après-midi
5. La Noyée
6. L'autre Valse D'amélie
7. Guilty
8. A Quai
9. Le Moulin
10. Pas Si Simple
11. La Valse D'amélie (version Orchestre)
12. La Valse Des Vieux Os
13. La Dispute
14. Si Tu N'étais Pas Là (fréhel)
15. Soir De Fête
16. La Redécouverte
17. Sur Le Fil
18. Le Banquet
19. La Valse D'amélie (version Piano)
20. La Valse Des Monstres
Awards World Soundtrack Awards: Best Original Soundtrack of the Year (Winner)
World Soundtrack Awards: Soundtrack Composer of the Year (Nominee)
Suggestions
The Best European Soundtracks
         
|
Filmmusicsite.com is Copyright © 1998-2010 by Arvid Fossen
|
