Magnolia

Magnolia mostly interests me in the way the film score interacts with the story.  There is a film score in the sense of their being a sort of symphonic composed pieces and these create tension in perfect moments.  There is one score that has a sort of repetition and quick beat that builds tension in the earlier third of the film. A bit after a lumbering score that to me created a sort of suspense or dread…somehow I knew that bad things were going to happen. And indeed they did.  It is astounding how simple notes and instruments can create such a feeling.  It makes me wonder if this is something ingrained in us emotionally or if it is a societal influence.  I would like to believe it is the former, even foreign film can evoke the same feelings with the same type of notes and sounds.  Music it seems can be a universal language…interesting to think about.

What is even more interesting to me however is the use of a pop artist to create songs for the film and that also drive the film.  As Reay states, pop music in film is not a new concept and is used quite often. However, it isn’t often that the pop music drives the film.  This is seen mainly in the part where all the characters end up singing the same song.  It is a pivotal moment in the film. A moment of introspection and decision making on all the characters parts.  They start to realize what their lives are like and what they can, and should, do about it. Reay talks about how Anderson was listening to Mann as he was writing the film and lines from songs of hers both inspired him and the characters created. Music often inspires people to write certain things but in this case not only was Anderson inspired but the music became part of the film and himself. Since the music by Mann was so important, it is felt in the film. Whenever one of her songs comes on something incredible happens or you feel a certain emotion and depth to these scenes.  It does something some modern scores or scores in general cannot.