• Composed by Laurent Eyquem
• Varèse Sarabande / 31m

With an amazing ensemble cast featuring Jon Hamm, Nick Offerman and many others, Mark Pellington’s Nostalgia is one of those films that follows various people and the ties that link them together, the connection this time being loss. Laurent Eyquem’s score is completely gorgeous.  The “Opening Theme” has a jazzy tinge – sultry, smoky, melancholic, very beautiful.  Piano features prominently in that and indeed most cues: the following “A Life in Pictures” sees the strings join in for the first time.  It’s heartmelting – so sincere and full of emotion.  And then “The Granddaughter” – it’s even better.  Tender and soft but packing a heavyweight emotional punch, it’s really quite something.

The score continues in this vein – lots of piano and cello solos, support coming from the strings, the lonesome trumpet solo of the first track returning occasionally – it’s all very finely-wrought music, often delicate and when it does get bigger the effect is certainly powerful.  Yes the material is quite samey but at half an hour, this is hardly a problem.  The film’s unifying theme of loss is certainly borne out in the music which is generally very sad – and if you are one of those people who thinks film music should avoid being manipulative then (a) you miss the point of film music and (b) you should definitely steer clear of this – through it all is real, undiluted beauty.  I’ve been really impressed with Laurent Eyquem – everything I’ve heard by him has been good – there’s no doubt that this sort of intimate drama really brings out the best in him.  Impressive album.

Rating: ****

facebook.com/moviewave | twitter.com/MovieWaveDotNet | amazon.com