"The Interpreter"
Score Composed by James Newton Howard
Audio Clips : Matobo | End Credits

James Newton Howard kicks off what should be a busy and significant summer movie season for him with "The Interpreter," a suspenseful and interesting score for Sydney Pollack's latest directorial outing.

JNH, who always shows an ability to create an effective underscore to compliment his themes, does so again for this film and does it immediately! Track 1 is a brooding and dramatic beginning to the score, and creates an immediate sense of drama. The conclusion to this very same track reveals melodies that hint at political intrigue. Quite a well-rounded way to start the score!

As the rest of the score begins to get underway, you'll notice a nice mix of electronics and orchestral elements. Perhaps one of the best at blending the two styles with such acute subtlety, JNH balances the moods of the film effortlessly. By track 3, 'Tobin Comes Home,' the listener is quite engrossed with the mood of this sonic world.

As the score continues, a surprising presence of a choral variety enters the mix at track 6, and thus continues to build upon the high quality of the soundtrack. While this is not a film that seemed to require a highly notable main theme, the aforementioned underscore does its job very effectively. What makes it even better is that there is enough of a thematic quality to it that the music comes across very enjoyable. Thus is the case with this particularly track.

Giving way to spurts of action fare, JNH gets things rolling in earnest with 'Simon's Journals,' a percussive and tense bit of music that heightens the intensity of the music a few more bars.

The deeper I got into the score, the more I realized that this was a complete effort. There is a balance to this album, and when such musical unity is captured by JNH, he is one of the most formidable composers in the industry!

In summary, I am again left impressed with the skill of writing and execution that JNH brings to the music. While no sum of the parts on this album can be viewed as a breakthrough, the full experience of the music together can be appreciated as a better than average listening experience.

Final Score: A captivating, and at times intense musical journey that balances emotion along with musical style. This one's worth a sound check!

Composition Comparisons: A mix of "Unbreakable" meets "The Fugitive"

1. Matobo 8:21 2. Silvia is Followed 1:24 3. Tobin Comes Home 2:18 4. Silvia's Background 1:06 5. Phillippe 1:29 6. Drowning Man Trail 1:47 7. Guy Forgot His Lunch 3:03 8. The Phone Call 1:11 9. Simon's Journals 3:06 10. Silvia Showers 2:53 11. Did He Leave A Note? 3:58 12. Zuwanie Arrives at UN 6:00 13.Assassin 4:14 14. End Credits (Atolago) 4:10 Total Time: 45:06   Audio Clips: Matobo | End Credits Back to Soundtrack Reviews