What You Need to Know: I've finally come to a point in my soundtrack appreciation where I can comfortably accept what each Thomas Newman score offers. Though I often hope he can open things up a bit from the confines of intimate, dramatic fare, it seems as though this won't happen. This is due both to his style and choice of projects -- the dramatic world is essentially his realm and he seems to be happy in it. This mindset enables me, and might help you, gain a better appreciation of his music.
Brothers is a very nice score by Thomas and is completely within the sphere of his specialty. The tone of the score is heartfelt, at times charming, and in other instances, bleak. Basically, all the musical elements a movie like
Brothers would need for its backbone are here, and whether audiences are acutely aware of it or not, this score ultimately makes it the good movie that it is.
On the soundtrack, the cues are brief but do last long enough to make the tracks viable. The flow of the music transitions from sentimental and uplifting, to droning darkness. The sway of emotions in the story dictated this and Thomas does a nifty job of keeping the lines in balance. Ultimately, Brothers makes for a quaint, enjoyable listen that will prompt one to return to it now and again. It's brief but it hits the spot!
