Bridge of Spies (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the Steven Spielberg-directed historical drama film "Bridge of Spies", released by Hollywood Records, alongside the film on October 16, 2015. It is the second Spielberg film not to be scored by John Williams after "The Color Purple" (1985). The film was scored by Thomas Newman, who replaced Williams in March 2015, due to health complications. The score was critically acclaimed and received nominations for Academy Award for Best Original Score and BAFTA Award for Best Film Music in 2016.
Background.
In March 2015, Spielberg's regular collaborator John Williams was set to compose the score for the film. However, Williams exited from the project two weeks later, citing health issues, and was replaced by Thomas Newman; John Williams would however score for "The BFG".
While Newman worked with several directors in his two-decade long career, he felt working with Spielberg was a "little intimidating" and further said "You sit with him in a room, and you're playing something — a piece of music. And you trust how he responds. And so I would just try to get those feelings that evoked that in him. His instincts are pretty unerring. It was very clear, but it was never doctrinaire, it was never dogmatic at all. I think he was very interested in getting into the creative heart of anyone he collaborates with."
The score consisted of piano cues layered with string motifs, implementing many of his previous scores, but also met Spielberg's aesthetic on its own terms, favoring "big, unembarrassed emotions and moments of uncynical beauty".
Critical reception.
James Southall of "Movie Wave" wrote ""Bridge of Spies" is the third of Newman’s four scores this year.  It’s a diverse bunch – a gentle comedy, a moving documentary, a political thriller and a Bond movie.  They’re all very good but for my money this is the pick of them.  It’s got real life to it and, while Newman employs a number of familiar techniques, he manages to keep everything sounding fresh and always engaging.  It’s already been announced that John Williams will return for Spielberg’s next movie, "The BFG", but when the time does eventually come to choose his successor, the director need look no further." Jonathan Broxton stated "Thankfully, Newman did not try to write a John Williams score for this film – it would have served no-one if Newman failed at being Williams, while simultaneously failing at being himself. It bears all his personal idiosyncratic compositional hallmarks, many of which will be over-familiar to some listeners, and as such may elicit accusations of Newman writing the same old score again." and concluded "Whether Thomas Newman will go on to be Steven Spielberg’s regular collaborator in the future is unclear, but if "Bridge of Spies" tells us one thing, it’s that the legacy of John Williams will be in good hands if he does."
"Mfiles.com" wrote "In an era of so much mass-produced, homogenous film music, it's a bracing joy to know that unique talents like Thomas Newman are being utilized on superb films like "Bridge of Spies". He's a rare composer with a truly, almost defiantly singular voice, a keen dramatist who carefully builds a sense of mood across each of his soundtracks before richly rewarding the listeners in the home stretch." "Filmtracks.com" wrote "Depending on your mood for this type of introspective thriller music with a wholesome bent, "Bridge of Spies" could be a three-star or four-star effort, though given its smart match for the film, the latter rating is fairer for the patient listener."
"The Guardian"'s Mark Kermode called Newman's score as "surprisingly understated". Anthony Lane of "The New Yorker" opined "while Spielberg has shifted in his choice of composer, from John Williams to Thomas Newman, the shift is not far enough. He should have taken his cue from Otto Preminger, who leavened "Anatomy of a Murder" his courtroom masterwork of 1959, with the music of Duke Ellington. We even saw the Duke onscreen, playing piano with Jimmy Stewart. The lilt and the kick of the soundtrack didn’t compromise that movie. They gave it cool."
Personnel.
Credits adapted from CD liner notes
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References.
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