Buy it... if you appreciate the finer and less obvious atmospheric aspects of James Newton Howard's weighty dramatic style.

Avoid it... if the understatement of the score's cello and shakuhachi solos, along with the restraint of the ethnic percussion, synthetic bass, and chorus, leaves you wanting more readily accessible performances by those elements.

Howard

Snow Falling on Cedars: (James Newton Howard) A loyal and critically acclaimed adaptation of David Guterson's best-selling novel to the big screen, Scott Hicks' Snow Falling on Cedars tells of a forbidden love story against the backdrop of a courtroom drama and the Japanese internment camps of World War II. The story addresses several lines of investigation, including the injustice of the internments, a specific murder mystery, culture clashes, and the conscience of a reporter inextricably involved in all of those elements. The story essentially boils down to a "right and wrong choice" for the reporter, forced to choose whether or not to reveal evidence that would exonerate the husband of a woman he once lost. One of the best qualities of the film, and the reason for its success, is its ability to shift through time seamlessly, with countless flashbacks shifting in ways that don't hinder the flow of the story. Also of note in Snow Falling on Cedars is the stark beauty of its photography, with a visually stunning style complimenting James Newton Howard's intelligently delicate score to tantalize the senses. Howard, who had progressed through several darker, arguably less popular scores at the time of Snow Falling on Cedars, was thought to have a legitimate chance at an Oscar nomination with this score. That nomination never materialized, and while most of that fact is likely due to the film's less than anticipated awards showing on the whole, the score simply didn't contain a flashy enough personality, even in a weighty dramatic sense, to woo voters. While retaining parts of the gothic styles heard in a few of his other works at the time, Howard provides a heavily ethnic and sorrowful tone for this introspective score. Relaxing by nature and consistent in its deep sensitivity, the lengthy album for Snow Falling on Cedars was one of the better atmospheric endeavors of 1999, and a highlight of Howard's works of the late 90's. Collectors of the composer will immediately recognize the highlight cue, "Tarawa," and will cherish it on any collection of the composer's works. Those collectors would also hear several techniques that Howard would later explore in his scores for M. Night Shyamalan films of the 2000's.

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The ensemble in Snow Falling on Cedars is led by strings, though the true appeal of the score comes from the employment of solo cello, numerous electronic accompaniments, boy soprano solos, a shakuhachi flute, and, most impressively, the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Although these elements may seem typical, Howard weaves them into a highly ethnic and romantic product, with the romance stemming from the intimate nature of the music rather than any particular overwhelming theme. The themes that tie the score for Snow Falling on Cedars together are very subtle in statement, yet heavy on the heart. With a variety of bass heavy strings and synthesizers, the orchestra's performances of these statements are solemn and haunted. While the solo cello performs a meandering theme in the film's opening moments (and sparingly thereafter), a simple 4-note rhythmic motif captures your attention throughout the score. Always performed with the assistance of the chorus, this theme debuts in "Carl's Fishing Net" and graces "Hatsue and Ishmael Kiss" (pure beauty at work), "Typeset," the resounding "Tarawa," and the central portion of the "End Titles." In some ways, the allure of this remarkably simple motif mirrors the that of the equally basic progressions of Lady in the Water many years later, and a faintly rising and falling motif for violin will foreshadow the famous parts of Howard's The Village. The shakuhachi flute is utilized in a much more fluid manner than James Horner's typically blasting use. Several crescendos of melodramatic, quivering strings litter the score, usually followed abruptly with the soft beat of an ethnic drum. While there are some outbursts of impressive volume and intensity in the score, the subdued harmony and a stark sense of reality define Snow Falling on Cedars. The only true standout cue is "Tarawa," with the battle sequence offering a harrowing and powerful performance of the 4-note choral motif with the same almost religiously engaging resolve as the peaks in Devil's Advocate. Overall, the score is an outstanding atmospheric listening experience, seamless and uninterrupted by a weak cue. The captivating subtleties inserted by James Newton Howard, from the cello solos to the soft electronic tinkling, will leave you impressed by the score's dark strength and relaxed by its soothing demeanor all at once. ****   Amazon.com Price Hunt: CD or Download

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For James Newton Howard reviews at Filmtracks, the average editorial rating is 3.31 (in 53 reviews) and the average viewer rating is 3.16 (in 58,041 votes). The maximum rating is 5 stars.