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Composed, Conducted, and Produced by:
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Stephen Warbeck
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Release Date:
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June 22nd, 2004
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Availability:
Regular U.S. release.
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Filmtracks Recommends:
Buy it... if you wish to hear Stephen Warbeck extend his surprisingly
diverse talents into a rewarding and touching score.
Avoid it... if the sappy style of irrepressible, happy music for
docu-dramas about cute and cuddly animals is not in your interest.
Filmtracks Editorial Review:
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Two Brothers: (Stephen Warbeck) In the style of a
documentary drama/adventure, director and producer Jean-Jacques Annaud
extends his approach from his similar film, The Bear, into an even
more engaging, dialogue-filled tale for Two Brothers. Annaud, who
seems to handle animal films with intense passion, utilizes two live tigers
in the film --not being tempted to resort to Hollywood trickery and CGI
effects for the animals-- and merges their personal tale with a normal
compliment of human actors. The story is as touching as something you'd see
National Geographic produce for the Discovery Channel or Hallmark
productions (early rumors that National Geographic would produce or
distribute Two Brothers were false; Universal is giving it a wide
release). Two tiger brothers are born in the 1920's Far East, separated by
humans for several years and forced into unnatural positions as pets and
circus performers before, inevitably, the two reunite when the humans force
them to fight. Despite that frightening reunion, the PG-rated film is aimed
at families, and rest assured that the two tigers recognize each other and
all turns out well. Filmed on location in Cambodia and Thailand, the film
definitely qualifies as eye candy, with only the humans spoiling the idyllic
conditions and vistas presented on screen. Annaud had included the scoring
services of James Horner and John Williams in his last two films, but turned
to active British television composer Stephen Warbeck for Two
Brothers. Warbeck's orchestral credits for major films are highlighted
by Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Shakespeare in Love (which
won an Academy Award in 1998), and despite a rather mundane and conservative
symphonic style heard in these scores, Warbeck is flashing more of his
diverse talents in the past year. With his television score for
Dreamkeeper and now Two Brothers, Warbeck's ethnic
sensibilities and knowledge of exotic solo instrumentation adds another
dimension to his reputation.
The best accomplishment in Warbeck's impressive score for
Two Brothers is the effective balance between the lyricism of the
Western orchestral elements and those of the East Asian location in an era
past. The Chinese and other Southeast Asian instrumentation produce a
realistic backdrop for the historical truths in the parts of the tale that
closely follow documentary format. On the other hand, Warbeck doesn't
hesitate to offer his flourishing orchestra in large thematic sweeps when
the sensibilities call for such emotion. The animalistic aspects of the
story (both on the part of the tigers and humans) is performed with violent
action sequences for the entire orchestral ensemble, with drums that
accompanied the stories in Dreamkeeper and the same ferocious
attitude of the brass. Both "Chasing the Truck" and "The Hunt" offer
heartpounding ensemble rhythms, yielding eventually to another side of
Warbeck's score for Two Brothers: the circus. The carnival theme, set
to a bizarre accordion and tuba in a sickeningly off-kilter rhythm, is
perhaps the hardest element on album to enjoy, although seems effective in
its task. The score shines brightest when the two tigers are together, both
at the beginning and at the end. Two highlight cues are "Recognition," when
the family theme for the tigers is finally performed with the loving strings
and heartbreaking harmony, and "To Freedom," when the child-like spirit of
the tigers explodes with glee though Warbeck's use of a hip whistler for a
catchy thematic rendition. Other cues of comedy, such as "Havoc" are
performed largely by the Asian instruments, and add a flavor of authenticity
to the score that was sometimes lacking in Warbeck's earlier well-known film
scores. If you are a detractor of Shakespeare in Love, then be
forewarned that the lush, alternating strings that you heard throughout that
score will greet you right off the bat in Two Brothers. Overall, this
is yet another impressive score from Stephen Warbeck, whose talents on
display here are proving him to be a much more multi-dimensional composer
than many may have thought he was. A rewarding and touching score all
around. ****
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Viewer Ratings and Comments:
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• 1. The Two Brothers (2:44)
• 2. In the Forest (3:10)
• 3. The Search for Kumal (5:24)
• 4. The Raft (2:27)
• 5. La Vergine Degli Angeli - from Verdi's 'La Forza del Destino' (4:41)
• 6. Aidan & Kumal (2:21)
• 7. Chasing the Truck (1:58)
• 8. The Hunt (3:15)
• 9. The Tiger Broken (1:47)
• 10. Goodnight Story (3:00)
• 11. Havoc (1:23)
• 12. Sangha the Outcast (2:47)
• 13. Aidan & Raoul (3:15)
• 14. Recognition (3:23)
• 15. Kumal & Sangha (1:50)
• 16. Through the Flames (3:01)
• 17. To Freedom (3:10)
• 18. Return to the River (2:57)
• 19. Goodbye/The Joy of Love (6:59)
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