"Soundtrack Review: Take This Waltz Music By Jonathan Goldsmith"

"Take This Waltz"

Music By Jonathan Goldsmith

"Green Mountain State" Performed By

Corinna Rose and the Rusty Horse Band

MovieScore Media Digital Release MMD0026

12 Tracks/Disc Time: 30:44 Grade: C-

Take This Waltz which was released two years ago, was actress Sarah Polley's second directing gig after the resounding success and acclaim of her directorial debut, Away From Her. Take This Waltz which she also directed stars Michelle Wiliiams (Brokeback Mountain, My Week With Marilyn) as Margot, a writer who on the way back from Toronto and meets Daniel (Luke Kirby), a handsome stranger on the plane ride back. An immediate attraction is formed between in which she is able to open up to him. A taxi ride back home causes Daniel and Margot to realize that they are neighbors and tells him that she is married. In the heat of the summer, her increasing fascination with the handsome artist, starts getting to her and begins to wonder she's happy in her marriage or if she'd be happier with her fantasies with Daniel. The film also co-starred comedians Seth Rogan (Knocked Up, The Guilt Trip) and Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program).

The film which has an almost dream like feel to it thanks to the fantasies of the protagonist in this case, Michelle Williams' character and required a score that needed to exert the feelings of the character and her thoughts. Composer Jonathan Goldsmith, who wrote a brilliant and fun score for the Kevin Spacey comedy, Casino Jack, that was a throw back and was inspired by The Manhattan Transfer, was hired after a successful collaboration with her debut film, Away From Her. The score is dream like in structure and classical in style with a few subtle electronics thrown in for good measure. "Together (Theme from "Take This Waltz")" sets the tone for the score with a subtle, music box like motif that very dreamy and catchy almost a times hinting at Thomas Newman's work mixing in a cello to flesh out the theme.

The rest of the score features the dreamy state which establishes the relationship between the Margot and Daniel ("Airplane Art Walk", "Airport Rickshaw") at the beginning, as it gives way to Margot's passionate thoughts of him ("Dreaming""), which is the strongest material in this score to be quite honest. "Family Lighthouse" adds a bit of tension and atmosphere to the score that is derived from the main theme and is effective for what it is. "Swim" is a standout track of moods and dreamy atmosphere that Goldsmith does develop his best material here along with "Enduring". "Breakdown", another track that also adds an air of subtle tension that really suits the moods of the film. The album ends with "Green Mountain State", a blue grass country-esque ballad performed by Corinna Rose and the Rusty Horse Band which actually outshines Goldsmith's music eventhough it compliments it so well. A very nice piece.

The score is a bit flat at times and even though it suits the film, it just doesn't quite work on its own unfortunately. I can understand that what he was going for in creating the dreamy moods and was successful in doing so, but with very little variation is where the score just falls a little flat to me. After a wonderful score for Casino Jack, this score is just a disappointment for me unfortunately. Maybe i was expecting a little of that magic from that film a bit, but isn't here in full form this time around. Take This Waltz is an effective score for what it is and works well with the film, outside of it, is whole other story. Those who like scores such as this one, will enjoy it on its own merits and those who are looking for something melodic, this isn't it. A reluctant thumbs down on this one.