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“I’m Not a Crook”
During the 1995 holiday season, the last thing audiences wanted to see was a controversial biopic about the most disgraced President in U.S. history. Oliver Stone’s NIXON captures the mystery and dichotomy behind the
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Your Average Horny Little Devil
Based on John Updike’s bestseller, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987) stars Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon as three man-hungry women with special powers in the quiet, little New England hamlet of Eastwick. When a mysterious
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Like many fans, 1977 was a seminal year in my film score education. Beyond the blockbuster status of STAR WARS came an even more affecting score from the pen of John Williams—CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE
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Don’t Leave Home Without It
Based on Anne Tyler’s novel, THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (1988) stars William Hurt as travel writer Macon Leary, whose marriage to Kathleen Turner is shattered after the accidental shooting death of his teenage son. He lives his
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10 Favorite Indiana Jones Cues
In my “9 on the 9th” post last week listing my favorite John Williams scores, I was asked in the comments, “No love for Indy?” While I don’t adore the Indiana Jones movies, or
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9 Favorite John Williams Scores
Last month’s “9 on the 9th” list post featured the music of Jerry Goldsmith, the man behind my first love of film music. So I thought it appropriate that this month’s post focus on
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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane!
Summer 1978 and the buzz was “super” for SUPERMAN. At age 16, I considered it uncool to show my anticipation for the film. Sure, I had fond memories of watching George Reeve on TV as
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Cut to the Chase
Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. Tom and Jerry. Carl Hanratty and Frank Abagnale, Jr. It’s all about the chase. Steven Spielberg’s confection, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, was based on Abagnale’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) true story as
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Shark Bait, Oo-ha-ha!
Forget Neil Armstrong. John Williams‘ “one small step” (or more accurately half-step) was a giant leap…at least for film music. The simple, yet effective, two-note motif Williams employed in JAWS invokes terror from the opening
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