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Rating:
A soundtrack is a great soundtrack when, even stripped from the film, it still conveys emotions and sensations even if they are not directly linked to the movie—when, in other words, it becomes an excellent listen in and of itself. Few times have I listened to soundtracks, and even fewer have been those where I truly appreciated the musical base disconnected from the rest of the movie. One of these occasions was represented by "The Village" by James Newton Howard, a work for the namesake feature film by M. Night Shyamalan.
The work that good old Howard has created on this occasion is one of the most beautiful and touching auditory supports my ears have ever heard. In fact, the compositions are almost all veiled by an apparent tranquility which actually carries with it unrest and that suspended atmosphere that is typical of the film itself.
With the sublime work of the young violinist Hilary Hahn, Howard crafts a moving soundtrack, perfectly balanced in its atmospheric parts and in its more "stirred" ones. Beyond the judgments on whether or not Shyamalan's work is positive (which I consider his true and to date unique masterpiece), the added touch to the film comes from this Howard/Hahn duo, who are capable of bringing to life songs such as the enchanting "What Are You Asking Me?" or "Those We Don't Speak Of," built from a dual soul: first trembling and suggestively on edge, then the slow and unexpected blossoming of a sweet violin section. Equally splendid and capable of transporting you to a parallel world are "The Gravel Road" and "The Vote," real gems that contribute to giving the film that air of indissoluble union between the thrilling atmosphere and a portrayal with misty and romantic traits.
There is nothing left but to surrender to Howard's splendid creations, setting aside judgments on the film. Here we are faced with the work of a master of cinematic music, but above all, we are in the presence of a soundtrack which, despite having received less success than it deserves, represents a mystical journey into a distant reality. The sounds seem to evoke the atmospheres of a lost north, of a land far away from us, yet they are wonderfully embedded even in Shyamalan's "The Village."
Sublime...
1. "Noah Visits" (2:37)
2. "What Are You Asking Me?" (6:03)
3. "The Bad Color" (3:59)
4. "Those We Don't Speak Of" (4:01)
5. "Will You Help Me?" (2:35)
6. "I Cannot See His Color" (1:33)
7. "Rituals" (2:04)
8. "The Gravel Road" (4:33)
9. "Race To Resting Rock" (1:18)
10. "The Forbidden Line" (2:19)
11. "The Vote" (6:05)
12. "It Is Not Real" (3:38)
13. "The Shed Not To Be Used" (2:03)
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