Jackie (soundtrack)

Last updated

Jackie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jackie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).jpg
Film score by
Released2 December 2016 (2016-12-02)
Studio Angel Recording Studios, London
Genre
Length34:03
Label Milan
Producer Mica Levi
Mica Levi chronology
Remain Calm
(2015)
Jackie
(2016)
Slow Dark Green Murky Waterfall
(2018)

Jackie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2016 film of the same name, released alongside the film on December 2, 2016, by Milan Records. The score is composed by Mica Levi in their second feature film score after Under the Skin (2013). [1] [2] It received nominations for Best Original Score at the 89th Academy Awards and Best Film Music at the 69th British Academy Film Awards, amongst numerous other accolades.

Contents

Development

Pablo Larraín recruited Mica Levi to compose music after he loved their work on Under the Skin while watching at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. [3] Their inspiration towards Jackie Kennedy helped them to write the "light-hearted music" that matched the film, but also had a sense of tragedy as well. Speaking to Fact Magazine , they recalled their experience on how the score indicates her life post Kennedy's assassination, saying: [4]

"She’s got the seriousness and the trauma of all the lives that she’s lost — her kids, as well — and all of this is being brought up while she has to face all of the world. But she’s also smashing back the drinks, smashing back the pills, because she’s trying to keep level somehow." [4]

Levi referenced the music of classical films from the 1970s to influence it in their score as well as John Coltrane and Morton Feldman's works. The scoring process was very quick, with "In terms of the first bits, it felt really quick, then there was a gap in the middle and then another bit afterward". Even before the post-production, Levi started sending music that matched appropriately to the character and the film and while editing, they got the piece to editor Sebastian to include in the final edit of the film. Hence, the soundtrack begins with a downward note as per Larraín's suggestion. [5] [6]

To reflect Jackie's character, they used glissandos in the score, as did in her studio album with Shapes, Chopped & Screwed (2011) and Under the Skin. Levi acknowledged that they were interested in this technique as it was like "something that happens if you slow [your playing] down, you get this glooping and distortion and morphing of [sound]" which they felt quite expressive and give the score an "extra frill" but also create a sonic palette reminiscent of the 1960s, the film's period which was set. The addition of glissandos could give it an "indulgent" and "soupy" texture. [4]

The film's periodic setting also helped Levi to choose a "jazz band" kind of instruments, without saxophones or trumpets as they felt the music should be very "quaint". [4] The score is performed by three bassists, eight violins, six violas, six cellos, two flutes, with one of them playing clarinet, percussion and vibraphone, tied together, to sound homogenous. They further doubled the flutes and spread harmonies, so that they cannot be played together and if being put in unison, does not sound professional, creating a sound which was "quite meaningful and innocent". They put the basses up and made it loud and course, overlaid with hard brass, wind and strings giving a "posh, rich sound". [7] The score was written within four to five months, quite less than the duration they worked in Under the Skin. [8]

Reception

Critical response

Kevin Lozano of Pitchfork gave the score 7.5 out of 10, summarising "Levi’s score concretizes and helps control the artistic experience of the film. In effect, the score may not supersede its filmic anchor, but is sure does make the entire endeavor more beautiful." [9] Music critic Jonathan Broxton commented "Levi’s steadfast refusal to even make herself aware of what her film’s dramatic arc actually is renders her music entirely pointless". [10] Adam Kivel of Consequence wrote "Mica Levy is a supremely talented storyteller, able to tap into the most subtle moments and reveal unknown layers." [11] James Southall of Movie Wave gave four stars to the album, opining that it "makes the moments of subtle levity all the more effective". [12]

Sam Mackay of The Quietus had indicated that the score has "everything to do with the off-modern freshness of her approach in a field dogged by generic bombast and minimalism-by-numbers". [13] Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote "Levi's score is as powerful a presence as Jackie herself, and its creativity is more appropriate than more traditional music would have been." [14] Lauren Murphy of The Irish Times called it as an "understated score" rating three out of five. [15] Mark Kermode of The Guardian complimented Levi's score, saying "From the saddening glissando strings of the opening theme, with its falling invocations of death and discord, Levi provides the unifying emotional glue for Larraín’s deliberately shattered film. There’s a touch of Jonny Greenwood’s deeply unsettling music for There Will Be Blood about the recurrent swooning motif that Levi deploys, while eerie silences echoing between strong but fragile chords poignantly recall Jackie’s isolation. Elsewhere, the drums of war scratch at the edges of plaintive piano pieces, while jazzier sounds evoke the sunny 60s optimism that was shattered in the wake of the Dealey Plaza shooting." [16]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards February 26, 2017 Best Original Score Mica Levi Nominated [17]
[18]
Austin Film Critics Association December 28, 2016 Best ScoreMica LeviNominated [19]
[20]
Boston Society of Film Critics December 11, 2016 Best Original Score Mica LeviWon [21]
[22]
British Academy Film Awards February 12, 2017 Best Original Music Mica LeviNominated [23]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 15, 2016 Best Original Score Mica LeviWon [24]
Critics' Choice Awards December 11, 2016 Best Score Mica LeviNominated [25]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 13, 2016 Best Musical Score Mica Levi2nd Place [26]
Florida Film Critics Circle December 23, 2016 Best ScoreJackieRunner-up [27]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 17, 2016Best Original Score – Feature FilmMica LeviNominated [28]
[29]
Houston Film Critics Society January 6, 2017 Best Original ScoreMica LeviNominated [30]
[31]
IndieWire Critics Poll December 19, 2016Best Original Score or SoundtrackMica LeviWon [32]
London Film Critics Circle January 22, 2017 Technical AchievementMica Levi (music)Nominated [33]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association December 4, 2016 Best Music Mica LeviRunner-up [34]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 12, 2016 Best Use of Music in a FilmJackieRunner-up [lower-alpha 1] [35]
[36]
San Francisco Film Critics Circle December 11, 2016 Best Original ScoreMica LeviWon [37]
[38]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 18, 2016 Best Music/ScoreMica LeviRunner-up [39]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 5, 2016 Best Score Mica LeviNominated [40]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"1:26
2."Children"3:20
3."Car"0:23
4."Tears"0:53
5."Autopsy"2:39
6."Empty White House"2:58
7."Graveyard"3:10
8."Lee Harvey Oswald"1:58
9."Walk to the Capitol"2:43
10."Vanity"2:59
11."Decision Made"0:33
12."Burial"2:33
13."The End"5:14
14."Credits"3:14
Total length:34:03

Notes

  1. Tied with La La Land

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score</span>

The Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score is one of several categories presented by the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), an association of professional film critics, who work in print, broadcast and online media, based in Chicago. Since the 6th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1993), the award has been presented annually. The nominations from 1993, 1994 and 2004 are not available. The first Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score went to composer Michael Nyman for his score to The Piano. The most recent recipient of this award is Robbie Robertson for the Western crime drama film Killers of the Flower Moon. It was awarded posthumously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mica Levi</span> Musical artist

Mica Levi, also known by their stage name Micachu, is an English singer, songwriter, composer and producer. Levi is classically trained and since 2008 has released experimental pop music with their band Good Sad Happy Bad, including the critically praised debut album Jewellery in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Larraín</span> Chilean filmmaker (born 1976)

Pablo Larraín Matte is a Chilean filmmaker. He is known for films such as the Academy Award-nominated films No (2012), Neruda (2016), Jackie (2016), and Spencer (2021). In 2017, Larraín and his brother Juan de Dios co-produced Sebastián Lelio's A Fantastic Woman, which was the first Chilean film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2021, Larrain directed the psychological romance horror miniseries Lisey's Story. With The Eternal Memory (2023), he earned his a Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film as a producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Britell</span> American film composer (born 1980)

Nicholas Britell is an American film and television composer. He has received numerous accolades including an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award. He has also received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score for Barry Jenkins' Moonlight (2016), If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), and Adam McKay's Don't Look Up (2021). He also scored McKay's The Big Short (2015) and Vice (2018). He is also known for scoring Battle of the Sexes (2017), Cruella (2021), and She Said (2022).

<i>Jackie</i> (2016 film) 2016 film by Pablo Larraín

Jackie is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Noah Oppenheim. The film stars Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy. Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, and John Hurt also star; it was Hurt's final film released in his lifetime before his death in January 2017. The film follows Kennedy in the days when she was First Lady in the White House and her life immediately following the assassination of her husband, United States President John F. Kennedy, in 1963. It is partly based on Theodore H. White's Life magazine interview with the widow at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, in November 1963.

The 42nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, given by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), honored the best in film for 2016.

The 15th Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards were announced on December 5, 2016.

The 37th Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, honoring the best in filmmaking in 2016, were given on December 11, 2016.

The 37th London Film Critics' Circle Awards, honouring the best in film for 2016, were announced by the London Film Critics' Circle on 22 January 2017.

<i>La La Land</i> (soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by various artists

La La Land: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2016 film La La Land. The soundtrack album was released through Interscope Records on December 9, 2016. The album has peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 and number 1 on the UK Albums Chart. At the 89th Academy Awards, the film won the Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for "City of Stars".

<i>Moonlight</i> (soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by Nicholas Britell

Moonlight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2016 film of the same name directed by Barry Jenkins. The film's original score is composed by Nicholas Britell who applied a chopped and screwed technique of hip hop remixes to orchestral music, producing a "fluid, bass-heavy score". The soundtrack album consisted of 21 tracks, with incorporated compositions from Goodie Mob, Boris Gardiner and Barbara Lewis and an arrangement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Vesperae solennes de confessore" by Britell, with the score accompanying the remainder of it.

<i>Inside Out</i> (soundtrack) 2015 soundtrack album by Michael Giacchino

Inside Out: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to Disney/Pixar's 2015 film of the same name, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Pete Docter, the film featured musical score composed by Michael Giacchino. This is the second collaboration between Giacchino and Docter, after previously working on Up, which fetched the former, an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Giacchino termed the score as "more emotional in comparison to the score for Up" and also being "more personal" due to his experience on parenthood. The score was recorded within January and May 2015, and featured more orchestral and symphonic music accompanied by a range of instruments, from piano, guitar, drum, organ and harp.

<i>Under the Skin</i> (soundtrack) 2014 soundtrack by Mica Levi

Under the Skin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2014 film of the same name. Released digitally on 28 March 2014 by Rough Trade Records, the soundtrack was composed by Mica Levi and produced by Peter Raeburn. The score consists of dark ambient music, primarily written and recorded over a span of 10 months, with the pitch of the score being altered at several intervals for "listeners to make them feel uncomfortable". While the score consisted of viola, several instruments such as strings and percussions were accompanied in the cues. The album was physically released in CDs on 18 April 2014, and a vinyl edition was released on 10 October by Warner Records and Milan Records, which re-issued the album twice: the first re-issue was released on 12 June 2020 by Mondo and a second re-issue is scheduled for release on 8 July 2022 by Juno Records.

<i>Spencer</i> (soundtrack) 2021 soundtrack album by Jonny Greenwood

Spencer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2021 film Spencer directed by Pablo Larraín. It was composed by Jonny Greenwood, and combines free jazz and classical baroque music highlighting the tragedy and emotions of Diana, Princess of Wales. The album was released on November 12, 2021, by Mercury KX label.

References

  1. "Mica Levi Details Jackie Soundtrack, Shares New Track "Children": Listen". Pitchfork. November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  2. Nordine, Michael (November 21, 2016). "'Jackie' Soundtrack: Stream Mica Levi's Powerful, Haunting Score". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  3. Godfrey, Alex (July 18, 2023). "Mica Levi interview: the film composer on Under the Skin, their new movie, Monos, and playing music with birds". The Times. ISSN   0140-0460. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lobenfeld, Claire (December 5, 2016). "Mica Levi on Jackie and how to soundtrack grief". Fact Magazine. Archived from the original on December 11, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  5. Lynch, Joe (February 25, 2017). "From Indie Darling to Oscar Nominee, 'Jackie' Composer Mica Levi Is a Laid-Back Innovator to Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  6. Mokoena, Tshepo (June 6, 2018). "Mica Levi Is a True Musical Genius". Vice. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  7. "How To Write An Unforgettable Movie Score, According To Mica Levi". The FADER. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  8. Beauman, Ned (February 23, 2017). "Mica Levi's Intensely Unconventional Film Scores". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  9. "Mica Levi: Jackie OST". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  10. "JACKIE – Mica Levi". MOVIE MUSIC UK. January 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  11. Kivel, Adam (November 28, 2016). "Album Review: Mica Levi - Jackie OST". Consequence. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  12. Southall, James (February 5, 2017). "Jackie soundtrack review". Movie Wave. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  13. Mackay, Sam. "Jackie – Mica Levi". The Quietus. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  14. Phares, Heather. "Review: Jackie [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on December 10, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  15. "Mica Levi: Jackie OST review: understated score for Mrs JFK's biopic". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  16. Kermode, Mark (January 22, 2017). "Jackie review – a symphony of grief at the White House". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  17. Nordyke, Kimberly (January 24, 2017). "Oscars: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 24, 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. "Oscar Nominations: Complete List". Variety . January 24, 2017. Archived from the original on January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  19. Anderson, Erik (December 15, 2016). "Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations: The Handmaiden Lands Top Mentions, Trevante Rhodes Double Nominated". AwardsWatch.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  20. Miller, Neil (December 15, 2016). "2016 Austin Film Critics Awards Nominees, 'Moonlight' and 'Arrival' lead the way in AFCA's 2016 nominations". Medium.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  21. Shanley, Patrick (December 11, 2016). "'La La Land' Named Best Picture by Boston Society of Film Critics". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  22. "Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress 2016". Boston Society of Film Critics Official at Twitter. December 11, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  23. Ritman, Alex (January 9, 2017). "BAFTA Awards: 'La La Land' Leads Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  24. "The 2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Nominees". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 11, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  25. "La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice. December 1, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  26. "DFW Film Critics Name 'Moonlight' Best Film of 2016". Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  27. "'MOONLIGHT' LEADS 2016 FLORIDA FILM CRITICS AWARDS NOMINATIONS". Florida Film Critics Circle. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  28. "Justin Timberlake & Alexandre Desplat Among Winners At Hollywood Music In Media Awards". Deadline. November 18, 2016. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  29. McNary, Dave (November 2, 2016). "'La La Land' Scores Three Hollywood Music in Media Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  30. "Houston Film Critics Nominations for 2016 Films". MovieAwardsPlus.com. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  31. "Houston Film Critics Society Nominations – 'The Nice Guys' and Rebecca Hall Get a Deserved Boost". AwardsCircuit.com. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  32. Greene, Steve (December 19, 2016). "2016 IndieWire Critics Poll: Full List of Results". IndieWire . Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  33. "'Moonlight' and 'Love and Friendship' Lead London Film Critics' Circle Nominations". Variety. December 20, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  34. "42nd Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2016 Winners". Los Angeles Film Critics Association. December 4, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  35. "2016 San Diego Film Critics Society's Award Nominations". December 9, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  36. "San Diego Film Critics Society's 2016 Award Winners". December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  37. Flores, Marshall (December 9, 2016). "San Francisco Film Critics Circle Nominations!". AwardsDaily.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  38. Nordyke, Kimberly (December 12, 2016). "'Moonlight' Named Best Picture by San Francisco Film Critics Circle". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  39. "2016 StLFCA Annual Award Nominations". St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  40. "The 2016 WAFCA Awards Nominations". December 3, 2016. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.