The Imitation Game (soundtrack)

Last updated

The Imitation Game (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Imitation Game (soundtrack).jpg
Film score by
Alexandre Desplat
ReleasedNovember 7, 2014 (2014-11-07)
Studio Abbey Road Studios (London)
Genre Film score
Length51:08
Label Sony Music Entertainment
Producer Alexandre Desplat
Alexandre Desplat chronology
Godzilla
(2014)		The Imitation Game
(2014)		 Unbroken
(2014)

The Imitation Game (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album to the 2014 film of the same name. The film is scored by Alexandre Desplat who replaced the original composer Clint Mansell before the film's production commenced. The London Symphony Orchestra performed the original score that featured various instruments such as keyboards, clarinets, strings, arpeggio and bombe. The album was released on November 7, 2014 by Sony Music Entertainment. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Score but lost to The Grand Budapest Hotel, also composed by Desplat. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

In September 2013, Clint Mansell was scheduled to score for The Imitation Game, [3] but was replaced by Alexandre Desplat in June 2014. [4] Desplat was initially scheduled to score for Unbroken, before signing for the film, but as production for the former got delayed, led him to do the film first. He was extremely moved and impressed by Tyldum's vision and preparation, though he had only three weeks before the film's production commences. He felt it as "extremely delicate" as the pace is being set to "jump over the rhythm of its film". As like his previous films, he creates his own demos and pre-orchestrate those tunes before recording it in studio. [5] [6]

As the film progresses over three periods in Turing's life, the structure of the film is extremely complex, where "there are a lot of flashbacks that resonate with something in the flashforwards needed to get a handle on the person". The film consisted of several layers that are "extremely nuanced", as the film follows several journeys, including the war, the Enigma code, Turing's trauma, calculations, dream for an invention of the century and his relationships, hence the music "needed to focus on him and keep all these elements within one theme". [7] [5]

Composition

"The Imitation Game is about saving millions of people during the war, but I had to focus on him, so the score is very intimate and follows his emotions, his journey. The orchestra can play the larger drama of the story, which is the war, but the score really had to be focused on something very intimate within Benedict’s character. You have a man whose plugged into this crazy period."

— Alexandre Desplat on the score for The Imitation Game

The score was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London. Desplat used various instruments such as keyboards, clarinets, celeste, harp and fast arpeggio. The opening track consisted of a keyboard theme which was descended, rippled and appear as multiple variations in later tracks, the first being accompanied by string music. He suggested a mix of funk and acoustic in the piano — the electric piano, the bases, all these things, that are computerized, and thought "someone playing the piano would be too romantic or classical. The piano line is beautiful and different yet trying to keep simplicity and compliance at the same time, and the film has that." [8] For the track "Enigma", Desplat and his musicians create sounds of the sonar pinging depicting the ability of the Enigma code to keep the German U-boats hidden beneath the waves unharmed as they sent warships and transport vessels underwater. A track titled "Crossword" is a complex arrangement of instruments that sounds to evoke Turing’s mind. [7]

He wanted the score to be soulful and tragic, with the young Alan (Alex Lawther) and his friend Christopher (Jack Bannon). The sequence where Alan learns of Christopher's death was one of his favourites, where he used a variation on Christopher's theme. He further said "The camera pulls onto Alan’s face when he learns of his passing and it’s incredibly moving. That’s something that comes from a long journey that starts from the first playing of the film." [8] His machine named Christopher (named after his friend), which was the real life Bombe, was a musical instrument in itself, that hums and pounds a marital percussive beat. Desplat said "When I heard the sound from the wheels turning, we added this electronic sound on top of that pounding sound. We wanted to bring excitement and suspense and danger and expectation to that sound, as it’s a very important moment in the film." [7]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."The Imitation Game"2:37
2."Enigma"2:50
3."Alan"2:57
4."U-boats"2:12
5."Carrots and Peas"2:19
6."Mission"1:36
7."Crosswords"2:52
8."Night Research"1:39
9."Joan"1:45
10."Alone with Numbers"2:58
11."The Machine Christopher"1:57
12."Running"3:01
13."The Headmaster"2:27
14."Decrypting"2:01
15."A Different Equation"2:54
16."Becoming a Spy"4:08
17."The Apple"2:20
18."Farewell to Christopher"2:41
19."End of War"2:07
20."Because of You"1:36
21."Alan Turing's Legacy"1:56
Total length:51:08

Reception

James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "Throughout the whole score there is such clarity to the writing – I never cease to be amazed that a composer of Desplat’s phenomenal orchestral gifts has managed to forge such a successful career in these dumbed-down times.  He’s the real deal and The Imitation Game is yet another triumph, emotional and dramatic and a showcase for his phenomenal compositional gifts." [9] MFiles wrote "There's a vivid sense that Desplat got to know Turing's character intimately, knowledge that allowed him to depict the man's triumphs and complexities with his characteristic musical intelligence. There's a sense of sadness pervading the score that's achingly moving, yet even the most poignant moments shine through with genuine compassion, offset against which are the darker, more complex textures depicting Enigma and the spectre of World War II itself. Consistently engaging and thought-provoking, Desplat's music is well-deserving of its Golden Globe and Oscar nominations." [10] Music critic Jonathan Broxton wrote "The Imitation Game is one of the strongest drama scores of 2014, and if the film receives as much critical acclaim as it is predicted to receive, Desplat will likely receive his seventh Oscar nomination for it." [11]

Filmtracks.com wrote "there is a clear narrative structure to Desplat's The Imitation Game, the secondary theme a challenge to appreciate out of context, perhaps, but the redeeming primary identity closing out the album on an optimistic note. The performances by the London Symphony Orchestra have to be singled out for their precision, and the mixing of the work is not quite as dry as usual for Desplat (in fact, the celeste has an other-worldly ambient position in the mix). For film music collectors, much of what is heard in this work may seem like Desplat's usual, but the usual in this case is the composer in top form on short notice." [12] Erin Corrado of The Joy of Movies wrote "Alexandre Desplat’s music for The Imitation Game is a hauntingly beautiful piece of work that helps to elevate the film to one of the best of the year.  Perfectly encapsulating the story and Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Alan Turing, Desplat’s quiet score features simple melodies expanded throughout on a variety of string instruments heightened with smooth piano sections." [13] Pete Simons of Synchrotones called it as "a magnificent album, from a melodic, rhythmic, compositional and orchestrations point of view". [14]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientsResultRef.
87th Academy Awards 22 February 2015 Best Original Score Alexandre DesplatNominated [15]
20th Critics' Choice Movie Awards 15 January 2015 Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score Nominated [16]
72nd Golden Globe Awards 11 January 2015 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score Nominated [17]
18th Hollywood Film Awards 14 November 2014Hollywood Film Composer AwardWon [18]
Houston Film Critics Society Awards 12 January 2015Best Original ScoreNominated [19]
International Film Music Critics Association Awards 19 February 2015Best Original Score for a DramaNominated [20]
19th Satellite Awards 15 February 2015Best Original ScoreNominated [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandre Desplat</span> French film composer

Alexandre Michel Gérard Desplat is a French film composer and conductor. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career spanning over four decades, including, two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three César Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Grammy Awards. Desplat was made an Officer of the Ordre national du Mérite and a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres both in 2016.

The World Soundtrack Awards, launched in 2001, are the annual awards for best film music, presented during the Film Fest Gent. The World Soundtrack Academy supports the art of film music through cultural, educational and professional activities. The event takes place yearly in Ghent, Belgium with the ceremony usually at the Capitole Concert Hall.

The WS Award for Best Original Soundtrack of the Year is one of the three main prizes given by the World Soundtrack Academy to honour the best movie soundtracks.

<i>Girl with a Pearl Earring</i> (soundtrack) 2004 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2003 film Girl with a Pearl Earring starring Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson, Cillian Murphy and Judy Parfitt. It was composed by French film composer Alexandre Desplat.

<i>The Fountain</i> (soundtrack) 2006 soundtrack album by Clint Mansell with the Kronos Quartet and Mogwai

The Fountain: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album to the 2006 film The Fountain directed by Darren Aronofsky. Released on November 27, 2006, through Nonesuch Records, the album is a collaboration between contemporary classical composer and frequent Aronofsky collaborator Clint Mansell, classical string quartet the Kronos Quartet, and post-rock band Mogwai. The score received mixed reviews from critics and was nominated for several awards.

<i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2</i> (soundtrack) 2011 film score by Alexandre Desplat

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is a motion picture soundtrack to the 2011 film of the same name composed and conducted by Alexandre Desplat. The soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy Award, Satellite Award, Houston Film Critics Society Award, Denver Film Critics Society Award, and an IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for a Fantasy Film. The soundtrack won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Score.

<i>The Imitation Game</i> 2014 film by Morten Tyldum

The Imitation Game is a 2014 American period biographical thriller film directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Graham Moore, based on the 1983 biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges.

<i>The Grand Budapest Hotel</i> (soundtrack) 2014 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

The Grand Budapest Hotel: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album composed by Alexandre Desplat for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel directed by Wes Anderson. The 32-track album was released on March 4, 2014, through ABKCO Records, produced by Anderson along with music supervisor Randall Poster. Unlike their previous ventures, the soundtrack to this film did not feature contemporary pop hits due to the classical roots of the film's music.

<i>Little Women</i> (soundtrack) 2019 film score by Alexandre Desplat

Little Women: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the score album composed by Alexandre Desplat for the 2019 American film Little Women. A seventh film adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, the film is directed by Greta Gerwig, and stars an ensemble cast consisting of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper. The original score album was released by Sony Music on December 13, 2019.

<i>Argo</i> (soundtrack) 2012 film score by Alexandre Desplat

Argo (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is a score album composed by Alexandre Desplat to the Academy Award-winning historical drama thriller film Argo. The film was directed by Ben Affleck, from a screenplay written by Chris Terrio, which was adapted from U.S. Central Intelligence Agency operative Antonio J. Mendez's eponymous novel released in 1999, his memoir The Master of Disguise, and the Wired article by Joshuah Bearman, "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran" (2007); Affleck also starred in the lead role as Mendez. The score album was released on October 9, 2012 by WaterTower Music, three days ahead of the film's release.

<i>The Shape of Water</i> (soundtrack) 2017 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

The Shape of Water (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the Academy Award-winning film of the same name. It featured 26 tracks — most of the tracks were from the original score composed by Alexandre Desplat and some tracks are incorporated songs, being originated from the 1940s and 1960s as the film is set during the Cold War period. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, who also co-wrote the script with Vanessa Taylor, stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer.

<i>The Kings Speech</i> (soundtrack) 2010 film score by Alexandre Desplat

The King's Speech (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the Academy Award-winning film The King's Speech, released by Decca Records on 22 November 2010. Alexandre Desplat composed the film's original music. The score consisted of minimalistic sounds created with piano and strings, and a limited orchestra with oboe and harp being used. It was recorded using old microphones from the EMI archives, used by the royal family, in order to create a vintage and dated sound. The minimalistic use of the music is used to describe Colin Firth's character, the future King George VI.

<i>Nightmare Alley</i> (soundtrack) 2021 film score by Nathan Johnson

Nightmare Alley: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2021 film of the same name directed by Guillermo del Toro. The film's music was initially set to be composed by Alexandre Desplat, but was replaced by Nathan Johnson, after Desplat exited the film due to scheduling conflicts. Johnson completed the film's score within six weeks, where the score was recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage in 20th Century Studios and was released by Hollywood Records digitally on December 17, 2021 and a physical release on December 31, 2021.

<i>Rise of the Guardians</i> (soundtrack) 2012 film score by Alexandre Desplat

Rise of the Guardians: Music From The Motion Picture is the score album to the 2012 of the same name, composed by Alexandre Desplat. The film marked Desplat's maiden score for a computer-animated film as well as his DreamWorks' film, not to be scored by either Hans Zimmer or his Remote Control Productions family of composers. The score was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and AIR Studios in London and features collaborations with London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices performing. In addition to Desplat's score, an original song "Still Dream" written by David Lindsay-Abaire and performed by soprano singer Renée Fleming, was featured in the film's end credits. Both Desplat's score and Fleming's original song was included in the film's score album, released by Varèse Sarabande on November 13, 2012 and received positive response praising Desplat's compositions.

<i>The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</i> (soundtrack) 2008 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 2008 film of the same name, released by Concord Music Group on December 16, 2008. It was released in physical forms as a two-disc album, with one disc containing the film's original score composed by Alexandre Desplat, and the other consists few classical songs as well as dialogues featured in the film. The David Fincher-directed film, written by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and stars Brad Pitt as the titular character, alongside Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas, and Tilda Swinton.

<i>Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio</i> (soundtrack) 2022 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is the soundtrack album to the 2022 stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy film of the same name. Based on the 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, and Gris Grimly's design from his 2002 edition of the novel, the film, directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, stars Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton. The score is composed by Alexandre Desplat in his second collaboration with del Toro after The Shape of Water (2017). The album featuring the original score and songs were set for release digitally on December 9, 2022 and in physical formats on December 16 by Columbia Records.

<i>Philomena</i> (soundtrack) 2013 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

Philomena (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album composed by Alexandre Desplat to the 2013 film of the same name directed by Stephen Frears, released on 25 October 2013 through Decca Records. The score received positive response from critics, and led him a nomination for Academy Award for Best Original Score and Satellite Award for Best Original Score.

<i>Unbroken</i> (soundtrack) 2014 soundtrack album by Alexandre Desplat

Unbroken (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2014 film of the same name directed by Angelina Jolie. The album featured original score composed by Alexandre Desplat, with an original song "Miracles" by the British rock band Coldplay was featured in the album as well as the film's end credits. It was released as a single on December 15, 2014, the same day as the soundtrack, distributed by Parlophone and Atlantic Records.

The music to the 2021 anthology comedy drama film The French Dispatch directed by Wes Anderson features of a score composed by Alexandre Desplat, and selections of French classical and pop hits curated by the music supervisor Randall Poster, who were Anderson's regular collaborators. The score was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, featured contributions from pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, collaborated with Desplat on wide range of instruments and orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The score album, The French Dispatch: Original Score released on May 21, 2021, five months ahead of the film's release, and the soundtrack, The French Dispatch: Original Soundtrack was released along with the film, on October 22, 2021, which preceded with the lead single "Obituary" from Desplat's score, released on September 14. Both the albums were distributed by ABKCO Records. Desplat received a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

References

  1. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2015). "Oscars: Desplat Versus Himself & Ups Odds With 'Budapest' & 'Imitation Game'". Deadline. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ Gray, Tim (February 9, 2015). "Alexandre Desplat on His Double Oscar Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Clint Mansell to Score 'The Imitation Game' | Film Music Reporter" . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin (June 19, 2014). "Alexandre Desplat Replaces Clint Mansell On 'The Imitation Game'". IndieWire. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Roberts, Sheila (November 21, 2014). "Alexandre Desplat Talks The Imitation Game, Coming Late to the Film, and More". Collider. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  6. ↑ Pritchard2015-01-18T23:59:00+00:00, Tiffany. "Alexandre Desplat, The Imitation Game". Screen. Retrieved January 9, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. 1 2 3 Abrams, Bryan (November 19, 2014). "Music for the Mind: Composer Alexandre Desplat on The Imitation Game". Motion Picture Association. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Desowitz, Bill (November 26, 2014). "How Composer Alexandre Desplat Captures Different WWII Vibes for 'Imitation Game' and 'Unbroken'". IndieWire. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  9. ↑ "The Imitation Game soundtrack review | Alexandre Desplat | movie-wave.net". November 23, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Alexandre Desplat: The Imitation Game - a review of the film score soundtrack". www.mfiles.co.uk. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "THE IMITATION GAME – Alexandre Desplat". MOVIE MUSIC UK. November 12, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Filmtracks: The Imitation Game (Alexandre Desplat)". www.filmtracks.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Soundtrack Review: The Imitation Game". The Joy of Movies. January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ "The Imitation Game (Alexandre Desplat)". Synchrotones' Soundtrack Reviews. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Oscar Nominations: 'Grand Budapest Hotel' & 'Birdman' Lead Way With 9 Noms; 'Imitation Game' Scores 8". Deadline.com. January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ "The Critics' Choice Movie Awards are bestowed annually by the Broadcast Film Critics Association to honor the finest in cinematic achievement". Archived from the original on December 15, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Golden Globes: 'Birdman', 'Fargo' Top Nominations". Variety. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ Blake, Emily. "Hollywood Film Awards 2014: And the winners are..." Entertainment Weekly.
  19. ↑ "Houston Film Critics Announce Nominees". AwardsDaily. December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Composers behind 'Godzilla' and 'Maleficent' lead film music critics nominations". Hitfix. February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  21. ↑ "'Birdman' Leads Satellite Awards Nominations". The Wrap. December 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.