Unbroken (soundtrack)

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In addition to Desplat's score, the film also featured an original song written by Coldplay for the film in October 2014. [5] The audio version of the aforementioned track "Miracles", was released onto Coldplay's official YouTube channel on December 11, 2014. [6] The full single was released on December 15, along with the film's soundtrack and simultaneously released as a single-track digital download via iTunes on the same day, [7] and a lyric video accompanying the single was released on December 22. The track was further included on the Japanese edition of the band's seventh studio album A Head Full of Dreams (2015). The song received positive response from music critics, and was intended to be a serious contender for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. [8] [9]

Track listing

Unbroken (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Unbroken original score soundtrack cover.jpeg
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedDecember 15, 2014
Genre Film score
Length60:48
Label
Producer Alexandre Desplat
Alexandre Desplat chronology
The Imitation Game
(2014)
Unbroken
(2014)
Tale of Tales
(2015)
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."We Are Here" 1:49
2."Torrance Tornado" 2:55
3."Coming Home" 2:16
4."Olympic Kick" 3:47
5."God Made The Stars" 1:39
6."Surprise Mac Attack" 1:38
7."Albatross" 1:01
8."Mac's Death" 2:39
9."Solitary" 1:42
10."Making Gnocchi" 1:10
11."Drive To Radio Tokyo" 1:18
12."Japanese Attack" 3:30
13."Trip To Omori" 2:51
14."Bombing Tokyo" 1:42
15."Rain" 1:27
16."Dead Comrades" 2:19
17."To Naoetsu" 3:53
18."Broken Ankle" 2:20
19."The Bird's Farewell" 2:25
20."Radio Reading" 1:12
21."The Plank" 4:53
22."The War Is Over" 6:01
23."Unbroken" 2:26
24."Miracles" Coldplay 3:55
Total length:60:48

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg link

Callum Hofler of Entertainment Junkie stated, "At its finest, Unbroken is perhaps Desplat's strongest and most resonant emotional work since The Tree of Life or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 , both from 2011. It comes off as bold, ambitious, yet intimate and sentimental all the same. It can be an elegant and harmonious exploration of human determination, drive and spirit." He also criticized numerous components, claiming that, "In most cases though, the primary issue with the album is its lack of energy and vitality. There is many a time where the music seems to just sit in place, lacking major progression in character, motive or mindset." He awarded the score a final rating of 6 out of 10. [10] Jorn Tillnes of Soundtrack Geek acclaimed the album, stating, "This score is pretty great. It's been a really good year for Desplat. Godzilla and The Monuments Men at the top of the pile, but this is not far behind." He summarized with, "It is a turning point though for those who think Desplat is about boring bass rhythms and motifs. This might even get the haters to respect him as a composer." He awarded the score an 87.8 out of 100. [11]

James Southall of Movie Wave summarised "With a bit of tight editing there’d be a pretty strong album here; as it is, it’s certainly got its moments and is never bad, its chief problem is simply that it’s just a bit too ordinary, a hamburger from a composer who usually cooks up a fillet steak." [12] Timothy Monger of AllMusic stated: "The increasingly in-demand Desplat also scored the WWII caper The Monuments Men earlier in the year, but the tone he adopts for Unbroken is far different, relying heavily on warm, sentimental themes to accompany Zamperini's inspirational story. Playing back and forth between airy, atmospheric pieces and massive, theatrical swells, he uses far more light than darkness here and the result is a very melodic and motivational score. Heavy percussive sections accent the militaristic feeling and nimble wooden flutes accent many of the Japanese scenes." [13]

Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post called Desplat's score "effective, yet vaguely mushy" as it "sounds like the button-pushing aural backdrop to any number of other poignant period films". [14] Jeff Baker of The Oregonian and Colin Covert of Detroit Free Press called the score as "rousing" and "stunning". [15] [16] Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle said that Desplat "cues all the right emotions". [17] Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune commented: "Composer Alexandre Desplat's orchestral flourishes have a way of distancing and falsifying Zamperini's ordeal. When Mac (Finn Wittrock) receives his burial at sea, it's strange to be thinking about other matters, such as how much more effective the scene might be without mood music behind it." [18]

References

  1. Block, Alex Ben (December 18, 2014). "Making of 'Unbroken': Angelina Jolie Fought "Uphill Battle" in Bringing True Story to Screen". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. "Alexandre Desplat". Classical Music. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. 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.
  4. Gray, Tim (December 18, 2014). "Directors & Their Troops: Angelina Jolie on Her 'Unbroken' Team". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. "New song, Miracles, for Unbroken film". Coldplay.com. October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  6. Payne, Chris (December 11, 2014). "Hear Coldplay's New Slow Jam 'Miracles' From 'Unbroken' Soundtrack". Billboard . Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  7. Kristobak, Ryan (December 11, 2014). "Listen To Coldplay's New Song 'Miracles' From The 'Unbroken' Soundtrack". The Huffington Post . Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  8. Kreps, Daniel (December 11, 2014). "Listen to Coldplay's Uplifting 'Unbroken' Track 'Miracles'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  9. Gallo, Phil (December 13, 2014). "Coldplay, Lorde, and Sia Among Oscars' Best Original Song Contenders". Billboard . Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  10. Hofler, Callum (November 22, 2014). "'Unbroken' Score Review". Entertainment Junkie. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  11. Jorn, Tillnes (December 15, 2014). "Soundtrack Review: Unbroken". Soundtrack Geek. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  12. "Unbroken soundtrack review | Alexandre Desplat | movie-wave.net". January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. Alexandre Desplat - Unbroken [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic , retrieved January 9, 2023
  14. O'Sullivan, Michael (December 22, 2014). "'Unbroken' movie review: Angelina Jolie spins Louis Zamperini's World War II tale". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  15. Baker, Jeff (December 25, 2014). "'Unbroken' review: Angelina Jolie tortures her audience with scene after bloody scene". Oregon Live. The Oregonian. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  16. Covert, Colin. "Review: Jolie masterfully crafts powerful 'Unbroken'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  17. "Movie Review: Unbroken". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  18. "Review: 'Unbroken'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 9, 2023.