War for the Planet of the Apes (soundtrack)

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"Caesar is all about empathy, wanting to do what’s best for everyone, trying to make people aware that they can live together. He’s constantly fighting for that better place to be, and here suddenly he is pushed into a corner, into a place where he no longer had access to any of that empathy, any of the sadness that he was feeling, all he had left was anger. I thought that was a really interesting story to tell musically. What do you when you are left with only anger. How do you get through that to find the empathy, to find the sadness and allow yourself to heal and move on?"

— Giacchino, on Caesar's character in War for the Planet of the Apes. [5]

Giacchino wrote the full score after the first edit of the film being assembled, and developed new thematics for the film within couple of days. While composing for the film, Giacchino discussed on Reeves' idea on turning Caesar (Andy Serkis) into a "mythic and historical character" referring Exodus or Moses. Giacchino had a different tonal approach for Caesar, regarding his emotional journey and compared to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, this film was mentioned to be his "most emotional films he had worked on". [6] The cue "Exodus Wounds" composed of piano and strings, swelled with brass in the conclusion. He said "Caesar’s been on a crazy journey, and I was inspired seeing him grow and struggle. It's heartbreak, and how close you skate to those lines that you try to avoid in your life." [7] [8]

"An Ode to Nova" is the theme played when Caesar adopts Nova, a human war orphan, consisting of a piano and harp re-occurring four times. Giacchino called that the theme is all about "capturing this suspended tone of someone who is lost, doesn’t have a family, or anywhere to go, and day after day is the same. At the end, there’s a change when she walks into the prison camp, where she finds her strength…helping other people." For the main antagonist, Colonel McCullough (Woody Harrelson), Giacchino wrote a theme begins with timpani drums which "conveys the coming of dread and anxiety", but keeps going underneath where everything is related to Colonel. [7] [9]

The score was recorded at Newman Scoring Stage, with Tim Simonec and Marshall Bowen conducting the 90-piece ensemble from the Hollywood Studio Symphony orchestra, and a 60-member vocal choir also performing the score. [10] Percussionist Emil Richards also played the percussions for the score, in his last film before his death in December 2019. [10] Prior to recording the film, the orchestra performed original music for the film's final trailer, but was not used in the end. [10] [11]

Track listing

War for the Planet of the Apes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
War for the Planet of the Apes soundtrack.jpg
Film score by
Michael Giacchino
ReleasedJuly 14, 2017
Recorded2017
StudioNewman Scoring Stage,
Twentieth Century Fox Studios
Genre Film score
Length75:11
Label Sony Classical
Producer Michael Giacchino
Michael Giacchino chronology
Spider-Man: Homecoming
(2017)		War for the Planet of the Apes
(2017)		 Coco
(2017)
No.TitleLength
1."Apes' Past is Prologue"10:53
2."Assault of the Earth"5:29
3."Exodus Wounds"4:23
4."The Posse Polonaise"1:39
5."The Bad Ape Bagatelle"1:13
6."Don't Luca Now"3:53
7."Koba Dependent"2:54
8."The Ecstasy of the Bold"1:57
9."Apes Together Strong"7:12
10."A Tide in the Affairs of Apes"5:31
11."Planet of the Escapes"2:42
12."The Hating Game"2:04
13."A Man Named Suicide"5:32
14."More Red Than Alive"2:41
15."Migration"2:03
16."Paradise Found"5:35
17."End Credits"9:30
Total length:75:11

Reception

Unlike Giacchino's score for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the score received critical acclaim from critics. James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "Michael Giacchino has written some brilliant music so far in his career but War for the Planet of the Apes feels like a bit of a milestone: it’s not just the best film music he’s ever written, it’s the manner of the score, the construction of the dramatic narrative, the very deliberate emotional prods that make it stand out as a special achievement. I love that he was able to bring in such nice little homages to great film composers of the past at the same time as writing music that couldn’t be mistaken for anyone’s but his own: he’s a confident, mature composer at the very top of his game." [12] Jonathan Broxton wrote "Doyle’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the best score of the new rebooted series, there is still much to admire in Giacchino’s efforts, and this one is by far the best of his two." [13]

Filmtracks.com wrote "the variations on the four themes allow Giacchino another score with a solid narrative flow. The dichotomy between the opening two cues and the flowery initial ambience and chime-banging conclusion to "Paradise Found" is quite something to behold. On album, this score battles with Doyle's for the best in the history of the concept, and for its breadth of development, War for the Planet of the Apes prevails. A superior 30-minute album could be condensed from the long commercial product, one complete with the usual idiotic track titles and hidden cue at the end. Despite its flaws, the score remains among 2017's most impressive surprises." [14] Tony Black of Flickering Myth gave a 10/10 to the score saying "Michael Giacchino really hits it out the park here with a score that builds on everything he did well in the previous picture and takes it to another level entirely (in that way it mirrors Matt Reeves’ movie as it happens). In a career already littered with gems, War For the Planet of the Apes is further proof Giacchino might well now be the finest composer working in Hollywood today. Gorgeous, moving work you need to get in your ears." [15]

Justin Chang of Los Angeles Times called it as "piercingly beautiful score", [16] while Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal called it as "majestic", [17] Rolling Stone 's Peter Travers hailed Giacchino's score as one of the film's best aspects. [18] Calling it as "another excellent score", ScreenRant writer Sandy Schafer "one that, like his score for Dawn, is a throwback to the music from the very first Planet of the Apes movie - further amplifies its ominous temperament and dramatic storytelling approach". [19] Jimmy Champane of Bloody Disgusting said "If I was held at gunpoint and forced to pick one aspect of War that stood out the most to me, it would be Michael Giacchino’s score. Even though some of the film’s best moments don’t feature any music at all, when the soundtrack kicks in, it’s impossible not to feel exactly what the characters on screen are feeling. It calls back to the films that came before this franchise almost flawlessly all while feeling fresh and new with its string-heavy beats. Much like I did after seeing Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, I’ll be listening to War’s score on the way to work for weeks or even months to come." [20] Gizmodo wrote "Lots of Reeves’ success comes from liberal use of a dynamic score by Michael Giacchino. It’s a wide-ranging composition that brings a true cohesion to the film. The movie moves very quickly, but the music helps everything feels cohesive, propulsive and poignant." [21]

IndieWire noted the possibilities of Giacchino's score to be a potential Academy Award-nominee with Giacchino's score receiving critical praise. [22] [23] Writing for the same publication, chief critic Eric Kohn had opined that "Giacchino’s vibrant score is one of the reasons the Apes series 'distinguishes itself from so many cacophonous Hollywood spectacles.'" [24]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientsResultRef.
San Francisco Film Critics Circle December 10, 2017 Best Original Score Michael Giacchino Nominated [25] [26]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 12, 2017 Best Original Score Michael Giacchino Nominated [27]
Seattle Film Critics Society December 18, 2017Best Original Score Michael Giacchino Nominated [28] [29]
Houston Film Critics Society January 6, 2018 Best Original Score Michael Giacchino Nominated [30]
Georgia Film Critics Association January 12, 2018Best Original Score Michael Giacchino Nominated [31]
Satellite Awards February 10, 2018 Best Original Score Michael Giacchino Nominated [32]
International Film Music Critics Association Awards February 22, 2018Score of the Year Michael Giacchino Nominated [33] [34]
Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film Michael Giacchino Won
Film Music Composition of the Year"End Credits" from War for the Planet of the Apes by Michael Giacchino Won

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes. [35]

Instruments
Orchestra and choir
Management
Booklet

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References

  1. ↑ Margaret Sutherlin (July 11, 2017). "'War for the Planet of the Apes' Cast on Trump Parallels: 'It's Unbelievable'". Variety .
  2. ↑ Jayson, Jay (October 17, 2015). "First Official War For The Planet Of The Apes Set Photo Released". Comicbook.com. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Sony Masterworks to Release 'War for the Planet of the Apes' Soundtrack". Filmmusicreporter.com. May 26, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  4. 1 2 July 13, Darren Franich; EDT, 2017 at 11:19 AM. "'War for the Planet of the Apes' Exclusive: Hear a track from Michael Giacchino's score". EW.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  5. ↑ Licuria, Rob (December 12, 2017). "Composer Michael Giacchino ('Coco,' 'War for the Planet of the Apes'): My music aims 'to give you a true emotional response' [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW]". GoldDerby. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  6. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (December 14, 2017). "Michael Giacchino on Apes, Coco, Incredibles 2, and More". Collider. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Desowitz, Bill (July 11, 2017). "For Composer Michael Giacchino, It's 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' vs. 'War for the Planet of the Apes'". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  8. ↑ Wilson, Sean (September 28, 2017). "Michael Giacchino interview: the art of scoring movies". Den of Geek. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 - Sound of Cinema, Michael Giacchino". BBC. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Goldwasser, Dan (July 14, 2017). "Michael Giacchino scores War for the Planet of the Apes". ScoringSessions.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  11. ↑ Djordjevic, Zdravko. "The Sound and Music of War for the Planet of the Apes – Panel Discussion – The Audio Spotlight". theaudiospotlight.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  12. ↑ "War for the Planet of the Apes soundtrack review | Michael Giacchino | movie-wave.net". July 18, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ "WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES – Michael Giacchino". MOVIE MUSIC UK. July 18, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Filmtracks: War for the Planet of the Apes (Michael Giacchino)". www.filmtracks.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  15. ↑ Black, Tony (July 17, 2017). "Film Score Review - War For the Planet of the Apes". Flickering Myth. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Review: 'War for the Planet of the Apes' is a work of stunning blockbuster artistry". Los Angeles Times. July 12, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  17. ↑ Morgenstern, Joe (July 13, 2017). "'War for the Planet of the Apes' Review: Evolving Deep Feelings and High Drama". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  18. ↑ Travers, Peter (July 10, 2017). "'War for the Planet of the Apes': Series Ends With Best 'Apes' Movie Yet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  19. ↑ Schaefer, Sandy (July 14, 2017). "War for the Planet of the Apes Review". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ Champane, Jimmy (July 14, 2017). "[Review] 'War for the Planet of the Apes' is the Perfect End to a Great Trilogy". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  21. ↑ "War For The Planet Of The Apes Is One Of The Best, And Bleakest, Summer Blockbusters Ever". Gizmodo Australia. July 26, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ Thompson, Anne (June 16, 2017). "Awards Season Gets a Summer Start With Strong Contenders Like 'War For the Planet of the Apes' and 'The Big Sick'". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  23. ↑ Sharf, Zack (July 15, 2017). "'War For the Planet Of the Apes': Stream Michael Giacchino's Original Score and Discover Why It's An Oscar Contender". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  24. ↑ Kohn, Eric (June 26, 2017). "'War for the Planet of the Apes' Review: Matt Reeves Concludes the Best Sci-Fi Trilogy Since the First 'Star Wars'". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ "2017 San Francisco Film Critics Nominate Andy Serkis for Best Actor, go deep in for Shape of Water". December 8, 2017. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  26. ↑ "The San Francisco Film Critics Announce Nominations - Awards Daily". December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Awards". Chicago Film Critics Association. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  28. ↑ Davis, Clayton (December 11, 2017). "Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations - 'Blade Runner 2049' Leads the Fray".
  29. ↑ ""Get Out" Named Best Picture of 2017 By Seattle Film Critics Society - Seattle Film Critics Society". December 18, 2017.
  30. ↑ "'The Shape of Water' inundates Houston critics' film awards nominations". December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Georgia Film Critics Association Announces 2017 Award Winners". GeorgiaEntertainmentNews.com. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  32. ↑ "'Dunkirk,' 'The Shape of Water' Lead Satellite Award Nominations". The Wrap. November 30, 2017. thewrap.com. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  33. ↑ "IFMCA Award Nominations 2017". International Film Music Critics Association. February 8, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  34. ↑ "IFMCA Award Winners 2017". International Film Music Critics Association. February 22, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  35. ↑ Michael Giacchino - War For The Planet Of The Apes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), July 21, 2017, retrieved November 15, 2022
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