Thomas Newman replaces John Williams on Bridge of Spies [UPDATE: New Spielberg interview mentions Williams' health]

[Romão 2,323]

I'm sick and tired of reading about how any project is a potentially boring drama score. You'll get your fanfares and action music (which I also love) in the end of year. Thank God for variety in Williams output. Most of my favorite JW scores are drama scores

[Not Mr. Big 4,739]

I'm sick and tired of reading about how any project is a potentially boring drama score. You'll get your fanfares and action music (which I also love) in the end of year. Thank God for variety in Williams output. Most of my favorite JW scores are drama scores

That's true. After JW passes, everybody here (including me) will miss the luxury of having any new JW score at all, whether boring or not.

[A24 4,596]

The question is: Is there enough variety in the drama or the action scores?

[Jay 39,718]

Does Spielberg still plan to do The BFG?

http://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25153

[Incanus 5,818]

It will the first ever JW all-synth score!

I'm sick and tired of reading about how any project is a potentially boring drama score. You'll get your fanfares and action music (which I also love) in the end of year. Thank God for variety in Williams output. Most of my favorite JW scores are drama scores

I concur. Quite heartily.

[A24 4,596]

It will the first ever JW all-synth score!

If only that were true ...

[Incanus 5,818]

It will the first ever JW all-synth score!

If only that were true ...

Now now let us not be that adventurous. It would be too much at this point.

[Koray Savas 2,254]

I'm sick and tired of reading about how any project is a potentially boring drama score. You'll get your fanfares and action music (which I also love) in the end of year. Thank God for variety in Williams output. Most of my favorite JW scores are drama scores

The problem is that both his fanfare and drama modes are boring now.

[Romão 2,323]

That's not the point. The point is that the quality of a score is not necessarily tied to genre of the movie.

Nor is quality necessarily tied to enjoyability

[Koray Savas 2,254]

I agree with your first point but not the second.

[nightscape94 966]

None of the prequel scores were nominated, so I doubt TFA will be. If that's the case, and the movie holds up extremely well come award time, then Williams has about as good a chance as he usually does. If the score clearly elevates the film in an unexpected way, or stands out more than normal for the genre, then I say he has a shot. I'm very interested to see how Spielberg plans to use Johnny in this film.

[King Mark 3,730]

Expect a low key score with a nice End Credit cue plus another good cue that will be unused in the film

[Wojo 2,456]

Which low key? I like F minor, but E and Bb are nice too. C major? That's too high.

[BloodBoal 7,541]

Which low key?

[Sharkissimo 1,974]

I have a feeling that it will be a mixture of the boring suspense cues from Munich

There's NOTHING 'boring' about the suspense cues in MUNICH.

[nightscape94 966]

It's also a melodically interesting score.

[The Train Station 8,838]

Williams sabotages himself by submitting two scores to the Academy. His greed for recognition is his undoing.

[Incanus 5,818]

Williams sabotages himself by submitting two scores to the Academy. His greed for recognition is his undoing.

His ego has always been the worst of his sins.

[A24 4,596]

He wouldn't have made it to fame without his ego.

[Muad'Dib 1,874]

It would be nice if Spielberg allowed Williams to do something that doesn't require a full orchestra. A small, chamber ensemble would be quite nice for a change. Or pulling a Herrmann a doing just a certain section of the orchestra according to the scene needs. Both would be quite nice.

[nightscape94 966]

I'm sure Spielberg would allow Williams to do whatever he wanted or deemed appropriate. I doubt he's putting that type of stipulation on him, and he obviously trusts him.

[JohnnyD 1,330]

Looking forward to seeing the film.

[Jay 39,718]

Me too

[Balahkay 629]

Me three.

[Joe Brausam 221]

Williams' drama scores are some of my favorites. I loved Munich, and I really enjoy Presumed Innocent and Sleepers, really interesting scores that no one ever mentions.

[Romão 2,323]

Sleepers in probably my favorite Williams score

[Incanus 5,818]

Sleepers in probably my favorite Williams score

Quite high up on my list as well.

[John Dutton 7,480]

It's at the bottom of my list.

[Incanus 5,818]

It's at the bottom of my list.

Not a big surprise.

[Not Mr. Big 4,739]

It's in the bottom 1/4th of my list. Still a good score.

[publicist 4,647]

I'm sure Spielberg would allow Williams to do whatever he wanted or deemed appropriate. I doubt he's putting that type of stipulation on him, and he obviously trusts him.

That's not how it works. Spielberg usually comes up with some kind of temp he communicates to Williams, hence the operatic vocals in, i. e. MUNICH or A. I. For a score like TINTIN there may be shorthands since both man have made the same movie multiple times in the past but beyond that they will discuss the musical imprints the score should have. It's just how collaborations work.

[A24 4,596]

It's at the bottom of my list.

You only want uplifting and you would ban everything else if you were in charge! Sometimes you scare me, E.T. and Elliot!

[The Train Station 8,838]

I'm afraid of nothing.

[Not Mr. Big 4,739]

The problem is that both his fanfare and drama modes are boring now.

Were you even that a fan of his old fanfare and drama modes to begin with?

[Koray Savas 2,254]

Drama, yes. Fanfare, not so much.

[JoeinAR 1,953]

Wow its official he ain't dead or infirmed and he's scored every non quincy Jones SS film.

I'm stunned and shocked. You might even say I'm surprised.

[The Train Station 8,838]

Looking forward to it.

[crocodile 8,577]

Me too!

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,440]

Yeah...um...Jason will probably need to fix the title

[Thor 8,485]

Damn....somebody update the headline of this thread! Got me all excited there for a second.

[Jay 39,718]

Thread title changed

For anyone who missed the news, John Williams is no longer scoring this film; Thomas Newman is. The thread with all the info can be found here:

Thomas Newman - Bridge of Spies

[Lewya 360]

Spielberg talks Williams:

AP: "Bridge of Spies" is the first film in years you've made without John Williams composing the score.

Spielberg: Johnny Williams will be back to do "The BFG." We've only not worked together twice in 42 years. The first one was "The Color Purple" in 1985 and the second time was because Johnny had a small medical procedure that precluded him from writing and scoring my movie in the window that he was going to do it. He's fine, he's 100 percent back to work on "Star Wars," but it sadly precluded him from working on "Bridge of Spies." I was able to work with Thomas Newman, who I'm a huge fan of. This is just a blip and we're both sad about it, but we're excited to get back together for "BFG" now.

http://www.startribune.com/fall-movie-preview-spielberg-plunges-into-the-cold-war/323849331/

[BloodBoal 7,541]

Spielberg: "I went over to Thomas Newman’s house one day and he played me on the piano music that he was going to conduct… and it was just like hearing music from the gods."

[crumbs 14,901]

Spielberg will need a better explanation that that to explain why Williams unfriended him on Facebook.

Seriously though, that's the first mention of Williams actually having had surgery on his back, right? Speedy recovery to you, maestro!

This could also explain his groggy voice in the Comic-Con video. I'd put it right up that evil Mickey's alley to demand Williams record a special video while coming down off morphine.

[Jay 39,718]

BB!

@ crumbs: "small medical procedure" does not necessarily = surgery

[crumbs 14,901]

Good point Jay. Hopefully it was non-invasive and he got plenty of rest to get back to his best!

[Jay 39,718]

The only odd thing about all this, still, is that Spielberg wanted the score written and recorded way back in what, Jan/Feb of this year, for its October release date. In the end, I think him wanting to immediately jump into The BFG played as much of a role in JW not scoring it as JW's back thing and the Star Wars 7 timeline did.

[Thor 8,485]

Nice words from Spielberg, but he tends to forget DUEL and TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE. And -- if you count it -- POLTERGEIST.

[Jay 39,718]

Huh? How does Duel factor into "We've only not worked together twice in 42 years."?

[mrbellamy 6,780]

I guess sometimes Spielberg will say "Color Purple was my only movie without JW" in general. But most people tend to exclude those from his "legit" filmography, anyway, since of course Duel was made-for-TV and he had 3 co-directors on Twilight Zone. Obviously he's just talking about his theatrical features.