Far From Heaven

1. Autumn in Connecticut

2. Mother Love

3. Evening Rest

4. Walking Through Town

5. Prowl

6. Psych

7. The F Word

8. Party

9. Hit

10. Crying

11. Turning Point

12. Cathy and Raymond Dance

13. Disapproval

14. Walk Away

15. Miami Arranged by Patrick Russ

16. Back To Basics

17. Stones

18. Revelation and Decision

19. Remembrance

20. More Pain

See all 22 tracks on this disc

From Amazon.com
With typical verve, director Todd Haynes's film not only seeks to evoke Douglas Sirk's social-themed Hollywood melodramas of the '50s, but to bring an entirely new one to life with a distinct lack of modern irony. In telling the story of a Connecticut couple whose "perfect" relationship masks taboo undercurrents of homosexuality and interracial love, Haynes has found the perfect musical collaborator in 50-plus-year film scoring veteran Elmer Bernstein. The composer manages a deft tightrope act here, managing to inform Haynes's film-out-of-time with the same delicate, emotionally compelling sensibility he brought to his classic score for To Kill a Mockingbird, while steering clear of emotional treacle and obvious musical anachronisms. Anchored by a spare, ethereal piano theme (performed with sympathetic grace by Cynthia Millar) and colored with melancholy woodwind figures and restrained string flourishes, Bernstein's music still manages a back-to-the-future pastoralism that firmly underscores the film's timeless subtexts. It's a masterpiece of autumnal understatement by one of Hollywood's true living legends. --Jerry McCulley

14 Reviews 5 star:  (10) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:  (3) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review (14 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most helpful customer reviews   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: A Score Close To 'Heaven', Jan 21 2003 By  L. D. Kinlaw "LBOOGiE73" (Longview, Texas USA) - See all my reviews    Elmer Bernstein's score for 'Far From Heaven' is undoubtedly one of the best soundtracks of the year and is destined for an Academy Award nomination. Obviously it won't suit everyone's taste; no soundtrack does. But this one serves its purpose very well. Todd Haynes' film is a cinematic marvel set in the 1950's when truth and emotions were often suppressed. Bernstein at 80+ years old has managed to compose a wonderful score that draws the audience into the movie's characters even when they're at their most pretentious because it also unveils the pain buried inside of them. "Autumn in Connecticut" and "Cathy and Raymond Dance" (which sounds like a hit ballad from the Big Band era) are my favorite tracks. I'm not sure how a score can be appropriately reviewed without seeing the movie for which it is written, but this is certain: this score is quite close to 'Heaven'. Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   A wonderful score, Nov 16 2003 By  "peggymcpoetry" (Denver) - See all my reviews After watching the movie, I had to get the score. I really enjoy the grand and lush feel of this incredible CD. You don't have to like the movie to appreciate the music. I listen to it at the office because it is quite appealing without being distracting. It gives me a good feeling inside. I'd buy it again. I don't know the composer's other works but after this, I'll be on the lookout. Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   Makes me want to see the movie, Mar 30 2003 By  L. Bruce "lsb73" (Madison, MS) - See all my reviews    The Oscar-nominated score by Elmer Bernstein, is so compelling, I now want to see the movie, too. The music evokes the long-lost melodramas of the 1950s and earlier, when scores were like a good paradox: Both sweeping and understated at the same time. Bernstein's work here, with frequent collaborator Cynthia Millar, is evocative of some of his best work and other composers from the 50s without being overly hokey or anachronistic. It holds up fine as a score in 2003, too. Good stuff for any fan of film or period music. Was this review helpful to you? (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers:  › See all 14 customer reviews...		Most recent customer reviews All that heaven allows I started listening to this CD about a week before seeing the film and I felt then that it stood very firmly on it's own. Read more Published on Mar 5 2003 by Sean O'Neil Close to Heaven Like Douglas Sirk (All That Heaven Allows), whose lush Technicolor weepies served as inspiration, director Todd Haynes (Safe, Velvet Goldmine) doesn't define melodrama as... Read more Published on Feb 26 2003 by Kathy Fennessy Seventh Heaven The soundtrack to "Far From Heaven" is anything but. If you've already seen the movie, you will know what an integral part this soundtrack was to the overall feel of a... Read more Published on Feb 2 2003 by Carol Gunia Very nostalgic! At first, I didn't give full attention to this new song. I didn't care because the artist is from foreign. Read more Published on Feb 1 2003 by leo p. udtohan Great soundtrack!!! This is an amazing score!!!! I think it sounds great alone and in the movie too!!! I recommend this very much!!! Published on Jan 14 2003 by dave20 Bland I haven't seen the movie. The music that Mr. Bernstein wrote for it amy work very well in that context. Read more Published on Jan 1 2003 by Hoc Stercus Excellent soundtrack!!!!! I would agree that it is very reminiscient of the 50s scores you use to hear alot. I think it is goregous and suits the movie very well!! I highly recommend this soundtrack!!!! Published on Dec 30 2002 by dave20 A brilliant score... Reminiscent of 50s film scoring ! In contrary to the other readers' opinions, I found Bernstein's score a real 'charmer'. It sounds very 50s, and is deserving of the glowing accolades it has received in the media... Read more Published on Nov 26 2002 by F. Longworth A Masterpiece 50 years in the business and still on the top of his game...Elmer Bernstein has written a flawless masterpiece with Far from Heaven. Read more Published on Nov 22 2002 by Christian Kuehn What a disappointment What a disappointment to buy this CD in advance of the movie, anticipating a return to the powerful, lush and sweeping scores of Elmer Bernstein of the 50's and 60's. Read more Published on Nov 17 2002 by GreatTracks Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 14 customer reviews...

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