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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Understated, Underrated; Unforgetable!, 16 Jan 2003
This score went virtually unnoticed by critics and the audience - even the ones who praised the film. Yet this music completely changed the tone and mood of Iris, and was the key component of making it the success it was.To those who are familiar with the film's music, this score has most of the music used. However, some of the best bits - the piano parts from earlier on in the film as an example, have been ommitted ,although I can't understand why (time isn't a factor - the album's only 50 minutes long) But what it misses out on there, it makes up ten fold with the rest of the score. Joshua Bell's violin playing is the most beautiful I've ever heard - that's including Itzhak Perlman's in Schindler's List! His playing is in most of the score but composer James Horner uses a varied assortment here to make a truly rich and yet delicately refined score. The main theme itself is good, but even that pales in comparrison to some of the other themes touched upon later on. In fact, Horner's score here is very similar to his recognised work of the same year - A Beautiful Mind. I cannot understand why that won over the awards ceremonies and not this; perhaps it was all the marketing! My favourite tracks, although the whole thing plays best from start to finish, has to be Parts 5 & 7. Part 5 is featured around the time when they visit Janet's cottage by the sea. It encorporates Bell's violin and Horner's usual use of horn and strings. At 11 minutes long it is a pleasure if, like me, you are able to listen to it whilst looking out to sea. It is relaxing. Part 7, 11 minutes as well, is basically the last ten minutes of the film in its entirety, i.e. all the music playing in the death scene is featured here. I really noticed the power of this music when watching this scene at the cinema; just before Iris dies she is happily dancing around in front of the window in the corridor - and there's a very simple piano riff playing. Pure simplicity that plays like a character from the film. Indeed as this film contains all kinds of human emotions, so too does the score. This means that even if you haven't seen the film you get the rich sense of grace and sadness. Certainly one for if you are wanting to be taken on an emotional journey.
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~ Nigel Hess
~ Judith Farmer
![Iris [DVD] [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RD2ZK1PDL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Judi Dench
~ Robin Williamson
~ James Horner
