The Pledge. Are you watching closely? - David Julyan, Julyan, David
The The Pledge. Colorado Springs
The The Pledge. The Light Field
The The Pledge. Borden Meets Sarah
The The Pledge. Adagio for Julia
The The Turn. A New Trick
The The Turn. The Journal
The The Turn. The Transported Man
The The Turn. No, Not today
The The Turn. Caught
The The Turn. Cutter Returns
The The Turn. The Real Transported Man
The The Turn. Man's Reach Exceeds His Imagination
The The Turn. Goodbye to Jess
The The Prestige. Sacrifice
The The Prestige. The Price of a Good Trick
The The Prestige. The Prestige
With this score, composer David Julyan resumes his collaboration with director Christopher Nolan, which started on Memento and continued with Insomnia. Like the movie it accompanies, the soundtrack for The Prestige is divi... more »ded in three sections of five, nine, and three tracks, respectively: the Pledge, the Turn, and the Prestige. The tracks making up the Pledge are so atmospheric and amorphous that they become interchangeable, forming what sounds like one long goth/New Age piece. But guess what: the tracks in the Turn sound the sameand so do the ones in the Prestige. It's hard to fathom how Julyan could manage to produce such a meek aural wallpaper with the ginormous Hollywood Studio Orchestra at his disposal. "A New Trick" shows a bit more of a pulse but it's only temporary. The most impressive number is "Sacrifice," which sounds really ominous. It's easy to see how this score would work great in the movie--unlike too many musicians, Julyan never overpowers a scene and he suggests mood rather than dictates it. But as a stand-alone listening experience, cut off from its visual accompaniment, the CD can be a bit frustrating. --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
With this score, composer David Julyan resumes his collaboration with director Christopher Nolan, which started on Memento and continued with Insomnia. Like the movie it accompanies, the soundtrack for The Prestige is divided in three sections of five, nine, and three tracks, respectively: the Pledge, the Turn, and the Prestige. The tracks making up the Pledge are so atmospheric and amorphous that they become interchangeable, forming what sounds like one long goth/New Age piece. But guess what: the tracks in the Turn sound the same…and so do the ones in the Prestige. It's hard to fathom how Julyan could manage to produce such a meek aural wallpaper with the ginormous Hollywood Studio Orchestra at his disposal. "A New Trick" shows a bit more of a pulse but it's only temporary. The most impressive number is "Sacrifice," which sounds really ominous. It's easy to see how this score would work great in the movie--unlike too many musicians, Julyan never overpowers a scene and he suggests mood rather than dictates it. But as a stand-alone listening experience, cut off from its visual accompaniment, the CD can be a bit frustrating. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Michael W. Draine | Acton, MA United States | 03/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"David Julyan's score for THE PRESTIGE was one of the key elements in sustaining the film's foreboding atmosphere, the sense that every victory will be undermined by tragedy. The soundtrack is very dark, but in a beautiful and thrilling way. The ethereal orchestration invites comparison to Brian Eno's darkest ambient endeavors, such as ON LAND, Fripp & Eno's NO PUSSYFOOTING, and "An Index of Metals" from EVENING STAR. As in Eno's ambient music, timbre, harmony, and texture figure more prominently melody and harmony. Perhaps this radical approach is what put some of the other reviewer's off. Julyan's THE PRESTIGE soundtrack is more likely to appeal to connoisseurs of composers such as Gyorgy Ligetti and Krzysztof Penderecki than to listeners accustomed to the heroic fanfares of Jonathan Williams."
Interesting flow..
O. Phillips | Saskatoon | 01/09/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This movie was absolutely amazing, the soundtrack was good as well, yet some may find it quite boring without having seeing the movie. Even then , it is basically just long notes and chords and harmonic things later on. But yeah, its good ! :)"
Some Calm Down Music
Q. Pair | USA | 12/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"True, this may not have been the most dazzling soundtrack you ever heard, but The Prestige is good none the less. This is one of those very quiet, chill out type CDs you put on when you put on when you need to slow down. Some reviews for this call it dull, but its all a matter of what you want to hear. The Prestige (movie) is about the mystique and mystery behind the illusion of the so-called magic trick, and the two men's quest to attain it, and the music reflects the tone of the story superbly.
If you go into listening to this CD knowing and liking what you'll be hearing, you'll love it. I know I do. 5/5 stars."
A prestigious soundtrack
H. W. H. Baur | 03/27/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Contrary to some reviews, this score offers a lot more variety than one might expect - though there's a definite sense of mystery and foreboding to every track. It's unlike any other soundtrack in that it puts the emphasis on atmosphere rather than melody, and if you like the mood of the film, you will certainly enjoy this album.
Highlights are 'A New Trick', featuring a more positive, almost optimistic feel; 'Man's Reach Exceeds His Imagination', with the most bold statement of the main theme, and 'Sacrifice', in which the music reaches an almost terrifying climax.
So if you're in for something different, and you enjoyed the movie - then don't hesitate to buy this mystifying and captivating soundtrack."