Search - Joby Talbot :: Penelope [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

A Warm, Funny, Wonderful Tale of Love, Trust, & Self Accept

lipschtik | In A World Of My Own | 03/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just went to see the movie "Penelope" last night and when the credits finally started rolling at the end, I found myself shaking my head in disagreement with some of its naysayers (I had previously read a review prior to viewing the film). I found it to be delightful in so many respects: warm, bittersweet, romantic, charming, and believe it or not, laugh out loud funny!! Christina Ricci was adorable as the hopeful, strong willed Penelope, and James McAvoy (*sigh*) complimented her perfectly as a destitute, charming blueblood who was first coerced into betraying her....only to wind up seeing her true inner beauty beyond her family curse that caused her to be born with the face of a pig(and thus losing his heart). The color, style, and design of her rich parents' home was exotic, beautiful; yet the only purpose it served was as a gilded cage to our poor heroine who longed to be accepted, see/experience the unknown world outside her window. I won't go into much more detail here, as I don't want to spoil things for anyone who hasn't seen this lovely modern day faerie tale......I WILL, however, say that both the musical score and various songs were a wonderful fit for the movie. I don't own this soundtrack just yet, but I do plan on purchasing it soon (as well as the film itself, once the DVD release date rolls around). The biggest thrill of all for me was hearing a gorgeous song played near the movie's end ("Hoppipolla")by one of my most beloved bands, Sigur Ros. They are a truly incredible band from Iceland that I was most fortunate to discover several years ago. I have religiously picked up all of their albums and will definitely continue to do so for however long they continue in their marvelous craft. "Hoppipolla" is from their fantastic 2005 album "Takk..."; I actually cried when I first listened to the song, it moved me that much emotionally!! It has been one of my favorite songs by the quartet ever since. While this truly is a review for "Penelope", I only thought it fitting to comment on Sigur Ros as well for anyone out there who isn't already well acquainted with them: I can't give nearly enough high praise for them, they are THAT excellent!! Ethereal, mysterious, hypnotic, emotional, passionate, atmospheric.....just flat out STUNNING music. "Penelope" is enchanting, not to be missed...and the same can be said for Sigur Ros. If you plan on checking out either, be prepared to enter two very distinct, imaginative worlds that will leave your eyes/ ears wanting more. :-)"

Musically discovering inner beauty........,

Horatio Guttersnipe | London, England | 02/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We all know and love Joby's work, he can do anything musically, from his early days with The Divine Comedy he added something enriching to Neil Hannon's songs and in Once Around the Sun, The Dying Swan, The Path of Miracles, Arctic Tale, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and now Penelope, he continues to give us a truly inspiring musical tapestry for our ears to dance around.

Penelope was a lovely film, a very sweet modern fairy tale which was partly about knowing how to love ourselves before we can know how to love others or for that matter, expect others to love us in return and our two protagonists have to learn to accept who they are before they can live happily ever after. As I walked into the theatre with sister and mother in tow, I was half expecting an awful sentimental film but like the music it never strayed into mawkish territory. It was a traditional fairy tale like Beauty and the Beast, or Cinderella and was a thoughtfully put together film with unexpected twists.

Joby's music just soars in places and at other moments makes me grin as I recall some of the comical scenes. A great film and truly heartening score........



Track, 13. Hoppipolla - by Wenzel Templeton & Robert Pegg (which is used in the trailer and at the films end, I can only say, this sounds like pure euphoria!)

"

Hoppipolla

Z. Lovatt | Toronto, Canada | 04/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This song is by Sigur Rós, a band from Iceland. They've got no connections to anybody named 'Wenzel Templeton' or 'Robert Pegg' that I can find. What I did discover, however, is that Templeton is of a Vancouver (BC, Canada) band titled 'Boy Girl Radio' - This band consists of Wenzel Templeton, David Lettinga and an Archibald Pegg. No "Robert" here but at least we've found the Pegg.



Can't find anybody with the name Robert Pegg having anything to do with music at all, either.



Maybe whoever composed the soundtrack listing messed up somewhere, or am I totally off?



Just seems strange - it's a Sigur song, in its original version."