Search - Joel Diamond :: The Believer

Intense, Haunting Music

Chris Herrmann | Pasadena, MD United States | 03/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Have yet to see The Believer on film, but I purchased the soundtrack,which is at once conveys the intense contradictions of the premise of the film-Danny, a Jewish teenager, uncertain about some of his religion's teachings voices opposition, only to be quelled, becomes a Neo-Nazi, and the inner turmoil that results in his soul. Having not viewed the film, I can't associate exact music with a particular scene, but for someone who hasn't seen the movie, the music instantly portrays the intense, grim, contradictory ideas within the film's premise. The composer Joel Diamond and director Henry Bean, have astonishingly conveyed both factions of Danny's soul, using traditional Jewish themes, instruments and chants and contradictng this with violently harsh, chilling music representing Neo-Nazism. The later songs that invoke the Neo-Nazi aspect of Danny are very chilling pieces, intensely dark. Several pieces convey the diverse society of New York,offer a menagerie of latin, r&b, and spanish phrases, to present a piece that captures the flavor of New York streets. Most effectively, the composer uses chants of Jewish religious teachings and recitings of white supremacist statements overlaping, to convey the dual voices within Danny's mind. At once a powerful and haunting musical experience,that will linger in your mind."