Zero Dark Thirty (soundtrack)

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Zero Dark Thirty (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
Alexandre Desplat
ReleasedDecember 25, 2012
Recorded2012
GenreFilm score
Length52:40
LabelMadison Gate
ProducerAlexandre Desplat
Alexandre Desplat chronology
Rise of the Guardians
(2012) 		Zero Dark Thirty
(2012) 		Zulu
(2013)

Zero Dark Thirty (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty. Featuring an original score composed by Alexandre Desplat, the soundtrack was released through Madison Gate Records on December 25, 2012.

Development[edit]

French composer Alexandre Desplat scored music for Zero Dark Thirty, who compared the film's music to that of Akira Kurosawa-directed Japanese action film Ran (1985) where music served as a storytelling device in the film.[1] Likewise, the film's director Kathryn Bigelow instructed him that the music should be not felt like a contemporary score but as a storytelling device that follows the action.[2] Following an archaic and organic structure of the film's score, he opined that the film takes him back to Middle Ages.[3] Desplat refrained from writing music in the higher range and employed musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra—12 horns, 12 trombones, 3 tubas, 12 violas, 12 celli and 12 basses.[a] Few soloists would play electric cello, violin and duduk.[4][5] Their contributions provide a "very deep and dark type of sound without being in-your-face", according to Desplat.[2]

Critical response[edit]

Tim Grierson of Screen International described it as "one of his [Desplat's] sparest and most effective recent scores, underlying the tension in key moments without overpowering the visuals".[6] David Edelstein of Vulture wrote "Alexandre Desplat’s chord progressions are mysterious, suffused with awe."[7] Christy Lemire of The Florida Times-Union wrote "Alexandre Desplat's score is suitably understated".[8] Don Groves of SBS wrote "the Middle East-influenced score by Alexandre Desplat is a subtle enhancement of the visceral imagery on screen."[9] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote that Desplat's "Middle East-inflected score" sets the mood bare minimum.[10] Stephanie Zacharek of MTV indicated that Desplat's score is a nod to John Barry's theme "Capsule In Space" from You Only Live Twice (1967), further describing it as "it's music that attaches a cost to experience.[11]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Flight to Compound"5:07
2."Drive to Embassy"1:44
3."Bombings"3:46
4."Ammar"4:06
5."Monkeys"2:59
6."Northern Territories"3:46
7."Seals Take Off"2:34
8."21 Days"2:04
9."Preparation for Attack"1:45
10."Balawi"3:15
11."Dead End"3:26
12."Maya on Plane"3:59
13."Area 51"1:42
14."Tracking Calls"3:46
15."Picket Lines"3:03
16."Towers"2:02
17."Chopper"1:48
18."Back to Base"2:41

Awards and nominations[edit]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipients and nominees Result
Alliance of Women Film Journalists[12] January 7, 2013 Best Film Music or Score Alexandre Desplat Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association[13] December 17, 2012 Best Original Score Alexandre Desplat Nominated
Grammy Awards[14] January 26, 2014 Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Alexandre Desplat Nominated
World Soundtrack Awards[15][16] October 19, 2013 Soundtrack Composer of the Year Alexandre Desplat Nominated[b]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ However, Desplat in an IndieWire interview stated that he had employed 9 bassists and 16–20 horn players.[2]
  2. ^ Also for Argo (2012), Renoir (2012), and Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chitwood, Adam (November 9, 2012). "Composer Alexandre Desplat Talks Scoring Kathryn Bigelow's ZERO DARK THIRTY; Says the Film Is Like a Japanese Kurosawa Movie". Collider. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Taylor, Drew (January 10, 2013). "Composer Alexandre Desplat Talks Scoring 'Zero Dark Thirty,' Working With Terrence Malick, Wes Anderson & More". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Miller, Julie (February 22, 2013). "Argo Composer Alexandre Desplat on Preventing Ben Affleck's Film from Sounding "Cheesy" and Creating Zero Dark Thirty's "Middle Ages" Score". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Warner, Kara (December 31, 2012). "'Zero Dark Thirty': Composer Alexandre Desplat Talks Musical Suspense". MTV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Bahr, Lindsey (January 13, 2013). "Composer Alexandre Desplat's very busy year". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Grierson, Tim (November 26, 2012). "Zero Dark Thirty". Screen. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Edelstein, David (December 10, 2012). "Edelstein: Zero Dark Thirty Is Borderline Fascistic ... and a Masterpiece". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Lemire, Christy (January 11, 2013). "Movie Review: 'Zero Dark Thirty' is a massive, meticulous war film". The Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Groves, Don (January 23, 2013). "Zero Dark Thirty review: Fact blurs with fiction into a crackerjack thriller". SBS. Archived from the original on April 13, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Debruge, Peter (November 25, 2012). "Zero Dark Thirty". Variety. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (January 10, 2013). "Review: 'Zero Dark Thirty' Surrenders No Easy Answers — Which Is Just the Point". MTV. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "2012 EDA Award Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Archived from the original on January 9, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  13. ^ ""The Master" rules 2012 CFCA Awards with 10 Nominations". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 14, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  14. ^ "56th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  15. ^ Chagollan, Steve (August 16, 2013). "World Soundtrack Awards' Nominations Include Danna, Desplat, Marianelli and Newman". Variety. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  16. ^ Brooks, Molly (October 21, 2013). "Life of Pi composer wins Soundtrack Award". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
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