Inception: Music from the Motion Picture
Encyclopedia
Inception: Music from the Motion Picture is a soundtrack to the Christopher Nolan
film Inception
, released on July 13, 2010 by Reprise Records
. Hans Zimmer
scored the film, marking his third collaboration with Nolan following Batman Begins
and The Dark Knight
.
and was interested in having Johnny Marr
, former guitarist in the influential 80s rock band The Smiths
, to play these parts. Zimmer's reported inspiration was finding a synthesizer track which he had written similar to Marr's guitar style. Nolan agreed with Zimmer's suggestion, and then Zimmer approached Marr, who accepted his offer. Marr spent four 12-hour days working on the score, playing notes written by Zimmer with a 12-string guitar.
For inspiration, Zimmer read Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
by Douglas Hofstadter
because it combined "the idea of playfulness in mathematics and playfulness in music". Zimmer did not assemble a temp score but "every now and then they would call and say 'we need a little something here.' But that was OK because much of the music pieces aren't that scene specific. They fall into little categories". While writing the screenplay, Nolan wrote in Édith Piaf
's "Non, je ne regrette rien
" but almost took it out when he cast Marion Cotillard, who had just completed an Oscar-winning turn as Piaf in the 2007 film La Vie en rose
. Zimmer convinced Nolan to keep it in the film and also integrated elements of the song into his score; in particular, the film's iconic brass instrument fanfare resembles a slowed-down version of the song's instrumentation.
The trailers for the film feature specially composed music by Zack Hemsey
, which does not appear on the official soundtrack. The soundtrack was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Grammy and a BAFTA.
said "Inception is a basically effective score in context, acceptable but not exceptional", awarding it a two-star rating. Similarly, Jonathan Broxton, editor of Movie Music UK awarded the score three stars and wrote "the reality is that, for quite significant portions of its running time, Inception is unexpectedly dull".
Regarding Zimmer's previous collaborations with Nolan, Archie Watt of MovieCues said "it's very obvious to anybody who has heard his previous scores for the director that this score is built firmly on their foundations. The compositions are very simple ones, but here the familiar elements of those previous scores are pulled off in a more energetic and complex way. That’s what puts this score a good distance ahead of them". Whilst praising several elements of the score, his review was largely negative, saying "Despite the fact that certain music on this album is inarguably good, the majority of it is rather dull and mundane".
More enthusiastic were James Southall of Movie Wave, who awarded the score five stars, calling it "Zimmer’s finest work in a number of years", and Jim Lochner of Film Score Click Track, who said "Inception is one thrilling and trippy musical ride", awarding the score four and a half stars out of five.
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Jonathan James Nolan is a British-American film director, screenwriter and producer.He received serious notice after his second feature Memento , which he wrote and directed based on a story idea by his brother, Jonathan Nolan. Jonathan went to co-write later scripts with him,...
film Inception
Inception
Inception: The Subconscious Jams 1994-1995 is a compilation of unreleased tracks by the band Download.-Track listing:# "Primitive Tekno Jam" – 3:23# "Bee Sting Sickness" – 8:04# "Weed Acid Techno" – 8:19...
, released on July 13, 2010 by Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
. Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
scored the film, marking his third collaboration with Nolan following Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is a 2005 American superhero action film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson,...
and The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight (film)
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins...
.
Production
According to Zimmer, it is "a very electronic score". Nolan asked Zimmer to compose and finish the score as he was shooting the film. The composer said, "He wanted to unleash my imagination in the best possible way". At one point, while composing the score, Zimmer incorporated a guitar sound reminiscent of Ennio MorriconeEnnio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
and was interested in having Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
, former guitarist in the influential 80s rock band The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, to play these parts. Zimmer's reported inspiration was finding a synthesizer track which he had written similar to Marr's guitar style. Nolan agreed with Zimmer's suggestion, and then Zimmer approached Marr, who accepted his offer. Marr spent four 12-hour days working on the score, playing notes written by Zimmer with a 12-string guitar.
For inspiration, Zimmer read Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid is a book by Douglas Hofstadter, described by his publishing company as "a metaphorical fugue on minds and machines in the spirit of Lewis Carroll"....
by Douglas Hofstadter
Douglas Hofstadter
Douglas Richard Hofstadter is an American academic whose research focuses on consciousness, analogy-making, artistic creation, literary translation, and discovery in mathematics and physics...
because it combined "the idea of playfulness in mathematics and playfulness in music". Zimmer did not assemble a temp score but "every now and then they would call and say 'we need a little something here.' But that was OK because much of the music pieces aren't that scene specific. They fall into little categories". While writing the screenplay, Nolan wrote in Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
's "Non, je ne regrette rien
Non, je ne regrette rien
"Non, je ne regrette rien" , meaning "No, I'm not sorry for anything", is a French song composed by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire. It was written in 1956, and is best known through its 1960 recording by Édith Piaf....
" but almost took it out when he cast Marion Cotillard, who had just completed an Oscar-winning turn as Piaf in the 2007 film La Vie en rose
La Vie en rose (film)
La Vie En Rose is a 2007 French biographical film about the life of French chanteuse Édith Piaf co-written, and directed by Olivier Dahan. Marion Cotillard stars as Piaf. The title La Vie en Rose comes from Piaf's signature song...
. Zimmer convinced Nolan to keep it in the film and also integrated elements of the song into his score; in particular, the film's iconic brass instrument fanfare resembles a slowed-down version of the song's instrumentation.
The trailers for the film feature specially composed music by Zack Hemsey
Zack Hemsey
Zack Hemsey is an American composer and recording artist, best known for the use of his music in film trailers. A notable example was "Trailer 3" of the 2010 movie Inception which included his composed piece "Mind Heist"; it is a common misconception that the piece for this trailer was composed by...
, which does not appear on the official soundtrack. The soundtrack was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Grammy and a BAFTA.
Critical reception
The score received a mixed reception. Christian Clemmensen of FilmtracksFilmtracks.com
Filmtracks.com is a leading modern film score review website created and maintained out of Missoula, Montana by its sole reviewer, Christian Clemmensen...
said "Inception is a basically effective score in context, acceptable but not exceptional", awarding it a two-star rating. Similarly, Jonathan Broxton, editor of Movie Music UK awarded the score three stars and wrote "the reality is that, for quite significant portions of its running time, Inception is unexpectedly dull".
Regarding Zimmer's previous collaborations with Nolan, Archie Watt of MovieCues said "it's very obvious to anybody who has heard his previous scores for the director that this score is built firmly on their foundations. The compositions are very simple ones, but here the familiar elements of those previous scores are pulled off in a more energetic and complex way. That’s what puts this score a good distance ahead of them". Whilst praising several elements of the score, his review was largely negative, saying "Despite the fact that certain music on this album is inarguably good, the majority of it is rather dull and mundane".
More enthusiastic were James Southall of Movie Wave, who awarded the score five stars, calling it "Zimmer’s finest work in a number of years", and Jim Lochner of Film Score Click Track, who said "Inception is one thrilling and trippy musical ride", awarding the score four and a half stars out of five.
Track listing
All tracks written and composed by Hans Zimmer.External links
- Movie's Official Website
- Soundtrack's Official Website
- Soundtracks for Inception at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...