The Kite Runner

The music in The Kite Runner works primarily as underscoring to establish the Middle Eastern location and the mood. Typically Middle Eastern music plays during the opening credits and again during the scenes when the children are re flying kites in Afghanistan. This underscoring also helped give a sense of nationalism during the contests. Midway through the film, the mood undergoes a change from childish happiness to sadness as the father and son are forced to leave Afghanistan because the Russian Communists are coming. When in the scenes move to America the music changes out of its Middle Eastern influence and begins to sound more generic. It is peaceful underscoring without alluding to anything great or exciting happening.

When the son returns to Afghanistan the Middle Eastern underscoring returns but it is still melancholy and it not nearly as energetic as when he was a child. When in the marketplace and the son is looking for his nephew there is music and sound coming from all of the activity and the chaos reflects what is in his mind while he is frantic looking for the boy. Finally, back in America the more generic music returns with a happy tone. When the boy Sohrab flies the kite in the closing scenes the underscoring perks up and indicates a hopeful future.

Big Fish

The music to Big Fish could almost be described as classical in that it is played almost continuously throughout. The music was generally used as underscoring during the story-telling parts of the movie and served as a bridge into the fantasy world. The contrast between the music-less real life and the musically rich world of fantasy in his father’s stories is most prominent in the last few scenes. As Edward’s son tells him the story of taking Edward out of the hospital, the music is grand (almost like a awe inspiring scene in an epic) while the image is of the story; while there is no music as you flash back to reality in the hospital.

There was also that could be called diagetic, however it is actually underscoring. One example of this is when "I’m All Shook Up" is playing as Edward’s father jumps from the plane. One more time was when the song "Together we stand" played as he robbed a bank. All of these songs though oddly fit the situation. There was some use of diagetic music, such as at the dance, when the fiddle is playing.

Titanic

Titanic was one of the highest grossing and most popular films of the 1990's, and possibly of all time. One component that contributes to the continuing popularity of the film is the score composed by James Horner. Horner uses different types of music to represent characters, themes and feelings throughout the movie.
The theme of the Titanic is first heard during the opening of the movie as the salvage boat approaches to explore the wreckage. Jack and Rose also have their very powerful love theme that became widely popular before and after the release of the movie. The song which is called "My Heart Will Go On" is be heard during the scenes in which the love between Jack and Rose blossoms.
The music in the film also provides definition for the class system on board. The upper class is represented by an elegant string quartet while the lower class is represented by the Irish dance music. Irish influenced folk music is heard when Jack and his friend are running to catch the boat, when Jack and Rose are dancing on the boat, and when they are running from a man through the boat. It is used to show the sense adventure and carefree feelings that they feel around each other.

E.T.

It is easy to see how William was influenced by the early Hollywood composers as many of his scores seem to adhere to classical film music stereotypes. For example, throughout E.T. there seemed to be a repeating theme that varied during different situations such scenes with happiness, drama, or close interaction between Elliot and E.T. The music is almost completely underscoring and plays almost without stop for the entire movie. The theme played at the start of the movie is designed to evoke outer space and is played with a full orchestra. There was also some illustration used in times of a quick movement.

The Sting

The most recognizable piece of music in this film is heard during the opening credits, playing what has become the American carnival theme. As with the rest of the music in this film, the carnival music reflects the supposed mood of the boisterous scene which is sometimes contradicted by the actions of the characters. For instance the pre-existing ragtime music created by Scott Joplin does not totally fit with the start of movie which is apparently fun but also has angry looking thugs and con-artists. This opening was replayed over and over again throughout the movie, being predominantly light and happy.

During the film, some of the scenes definitely seemed shortened. For example, after Robert Redford cons the man trying to rob him and his friend, the music seems to be shortened when they are running away through one of the back alleys. Music in this film also seems to fade out during points when the scenes change. However, there are plenty of scenes where the music is not shortened for the scene and instead the theme carries over into the next scene. Generally, the pre-existing music works well with the movie. While sometimes shortened, the music still makes enough of an impact to convey the mood of the scene and because it is instrumental, it is much less noticeable when the tune is cut off.

To Kill a Mockingbird

The musical themes in To Kill a Mockingbird are spare and simple. Underscoring is only heard during transitions, leading up to moments of danger and behind Scout's narrations. Since To Kill a Mockingbird is a traditional courtroom drama, there is no music played when while the characters are in the courtroom. The text notes that a majority of the music contains an upbeat, childish melody because the film is scene through the eyes of the children. This style of music adds innocence to the film, as these kids are exposed to social issues such as race and prejudice. The music is fairly minimal and generally lacks intense emotion. For the most part, the music is not completely classical or the style of Bernard Hermann in Psycho. Instead it is more of a mix of the two.

Psycho

Without a doubt, Alfred Hichcock's Psycho is a classic, iconic film that has had far-reaching influence on other films that followed. Today, the famous string-crescendo during the shower scene has been repeated and imitated into a cliche, but that does not lessen it's impact in the film itself.
Compared to the other films we have viewed during this course, I found the most striking thing about Psycho was the emphasis on suspense. In Double Indemnity, the scene leading up to the murder of Mr. Dietrichson had music that was full of brass and slowly swelled until it reached it's peak during the killing itself. Later, when Walter Neff is shot by Phyllis and then kills her with the same gun, the music is at first silent and then there is a soft love theme playing in the background which is cut off when Walter kills Phyllis.
Psycho is distinctly different in this respect. For instance, when Marion Crane is taking her shower, unaware that she is about to be butchered, there is no underscoring and all we hear are the diagetic sound of her taking a shower. The falling water, the sound of soap wrapper, the shower curtain scaping on the pole all combine to put the audience directly in the scene with no distractions except what we see. As viewers we expect there to be some kind of musical cue warning us that something is about happen, like when the door opens in the background. Normally, this would trigger some kind of low string accompaniment, possible with drums. Instead, there is nothing but silence until Norman Bates pulls back the shower curtain to attack Marion. This has the effect of putting the audience in great suspense as to what is going to happen. We see this again when Bates murders Arbogast on the stairs. While Arbogast is sneaking around the house, the audience knows something is going to happen, but we have no indication as to when the attack will occur. There is no rising underscore, no ominous strings to serve as a cue. In this way, Psycho is very different from the other niors that remain dark and brooding throughout.