Red Sparrow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the 2018 film "Red Sparrow" directed by Francis Lawrence, starring Jennifer Lawrence (no relation). The film score was composed by James Newton Howard and recorded for six days in October 2017 at the AIR Studios, London, with the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices performing the orchestra and choir. The score was released under the Sony Classical Records on March 2, 2018.
Development.
James Newton Howard composed the film score, reuniting with Francis after "I Am Legend" (2007), "Water for Elephants" (2011) and "The Hunger Games" film series. Howard cited Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Requiem" and Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird" as influences for the score and had listened to those pieces in headphones while filming. Due to the limited time in production, he wrote the score even before watching the final edit. The opening sequence where Nate in action on the streets of Moscow and Dominika dancing onstage in ballet, had Howard composed a 12-minute overture which was "distinctly Russian sounding". Francis initially used The Firebird while filming the choreography and set a predetermined rhythm and it could be overlaid to Howard's version, which he called as his Russian interpretation of his own style. Francis was very specific with the rhythm and beats per minute, with the choreography stuck closely to the BPM and editor Alan Edward Bell provided a click track to it, after which they created that sequence to it.
While editing one of the torture scenes in the film, he tried to create the tension without music or sound effects as the eventual sonic tone was sparse, while the music built a cacophonic climax alongside the action. Francis added "The sound of the whole movie, which was a big discussion, informs some of the other choices [...] When you get to a scene like the one in the kitchen there's a palate of sounds and themes to pull from. You can start to decide whether you create something new or hint at other sorts of themes or call back on something." Another pivotal scene involving Dominika in Sparrow school humiliating another cadet, was underlaid by silence to become "very bare and raw". Eventually, Lawrence and Howard wanted the score to be barely noticeable blending with other elements of the film, and surprise the audience to the events happening on screen.
The score was recorded at the AIR Studios in London for six days during October 2017. The recording involved an 100-member orchestra from the London Symphony Orchestra and a 40-member choir from London Voices performing.
Reception.
Jonathan Broxton of "Movie Music UK" wrote "Red Sparrow will be one of those scores where everyone praises the beginning and the end, and sort of ignores everything that happens in between [...] However, if you find yourself not connecting with the middle, it’s still perfectly acceptable to revel in the 30 minutes of rich, classical, overwhelmingly powerful orchestral writing that Howard engages in at the beginning and end of the score, because it truly is amongst the finest music of his long and distinguished career." "Filmtracks" wrote "this score is promising in the whole and magnificent at its height, but the presentation of its ranks on album, especially sans any of the classical pieces, underachieves to the same extent as the film." Kaya Savas of "Film.Music.Media" wrote "Red Sparrow may not have much of an emotional hook, but it’s still a very captivating and engrossing score from James Newton Howard." Michel Groothedde of "Soundtrack World" wrote "If you were to make a playlist of the “Ouverture,” “Didn’t I Do Well” and “End Titles,” you would get a fantastic suite of classical music of about thirty minutes. Whether that makes buying the CD worthwhile is up to you." James Southall of "Movie Wave" wrote ""Red Sparrow" is a rather uneven score (or album, at least) [...] Howard seems to do consistently good work for Francis Lawrence’s films so it will be interesting to hear whatever comes next."
A critic from "Film Music Central" said, "Howard’s score for "Red Sparrow" is a gorgeous listening experience". Sean Wilson of "MFiles" wrote "As a stand-alone listening experience most of the drama is in the first and final two tracks. While these last a full 29 minutes combined, the middle section of the album largely consists of suspense music. However there is enough textural variation and sonically surprising moments scattered throughout to maintain interest until the climax in the final two tracks. James Newton Howard has created something that's different and very welcome." Caleb Burnett of "Set the Tape" wrote "James Newton Howard is one among only a few working composers who could’ve written such a fitting score for "Red Sparrow". He does an exemplary job of implementing the elements essential to an international spy film, specifically one involving Russia. "Red Sparrow"’s themes of nationalism, patriotism, heroism, and virtue might not have been as digestible or effectual without the nationalistic and reflective aesthetic created by Howard." Michael Hollands of "Sound at the Movies" wrote "James Newton Howard once again proved he is an artist of the highest caliber."
Eric Kohn of "IndieWire" wrote "James Newton Howard’s ominous score adheres to a familiar set of beats, but it’s the rare big Hollywood mood piece and mostly satisfying on those terms." Robbie Collin of "The Daily Telegraph" called it as a "prowling, Bernard Herrmann-esque score", while Chris Bumbray of "JoBlo.com" reviewed it as a "really solid score". Ryan Pollard of "Starburst" wrote "Composer James Newton Howard delivers a suspenseful score".
Personnel.
Credits adapted from liner notes: