Ep. 165 - Elliot Goldenthal's 'Interview with the Vampire'
Drama, Fantasy, Horror, 13-Jun-2022
This film took the world by storm when it was released in 1994 - mainly because of its all-star cast with two leading A-listers. Even so, Neil Jordan's interpretation of Anne Rice's work landed Elliot Goldenthal an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. He also won an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for his work.
After listening to the opening sequence, you are immediately captivated by the musical duality of old vs. new. It is a worthwhile introduction to Louis de Pointe du Lac played by Brad Pitt, who also narrates the sequence of the story through his interview with Daniel Molloy (played by Christian Slater). Goldenthal uses a similar technique of solo voices and choir in the opening credits of 'Alien 3', which you may find similar in tone. The question you then have to ask yourself is: what story elements are similar? There is a sense of loneliness, darkness, and isolation that Goldenthal is brilliant at finding, and digging into through his music.
If you haven't seen the film, we suggest you do so. Kristen Dunst, playing Claudia, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress - she was around 10 at the time.
Where to watch: https://letterboxd.com/film/interview-with-the-vampire/
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Every Monday and Wednesday, SCORE CUE SNAPSHOTS brings you iconic scenes married to the corresponding score cue without dialogue and SFX, thus allowing anyone to appreciate how the score works with what you see unfold on-screen.