Hancock (soundtrack) explained

Hancock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:film
Artist:John Powell
Released:July 1, 2008
Cover:Hancock (soundtrack).jpg
Recorded:2008
Genre:Film score
Length:44:43
Label:Varèse Sarabande
Producer:John Powell
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Hancock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score soundtrack to the 2008 film Hancock, directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith. The film score is composed by John Powell and released under the Varèse Sarabande label on July 1, 2008.

Background

John Powell composed the score in his maiden collaboration with Berg. It was performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony with Blake Neely, Don Harper and Pete Anthony conducting the 110-piece orchestra at the Sony Scoring Stage. The score was released digitally and physically through the Varèse Sarabande label on July 1, 2008.[1]

Critical reception

Thomas Simpson of Soundtrack.net wrote "The score for Hancock is a morsel of music goodness. It is filled with little quirks that stand out for the conscious listener."[2] Thomas Glorieux of Maintitles.net wrote "Powell does show he can do a lot with more serious emotional adventure material than most people seem to realize."[3] Jonathan Broxton of Movie Music UK wrote "John Powell is developing into a composer of great skill and technique, with an ear for superb orchestral nuance, memorable themes, and interesting arrangements. In a summer where box office records have tumbled like dominoes, Hancock stands are one of its most accomplished and enjoyable musical by-products."[4] Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks.com wrote "It's not as fragmented as his recent Horton Hears a Who! score, for it has some lengthy statements of consistency late on the album, but you still get the impression that Hancock lacks a definitive anchor for all of its components."[5]

Zanobard Reviews summarized "John Powell’s Hancock makes for amazing listening, and by far the best thing about it is how the music transitions from standard action score at the beginning to full on superhero by the end."[6] Mark Morton of AllMusic wrote "Beginning with brash, jazzy swagger, this soundtrack first exudes a boldness akin to Lalo Schifrin’s Rush Hour scores. But the music soon alternates between the character's emotional awakening and intense, [The] Bourne Supremacy-like action motifs, until all of these disparate elements unite in a big finale."[7] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the score "bombastic".[8]

Personnel

Orchestra

Instruments

Accolades

Award! scope="col"
CategoryResult
ASCAP Film and Television Music AwardsTop Box Office Films[9]
International Film Music Critics Association AwardsBest Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film[10]
[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2008-07-01 . Hancock (CD) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323172755/https://varesesarabande.com/products/hancock . 2023-03-23 . 2024-08-27 . . en.
  2. Web site: Simpson . Thomas . 2008-09-06 . Review: Hancock . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905123053/https://www.soundtrack.net/album/hancock/ . 2015-09-05 . 2024-08-27 . Soundtrack.net.
  3. Web site: Gloireux . Thomas . John Powell: Hancock . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200207075812/https://www.maintitles.net/reviews/hancock/ . 2020-02-07 . 2024-08-27 . Maintitles.net.
  4. Web site: Broxton . Jonathan . 2008-06-05 . Hancock – John Powell . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110206073402/https://moviemusicuk.us/2008/06/04/hancock-john-powell/ . 2011-02-06 . 2024-08-27 . Movie Music UK . en.
  5. Web site: Clemmensen . Christian . 2008-07-26 . Hancock (John Powell) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518033321/https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/hancock.html . 2011-05-18 . 2024-08-27 . Filmtracks.com.
  6. Web site: Zanobard . 2018-06-23 . Hancock – Soundtrack Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607184448/https://zanobardreviews.com/2018/06/23/hancock-soundtrack-review/ . 2023-06-07 . 2024-08-27 . Zanobard Reviews . en.
  7. Web site: Morton . Mark . Review: Hancock [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] ]. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220110040444/https://www.allmusic.com/album/hancock-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0000789950 . 2022-01-10 . 2024-08-27 . AllMusic . RhythmOne.
  8. News: Dargis . Manohla . 2008-07-02 . Able to Leap Tall Buildings, Even if Hung Over . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150214101541/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/movies/02hanc.html . 2015-02-14 . 2024-08-27 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  9. ASCAP Honors Top Film and Television Musiccomposers and Songwriters at 24th Annual Awards Celebration . May 12, 2009 . ASCAP . August 12, 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160918045156/http://www.ascap.com/press/2009/0512_filmtv.aspx . September 18, 2016.
  10. Web site: Brevet . Brad . January 16, 2009 . International Film Music Critics Announce 2008 Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919201208/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/532877-international-film-music-critics-announce-2008-nominees . September 19, 2016 . August 12, 2016 . ComingSoon.net.
  11. Web site: . 2009 . 2008 IFMCA Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141017120513/http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2008-ifmca-awards/ . October 17, 2014 . May 1, 2020 . IFMCA .

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