Finding Nemo Norman OK

Finding Nemo

Soundtrack

Walt Disney Records, 2003

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/15/2003

I know that readers hate to see this disclaimer on any filmsoundtrack I review, but Finding Nemo is yet another film I haven't seen. (Quitepossibly, the only people who hate this disclaimer more are thepublicists who are working these discs.) However, I have beenplanning to see this film ever since I saw the first preview forit, and by the time you have read this review, chances are goodthat I'll have plunked down serious coin to both see it and reservea copy on DVD.

There are apparently many good reasons why Nemo has overtaken The Lion King as the highest-grossing animated film inhistory. And while the almost Midas touch of the powers that beover at Pixar has to be lauded, one cannot discount the beautifulscore created by Thomas Newman. Capturing both the beauty and thedanger of undersea life -- quite often at the same time -- Newmanpaints a picture of Marlin and Dory's search for Nemo withoutneeding a single visual cue.

In the liner notes, director Andrew Stanton says he wrote thescreenplay for Finding Nemo listening only to Newman's scores. It is inthis manner that a symbiosis of audio and visual images combine tocreate something special. Yet for those few unfortunate souls whohaven't seen this film yet (cough, er, ahem...), Newman makes youcomfortable in exploring this world, albeit blindly, for the firsttime.

Newman keeps the Australian theme alive with subtle hints inpieces like "Wow" and "Finding Nemo," keeping the spirit of thefilm alive with every gentle note that pours through the speakers.You can't help but love the playfulness of tracks like "The TurtleLope" or the almost Aborigine-type feel of "Mt. Wannahockaloogie,"a track which sounds so pure that I found myself listening forinstruments like a didgeridoo.