Passengers

By the time Thomas Newman was recruited to write the original score for Passengers, a 2016 science-fiction drama, he had over 30 years in the field to his credit, as well as over as dozen Academy Award nominations. Released the same year as his whimsical symphonic score for Disney Pixar's Finding Dory, Passengers finds Newman turning to an electronic palette (sometimes accompanied by full orchestra) and a much more atmospheric tone. Mechanical effects, twinkling electronics and keyboard percussion, and treated acoustic instruments such as piano enhance the film's setting, a spaceship with malfunctioning "hibernation pods." Passing melodic-harmonic passages, such as in "Crystalline" and "Build a House and Live in It," are balanced by jittery ambience. The two meet on tracks like "Zero Gravity" and "The Sleeping Girl." The latter has harp, female vocals, and erratic electronic effects eventually fortified by brass, strings, and tympani before it strips back down to simmering mechanical sounds. A unique entry in Newman's discography to date -- not counting the Pixar film WALL-E, it's his first foray into science fiction -- Passengers is also one of the more interesting scores of the release year. ~ Marcy Donelson

120年仮死状態で、植民先に護送予定だった宇宙船の中で、男女一人ずつが、なぜか90年早く目覚めさせられてしまった……『プロメテウス』の脚本家ジョン・スパイツのオリジナルを北欧出身の気鋭モルテン・ティルドゥム監督が映画化。音楽は、巨匠トーマス・ニューマンだが、これが新しい。ニューマン自身、その大家ともいえる非旋律・音色系スコアの発展進化的なサウンドですが、壮大なオーケストラとさまざまな楽器の音色の融合による、硬質な音の美しさが表れる。メロディも完全否定ではなく、少し聴こえる箇所もあるが、非旋律でありながら、きらびやかな美しさが楽しめるのが、あまりにも緻密な計算ぶりのスコアだ。 (C)馬場敏裕