Bear Mann's video: TunePlay - BLOOD DIAMOND 2006 James Newton Howard

With the possible exception of THE ODYSSEY, few works have had as indelible an impression on modern storytelling as OLIVER TWIST. Dickens' 1838 "social novel" brought to debate the problems of turn-of-the-century child homelessness and labor abuse via a whirlwind story of the titular orphan's adventures (romantic, satirical and harrowing) as he's inducted into a series of surrogate families, honest and criminal, en route to discovering his place in the world. Directly adapted into numerous plays, movies and TV productions, it's dramatic / thematic paradigm would also be the mold into which popular novels and films such as THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, CLOCKERS, THE COLOR PURPLE, AN AMERICAN TAIL and the HARRY POTTER series would pour their narrative selves. The most intriguing variation yet on the classic tale however would be director Ed Zwick's 2006 thriller BLOOD DIAMOND. "King of the socially conscious actioner" with GLORY, COURAGE UNDER FIRE and THE LAST SAMURAI, Zwick would open the eyes of modern audiences to civil war torn Sierra Leone of 1999, as government factions, war lords and mercenaries battled for control of the nation's lucrative diamond trade, all the while thousands of civilians were tortured and murdered, and the rest of the world turned a blind eye. Knowing audiences wouldn't sit for a socio-political sermon, Zwick chose to channel his thematic agenda through a rip-roaring thriller in which two men - fisherman / father Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), and mercenary / diamond smuggler Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio in his first true grown-up role) are brought together in pursuit of a massive pink gem - the exorbitant value of which can alter their lives. For Archer the stone is a ticket out of the hell of which his beloved Africa has become. And for Vandy the diamond can buy the freedom of his son - Dia: abducted by the R.U.F. (Revolutionary United Front) and brainwash / recruited into a violent drug addicted "child soldier". This central plot element (the plight of and search for Dia) is Zwick's rendition of Oliver's induction into the criminal brotherhood of pickpockets lead by the villainous Fagin. While immersing himself in the culture of his film's setting, Zwick noticed how "... teenage rebels dressed like gangstas from Bed-Stuy (would) wield AK-47s as their boom boxes echo(ed) Tupac and NWA". How "... in Free-Town, self-styled hip-hop artists (would) sample beats pilfered from pirated CDs". And how at the same time Mende village children "... (would) sit on the ground singing traditional songs extolling the glory of God". To bring these and other musical influences into one cohesive whole, Zwick approached composer James Newton Howard. After leaving USC, Howard toured with Elton John (arranging strings on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"), worked with Toto and Crosby, Stills & Nash; then released his own jazz-flavored JAMES NEWTON HOWARD AND FRIENDS before segueing into film with early scores such as RUSSKIES, and PROMISED LAND. More prestigious titles such as PRETTY WOMAN, FLATLINERS and GRAND CANYON would follow before he'd receive the first of his (to date) eight Oscar nominations for THE PRINCE OF TIDES, he personally chosen as composer by director Barbara Streisand. With THE FUGITIVE, OUTBREAK, WATERWORLD, SPACE JAM, THE SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE, ATLANTIS, HIDALGO, BATMAN BEGINS (then later THE DARK KNIGHT - both with Hans Zimmer) and Peter Jackson's KING KONG, Howard would be called upon to meld numerous styles (world beat, choral, contemporary) - all of which would suit him for the challenge of BLOOD DIAMOND. A massive undertaking, DIAMOND would incorporate orchestra, children's choir, Eastern European Duduk, percussion, and ethereal vocals by Senegalese poet / singer Youssou N'Dour (known to western ears for Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes") into a seamless tonal quilt. And while subsequent years would feature other impressive Howard works such as DEFIANCE (also for Zwick), DUPLICITY, SALT, THE HUNGER GAMES, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, THE BOURNE LEGACY, AFTER EARTH and more, BLOOD DIAMOND would remain THE quintessential Howard musical amalgam - one of his finest; and one of most impressive film music works of the last two decades. CEJ 1) Crossing the Bridge (0:00 of 14:35) 2) Village Attack (1:41 of 14:35) 3) R.U.F. Kidnaps Dia (3:33 of 14:35) 4) Archer Sells the Diamond (6:35 of 14:35) 5) "Blood Diamond" Main Title (8:16 of 14:35) 6) London (9:45 of 14:35) 7) Solomon Vandy (12;27 of 14:35) For more "TunePlay" mini movie music suites go to http://www.gullcottageonline.com/TunePlay-ClarkeApril_12.html "Bear Mann" is a YouTube channel of The GullCottage/Sandlot, a film blog and growing reference library "Celebrating The Art of Cinema, ... And Cinema As Art" Visit us at: http://www.gullcottageonline.com All rights held by copyright owner. Presented here for educational and criticism purposes only.