Infamous [Music from the Motion Picture]

Rachel Portman

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Infamous [Music from the Motion Picture] Review

by Thom Jurek

Rachel Portman's original score for Douglas McGrath's Truman Capote biopic Infamous is one of her most signature efforts. Full of understated grace and tension, her way of whispering a narrative along, incrementally building tension to a breaking point albeit with swing, jazz and pop interludes that frame the era perfectly -- it's all there. On Infamous, Portman doesn't need to move the plot along so much as freeze frame it in the brain of the viewer when seen onscreen. When heard, however, the effect is one of melancholy moments, bittersweet harmonic gestures, and poetic understatement. Of course there are some additions to the set as well as original music. The reading of Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love," sung by Gwyneth Paltrow is rather startling -- and no, not in a good way -- she is flat, lifeless, and utterly tepid, despite a band that is fiery and swinging with a fingerpopping verve; bassist Mark Rubin is particularly engaging here, though, as well as on the Hoffman and Klenner classic "Heartaches." Other aspects of the soundtrack listeners may find delightful are Johnny Bond's reading of Harlan Howard's "How About You," and the late Dusty Spirngfield's beautiful recording of "Yesterday When I Was Young."

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
What Is This Thing Called Love
Cole Porter
Rachel Portman feat: Gwyneth Paltrow / Mark Rubin 04:04 SpotifyAmazon
2
Heartaches
John Klenner
Rachel Portman feat: Mark Rubin 03:27 SpotifyAmazon
3
La Cote Basque
Rachel Portman 01:17 SpotifyAmazon
4
Broken Hearted Melody
Hal David / Sherman Edwards & Donald Meyer
Rachel Portman feat: Sarah Vaughan 02:27 SpotifyAmazon
5
Truman's Mother
Rachel Portman 02:14 SpotifyAmazon
6
Safe Place
Rachel Portman 01:13 SpotifyAmazon
7
Truman Tries out Lines
Rachel Portman 00:53 SpotifyAmazon
8
There I Go Dreamin' Again
Harlan Howard
Rachel Portman feat: Johnny Bond 02:20 SpotifyAmazon
9
Perry's Story
Rachel Portman 04:23 SpotifyAmazon
10
Truman & Perry Kiss
Rachel Portman 01:36 SpotifyAmazon
11
Clutter Home
Rachel Portman 02:00 SpotifyAmazon
12
Truman Decides to Open Up/The Killings
Rachel Portman 05:05 SpotifyAmazon
13
How About You
Harlan Howard
Rachel Portman feat: Johnny Bond 02:01 SpotifyAmazon
14
Porn Magazines
Rachel Portman 01:45 SpotifyAmazon
15
Friend Truman/End Titles
Rachel Portman 05:55 SpotifyAmazon
16
There's a Goldmine in the Sky
Rachel Portman feat: Daniel Craig 01:54 SpotifyAmazon
17
Yesterday When I Was Young
Charles Aznavour / Herbert Kretzmer
Rachel Portman feat: Dusty Springfield 03:42 SpotifyAmazon
18
The Twist
Hank Ballard
Rachel Portman feat: Hank Ballard 02:37 SpotifyAmazon
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Infamous [Music from the Motion Picture]

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