Million Dollar Baby (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the lead role alongside Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. Besides acting, directing and producing, Eastwood also composed the film score. It was performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony and conducted by Lennie Niehaus. Varèse Sarabande released the score album on March 1, 2005.
Background Clint Eastwood composed the film score, in his sophomore film composition stint after Mystic River (2003). The score was conducted by Lennie Niehaus, who had composed for most of Eastwood's films and is performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony. The album was not issued during the film's release, until Varèse Sarabande distributed the soundtrack CDs on March 1, 2005, two days after the 77th Academy Awards, where the film received four awards including Best Picture. According to Cate Doty, the album "could not benefit from an immediate sales increase driven by the film's nomination for best picture."
Critical reception Calling the score "quietly affecting as the film", AllMusic noted it to be "gentle and unobtrusive, but deeply cut with melancholy and despair" and noted on how Eastwood's work resembled John Carpenter, on not letting the visuals be overwhelmed by the music. Rafael Ruiz of Soundtrack.net, responded negatively as it noted the gradual decline of quality in Eastwood's music, noting the lack of development in the themes he composed. Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote "Eastwood himself has provided a score notable for spare simplicity." Paul Clinton of CNN wrote "The score—simple and unadorned—mirrors both the script and the direction." Christopher Orr of The Atlantic called it a "haunting, minimalist piano score".
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes:
Music composer and producer – Clint Eastwood Arrangements – Gennady Loktionov Orchestra – Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestrator and conductor – Lennie Niehaus Chorus – Tanglewood Festival Chorus Recording and mixing – Bobby Fernandez Mastering – Erick Labson Executive producer – Robert Townson Musicians Bass – Arni Egilsson, Drew Dembowski Cello – Armen Ksajikian, Dane Little, Roger Lebow, Trevor Handy Guitar – Bruce Forman Piano – Michael Lang Viola – Dan Neufeld, Janet Lakatos, Pamela Goldsmith, Roland Kato Violin – Bruce Dukov, Darius Campo, David Ewart, Gil Romero, Jackie Brand, Julie Gigante, Katia Popov, Michael Ferril, Mike Markman, Patricia A. Johnson, Phillip Levy, Robin Olson
Accolades Awards Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Golden Globe AwardsJanuary 16, 2005Best Original ScoreClint Eastwood Grammy AwardsFebruary 8, 2006Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media San Diego Film Critics SocietyDecember 21, 2004Best Score
References