The Book of Eli (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the 2010 film The Book of Eli directed by the Hughes brothers, starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, and Jennifer Beals. The film score is composed by Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross and Claudia Sarne and released through Reprise Records on January 12, 2010.
Background The Book of Eli marked the feature film score composition debut of Atticus Ross, even before his popularity before his Academy Award-winning score for The Social Network (2010). Atticus previously worked with Hughes brothers' on the American TV series Touching Evil (2004) and a segment of New York, I Love You (2008), directed by Allan, and also worked with wife Claudia Sarne and brother Leopold Ross, for the film score. The compositions were written at their home studio in Burbank, before recording it at the Abbey Road Studios with an 80-piece orchestra.
Reception Thom Jurek of AllMusic wrote "The cues, whether they be adorned by strings, synths, guitars, drums, or operatic voices, are equally balanced and utilized not simply as workmanlike devices for furthering the story in the film, but to adorn a work that can be widely enjoyed apart from its cinematic counterpart." Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote "The strange and varied electronic score by Atticus Ross, Claudia Sarne and Leopold Ross is a welcome departure from the musical norm." Manohla Dargis of The New York Times found the score to be "thrilling".
Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter called it "an energetic, pulsating score from Atticus Ross (assisted by Claudia Sarne and Leopold Ross)." Chris of We Are Movie Geeks wrote "There's much to be said for simplicity, but Ross is nothing if not a deft conjurer of appealing and appalling sound so here he brings that to the table in spades." Ray Pride of Newcity wrote "The best that can be said about the outsized score is that Atticus Ross composes in the key of self-parody."
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes:
Music composers – Atticus Ross, Claudia Sarne, Leopold Ross Music producer and arranger – Atticus Ross Orchestra leader – Perry Montague-Mason Orchestrator – Dana Niu Conductor – Nick Ingman Contractor – Isobel Griffiths Recording – Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross, Joe Barresi Mixing – Doug Trantow Mastering – Tom Baker Music supervisor – Deva Anderson Executive producer – Albert Hughes Principal performers Cello – Anthony Pleeth Double bass – Chris Laurence French horn – Michael Thompson Live drums – Brooks Wackerman Trombone – Mark Nightingale Trumpet – Derek Watkins Viola – Bruce White Violin – Emlyn Singleton
Accolades +AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultBlack Reel AwardsFebruary 10, 2011Outstanding Original ScoreAtticus Ross, Leopold Ross and Claudia Sarne World Soundtrack AwardsOctober 23, 2010Discovery of the YearAtticus Ross
References