It's been eons since I've personally used a Disney+ app for this site. But for today's subject, I made an exception in the case of "Music by John Williams". This is a documentary exclusively on Disney+ that's self-explanatory in what it's about. It recalls John Williams' long and varied career in the music industry. It traces his humble beginnings as a jazz musician to his dominance in the film industry as a classical music composer.
For those unaware, he has been responsible for the industry's most famous and beloved scores. "Star Wars", "Indiana Jones", "E.T.", "Jurassic Park", "Harry Potter", the list goes on. This documentary also sheds light on some lesser known facts about the famous composer. Going in, I was personally unaware of his relationship with and marriage to Barbara Ruick. Classic film buffs like myself will recognize Ruick as Carrie in the 1956 musical adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel", a personal guilty pleasure.
Obviously, this documentary celebrates his achievements and contributions to the film industry. Sometimes, it tends to go on and on over praising its subject, as most documentaries on Hollywood figures admittedly tend to do a lot. We see Williams explain some of the strategies behind his music. He goes into detail regarding why he chose those specific five notes in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The analogy and explanation he uses compliments the vision that film was set to achieve.
With his notable rise to fame with "Star Wars", he explains what he did with his soundtrack that films prior haven't. Each character has their own distinct theme. So even if you're not watching the film, you know the character that's on screen through their themes. Same for "Indiana Jones" and "Harry Potter" as well. John Williams is assisting in telling the story through his compositions. You get his perspective and understand the goals he sets with creating his music.
One of the highlights is seeing the comradery Williams has with longtime members of his orchestra. He asks those with certain instruments to make specific adjustments with their approach and they're able to understand what to do. Williams is sort of a humble perfectionist, always happy to put out such lovely works. He and Steven Spielberg have always been a reliable matchup, and you also see their affectionate work chemistry in action, in the past and present.
"Music by John Williams" is a good offering for Disney+ subscribers and film buffs. Admittedly, it could've delved into more specific areas that are otherwise left vague, namely the future of classical film music. I don't know if those unfamiliar with the film and music industry will be as into this as those who are familiar. But as someone who's a fan of John Williams' scores, namely "E.T.", and a longtime aficionado of Steven Spielberg's, I consider myself part of this documentary's target audience.
Final Verdict: 8/10
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