The Book Thief

The Book Thief (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2013 film The Book Thief based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Markus Zusak. Released by Sony Classical Records on November 5, 2013, the album featured original score composed by John Williams, his first non-Spielberg collaboration since 2005. Background Ken Blancato admitted that Williams known the film being made and saw the film before him, admitting his strong interest in the film. The film was scored at the Newman Scoring Stage at the 20th Century Fox Studios, instead of his Sony Scoring Stage where Williams usually recorded his films. Initially, Blancato wanted to score the film at London as "he wanted to do it closer to home and have him with us". Blancato felt it as "mesmerizing to go and listen to this process take place". Reception Music critic Jonathan Broxton wrote: "The Book Thief illustrates and brings out the emotions in the listener and the viewer with grace and sincerity, never overwhelming them, allowing the audience to feel the story at it unfolds. Simultaneously, the musicality and compositional excellence in the score illustrates just how well Williams understands musical storytelling and the importance of structure and narrative in film music. It’s the essence of good cinema, and just proves once more why Williams is one of the greatest film composers who ever lived." James Southall of Movie Wave commented "There’s nothing groundbreaking in The Book Thief. It’s well-worn territory. It sounds like you expect it to sound. And that means it sounds good. Williams has always been a master at telling a story through his music; he tells this one beautifully. There’s heartache and beauty, side by side; agony and ecstasy. Every spine-tingling chill is eventually contrasted with one of warmth. Class never ages and Williams has class in abundance; as his forays into film music become more occasional, they become all the more special." Danny Gonzalez of Examiner commented "The Book Thief isn't in the league of Williams' most accomplished works but it certainly holds a major candle to those works because it's thematic, lush and full of energy that really is missing from alot of today's music in general and in particular the film music genre. Classical music fans will also enjoy this score on its own merits because it does play at times like a full classical composition that does stand out outside of the film that it was written for.