Review
There are two distinct albums associated with The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, but the one I want to highlight is the official score. The official soundtrack contains lyrical songs featured in the film, and is a pleasant listen in and of itself, but I think the official score is often overlooked, much like the film it accompanies. Theodore Shapiro brings a sense of longing to this score, with plucked strings that evoke feelings of yearning. Many of the tracks have percussion that sounds reminiscent of a ticking clock. I feel this symbolizes the time passing Walter by as he is inspired to embark on his adventure. Indie folk singer-songwriter José González lends vocals to several tracks in the score, such as “Walter Time”, “Time & life”, and “I’m Right Here”. A number of his songs are also featured in the soundtrack. While I love the score, I can’t talk about it without mentioning the songs from and inspired by the film. I can still remember when I first saw the teaser trailer for this movie and heard the opening notes to “Dirty Paws” by Of Monsters and Men; I knew then that this was a movie I wanted to see. Both the soundtrack and the score provide a wonderful backdrop to the film with dreamy acoustics that aptly match Walter Mitty’s daydreaming and adventures. I have listened to both albums quite a few times over the years. Aside from a few more action-packed tracks like “Building Rescue,” “Shark Attack,” and “Ted vs Walter,” the score is a lovely relaxing listen, and might just make you long for an adventure of your own.
Review by Stephen.