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Soundtrack Review: White Lion (2011)

Reviewer: JØrn Tillnes

White Lion Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the film score White Lion by Philip Miller.

"I wish it was a little more challenging and a little more fun, but at least it's consistent"

According to the legend of the Shangaan, white lions are the messenger of the gods. A young white lion is born, and a young Shangaan named Gisani finds himself destined to take care of this rare animal. When I was watching the trailer it took a while before I discovered that this wasn't a documentary but a family film about survival and discovery. The director is Michael Swan and the composer is Philip Miller.

Track List

1. In The Beginning	****
2. Playing Cubs	***
3. Hyena Attacks	***
4. Gisani's Theme	****
5. Chicken Hok and the Porcupine	***
6. Crocodile Attacks	***
7. Mother	****
8. Mohahlwa	***
9. Dance of the Wildebeast	***
10. Friends	***
11. Manhood	****
12. Fire	***
13. After the Fire	****
14. The Shooting	**
15. Adult Letsatsi	****
16. Hunting Success	*****
17. Loss	****
18. Over The Neck	****
19. The Last Fight	***
20. Finale	****

Philip Miller is a South African composer based in Johannesburg. Born in 1964, he first practiced law before establishing a career in music. His work is not easily categorized, often developing out of collaborative projects in theater, film and video. As a film composer, he has scored features such as "Catch a Fire", "Forgiveness" and "Max and Mona".

Driven By Music

The film has very little dialogue and so is driven by the music. The challenge is huge for Miller to create a score that works in the film, perhaps it hasn't been as important for it to work outside of its environment.

I feel after listening to the score that it doesn't hold my interest. It feels a bit too friendly and safe. The cues that are most interesting to me usually have some African chants in it like 'In The Beginning', 'Manhood' and 'Adult Letsatsi'.

'Hunting Success' is quite an interesting cue, not on its own, but compared to the rest of the cues on this score. It starts with the best action sequence heard on this score and then give you some African chants and the percussion is different and interesting from the rest.

Conclusion

As far as family film scores go, this is just slightly above average. It feels safe, too safe. It's a very easy listening score and goes well in the background as an unobtrusive sound to a very busy day. I wish it was a little more challenging and a little more fun, but at least it's consistent.

->Buy the MP3 Album on Amazon<-

->Buy the Album on iTunes<-

Listen to the White Lion soundtrack by Philip Miller below:

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