LESS THAN ZERO (1987) - Thomas Newman - Soundtrack Score Suite
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- čas přidán 21. 02. 2011
- Less Than Zero is a 1987 American drama film loosely based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. It stars Andrew McCarthy as Clay, a college freshman returning home for Christmas for the first time since Thanksgiving, when he found out that his girlfriend Blair (Jami Gertz) had been having sex with his high school friend, Julian, who is also a drug addict (Robert Downey Jr.). Now at Christmas he finds Blair still trying to recreate the good times, as if nothing has happened and Julian sinking further into drugs and being hassled by his dealer (James Spader) to whom he owes money. The movie presents a look at the culture of wealthy youth in Los Angeles and has a strong anti-drug message.
Less Than Zero received mixed reviews among critics. Ellis hated the film initially but his view of it later softened. He insists that the film bears no resemblance to his novel and felt that it was miscast with the exceptions of Downey and Spader.
Ellis' book was originally optioned by producer Marvin Worth for $7,500 before its publication in June 1985 with the understanding that 20th Century Fox would finance it. Worth hired Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Michael Cristofer to write the screenplay. He stuck close to the tone of the novel and had Clay take drugs but did not make him bisexual. The studio felt that Cristofer's script was too harsh for a commercial film.
20th Century Fox then assigned the film to producer Jon Avnet who had made Risky Business. He felt that Cristofer's script was "so depressing and degrading." Avnet instead wanted to transform "a very extreme situation" into "a sentimental story about warmth, caring and tenderness in an atmosphere hostile to those kinds of emotions". Marek Kanievska was hired to direct because he had dealt with ambivalent sexuality and made unlikeable characters appealing in his previous film, Another Country. The studio wanted to appeal to actor Andrew McCarthy's teenage girl fans without alienating an older audience.
Cinematographer Edward Lachman remembers that originally the film was a lot "edgier" and that the studio took it away from Kanievska. He also recalled a scene he shot with the music group Red Hot Chili Peppers: "The Red Hot Chili Peppers were in that film and the studio became very conservative and they said, 'Oh the band, they're sweaty and they don't have their shirts on.' They destroyed an incredible Steadicam shot, all because they had to cut around them being bare-chested".
At an early test screening, the studio recruited an audience between the ages of 15 and 24; they hated Robert Downey Jr.'s character. As a result, new scenes were shot to make his and Jami Gertz's character more repentant. For example, a high school graduation scene was shot to lighten the mood by showing the three main characters as good friends during better times.
I truly believe Robert Downey Jr. was robbed of a best supporting actor award. Not even a nomination. He earned it in this film.
Supporting? He was the lead. I mean, I know this is an old comment--but he was the star.
This one rings home for me.
We moved from Encino to Chicago before my freshmen year in 85, and this LA vibe easily could have been in my grill. I remember the times being like, 'alight, don't know who you are and don't care but here's a beer, weed, a line.'
What I missed out on, or survived because of the move, I'll never know, but I found plenty of preppy 80's girls in basement bars where I landed in Chicago which I was just fine with. Hard to imagine how anything could have played out differently, but this film and its masterpiece score give a glimpse of the escape velocity we were given to narrowly miss getting drawn into the decadancees despite being just on the other side of the 405.
I really wish I grew up in the 80’s.. still remember my parents show me this when I was younger (28 now) & this soundtrack still gives me chills on a night drive. Especially “Tunnels” by Newman
and the soundtrack through the Miami Vice series captured the decade in my teens
This score forever breaks my heart... in the most beautiful way. Thank you.
💙
Agree
@@ryanmichaelangelofavale5863 😍
The Seeing Blair Again score is spot on. You can imagine yourself seeing the love of your life again after a period of time apart, as she comes into view from around the corner or atop the stairs.... your heart leaps and a lump forms in your throat as you search for the right words and a million thoughts race in your head.
Newman is a musical savant.
i know I am pretty randomly asking but does anybody know a good place to stream new series online ?
I have wanted this score since 1987. I cannot believe they have never released it because I'm not the only one. Beautiful work.
i have it
SCY385 its unbelievable that they never did, the regular music soundtrack doesn't hold a 🕯️ stick to one of Thomas Newman's scores...
I saw CDs of it on ebay once
Absolutely beautiful music by Thomas Neumann, and yes it captured the all the pain and emotion perfectly in the movie
I F@CK'n saved the movie stubs from the NorthCross Theatre in Austin TX where I saw it 3x. Third time in, I took a portable Cassette Player with me and recorded the music from key scenes and used those sounds in cassette tapes I made for my girlfriend. I have no idea how I did all that on tape with current 1988 music then with Lp's and CD's and a radio shack Mixer (disco machine that channels muliple souces(sp) but I DID and TODAY those cass TAPES make me smile :) I LOVE THIS MOVIE.
Good time to be in Austin.
I will offer you a trade for the tapes or the tickets or both.
❤
@@ryanmichaelangelofavale5863 That movie theater is now the Norris Conference Center. Which theater were you in, do you remember?
This was one of my sister's favorite movies..she loved the music also. If I make it to my next birthday in a few days, I will have outlived her. Oddly like Robert Downey Jr's character, she fell asleep (for what reasons I don't want to speculate) and just didn't wake up...two days before what should've been her 48th birthday. She passed January 22, her birthday wouldve been the 24th. She had made plans to check into a treatment center the first week of February. She never made it. God love you my sister..I never expected this.:/ I've should've gone before you..I should've heard you... I just pray you are in a better place now. You're home now..
I'm so sorry for your loss. I just watched the movie with my sister for the first time about 15 minutes ago, and despite its cheesy-ness, its underlying message and moving score made me want to be more grateful for my opportunities and life itself and the people around me while I still can. I wish you and your family nothing but the best.
@@g96fuller Thank you, and God bless...you got it right...be grateful for everything, everyone, bad or good...take nothing for granted....and if you do, know there is forgiveness from elsewhere..don't destroy yourself out of grief and regret over what you "could've..would've" said to others.. as much as you may miss them, as much as your heart breaks and you condemn yourself, they are still hoping you will make it.. fight the good fight. :)
💙
I have wanted this for so long... Accordingly to what I researched in the past Thomas Newman's scores were never a compiled album. Just the crazy music that was on the movie. Every composition is So tragically beautiful.... Thank you to whomever put this together. I have small pieces of everything I could find on CZcams. This is awesome to have it all together!!!!
.
bronte8989 less than zero soundtrack by Thomas Newman is now available on La La Land Records. Not to be confused with the various artists score that was released in 1987
This movie should be shown to anyone who decides to start doing or enjoying doing drugs as this movie is a reminder what can happen to someone who decides to start doing drugs.
the reality, especially nowadays for our kids, is much worse
Lessons.
This is great. You can hear some of the cues for Newman's wonderful 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Road to Perdition' scores emerging.
This was one of young Robert Downey Jr's best performance. Should have been atleast nominated.
0:59 its seems inconceivable this was one man's creative genius to put these chords together in this way.....nothing short of epic!
I don't EVER want to relive this!
It good to read how this movie finaly had been made. It was not an easy process. But i can say i love this movie. It impresses me. Lived in 1983 among a drugsdealer in Amsterdam.
From 00.46-02.40 is sheer genius. Takes me to another place.
I have such a weird obsession with this score. Thomas Newman is incredible. Give the man a giant f****ng Oscar for all the ones he missed out on. Genius.
Me too especially the seeing Blair part
What did you think of Revolutionary Road?
@@user-lu1xp4ze8w Like it. That one had a good score too. Favorite tracks are April and A Bit Whimsical.
@@ct6852 similar despair
Yeah Great Movie and great Soundtrack. I still have a poster to Less Than Zero on my wall. Cool, but haunting. I love it,
i wish i could find a poster of that movie online somewhere. where did you get yours?
i have the movie poster as well. ebay
I love this movie and soundtrack!
agreed ! And yet it was a beautiful loss, and i don't mean actors. The way the Movie just became SO REAL and HAUNTING. I saw this movie 3x in Fall 1987 while in college at the movie theater. To this day, it's one of my favorite movies because it was so real and so sincere-ly sad (as you said). Bless You for your comment.
Funny how it took so long for everyone to realise how good this movie is....One of the best soundtracks ever....
It really is I hate when people trash this movie
Although I don't like Andrew McCarthy at all. Don't u think Jon Cryer would've been fabulous? All three of them dark haired and the bisexual Clay like the in the book? Jon is so cute too.
7:40 my favorite score from the movie. a underrated film and a heartbreaking performance by ROBERT DOWNEY JR
Thanks a bunch for this. Great shots of L.A. with the movie stills. Although the OMPS is easy to find the musical score is impossible and for LTZ fans (most of us I assume) love to hear it as it is as beautiful as it is stirring.
i have it
Where did you purchase it?
Somewhere online years ago
Leon, here: www.lalalandrecords.com/Site/LessThanZero.html
Schnurpselbacke1 Thank you very much! Incredible that this is finally available.
Love this movie, it introduced us to the addiction problem and how terrible it is to make a change by getting off them. Very sad and Great acting ! 💖
Thank you for uploading this. This music is still as moving as when I first heard it, seeing the movie in 87 for the first time.
Of all Hollywood soundtrack music, THIS one gives me the most chills. Movie was beyond heartfelt and the music played was the "hidden" drugs inside of Julian and we, the audience knew it. Music is from Thomas Newman. Google him, you'd be amazed by the number of movies he has "scored" music ! I do Love this Movie.
ahfaxthis Thomas Newman is pretty well known
Truly haunting, like RDJ's performance in this film. The swelling instrumentation perfectly represents Julian's tragedy.
This is the soundtrack to the 80s in the same sense that COME AS YOU ARE is the soundtrack to the 90s
at one min and at eight mins in are possible the greatest movie score moments in the history of film. Yes I said it!
This was an incredible soundtrack that fit the movie perfectly.
That's a shot of Thomas Newman at the very end there, right? Master composer. Whatever they were paying him for his services... it wasn't quite enough.
Yes indeed. Thomas Newman's score is Fantastic. So moving. I have the complete score.. My brother gave me an mp3 for my birthday this week.So I can listen to Thomas Newman when I'm Walking around Oxford. Great.A very underated movie. I love the book too. Thanks for posting.
Luke Rowbotham you seem like the kinda dude who did some coke in the 80s or 90s am I right
Gorgeous. The music and cinematography make the movie. Absolutely gorgeous.
Epic Soundtrack! I love that movie!
I forgot to say. I've got an original U.S. movie poster to Less Than Zero on my wall. I bought in Hollywood in 1991. Classic.
Do I look like I'm ready for homework!
Master piece, agree.
Me fascinó esta película y su banda sonora.
Film is a visual medium. This film was a beautiful, sad vision.
0:58 is my favorite score of the movie.
The part at 2:10 always gets me. Makes me think of a girl I knew in college.
Wasn’t meant to be I guess.
@@Weshopwizard time is so unforgivable
@pb8856 Thank you so much! Wicked, that's great :D
It's "I need $50,000" by Thomas Newman. You can listen to the full score un mixed over on Grooveshark (sorry, not allowed to post link here). Enjoy :)
@D G I think there are CD's available. vinyl... i would kill for lalalandrecords.com/less-than-zero-limited-edition/
This is still his best. Two other good ones by TN: 'Men Don't Leave' and 'Unstrung Heroes'. Especially cool is his amalgam of Steve Reich/Phillip Glass/John Cage for the performances in the library in MDL.
0:45 - 2:40
Starting at about 8:10 the sound is chillingly beautiful.
I love this movie Robert Downey jr wasn't acting!! He was screaming for help!! So glad he found it. Now look at him!
Here in 2019
Bret Easton Ellis writes shocking postmodern fiction.
good movie
What track is that called? It's just hauntingly beautiful and I adore it
drug addiction! very lonely times! who would understand? the wolf crying at your door!
Dang... this soundtrack ..Newman
Wrecks me. Probably doesn't help that the movie is so heavy
how much do you want for it?
8:00 is the catalyst...that is pure beauty unfolding, sheer unadulterated beauty.
00:46 , 08:04
The only good think about this film was Robert Downey Jr. and Thomas Newman's music.
For me the RED Corvette as well.
The film is good if a bit empty. But I guess that’s what happens when you take drugs to that extreme. Your life becomes hollow and empty somehow. Downey Jr was brilliant, it’s unfortunate his life turned out pretty much like this movie but boy has he turned it around.
is it possible to do a 4k version of this score with the great images you've put together?
I agree that Andrew and Jami were miscasted, I always thought Jami was a horrible actress, I will say that Andrew did do a pretty good job as Julian's friend.
Andrew and Jami were both great their roles just weren't developed enough they def did the best with what was given
the truth after the faall
6:46 it goes to a place that is idyllic, free, far out...I've been there, probably there now.
That'd be awesome if they remade this film for contemporary times.
Mejor actuación, antes de sus adicciones Robert D.
Visually stimulating movie but they could have done so much more with the subject matter
Downeys character was hard to feel so for with so many less affluent people falling victim to the Coke problem of the 80s.... it did capture the vacuous state of the cesspool that was/is SoCal
The ugliest people I've ever met are monied Orange County residents.... yuck
I'll take Boston or New York any day
As someone who lives east of the LA/OC area in the inland empire of SoCa, there’s a bit more humble / nicer people there. Once you pass SB I’d say the ratio of nicer people are there.
Anorexia is just as big of a opportunity in our holy angel SIA paw s blue masses now for all Catholic in good standing
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