Monster (2023 soundtrack)
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Monster (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| type = film
| cover = Monster (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).jpg
| alt =
| artist = Ryuichi Sakamoto
| released = September 8, 2023
| genre = Film score
| length = 36:50
| label = Milan
| producer = Ryuichi Sakamoto
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Ryuichi Sakamoto
| type = film
| prev_title = 12
| prev_year = 2023
| title = Monster
| year = 2023
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
}}
Monster (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2023 film of the same name directed and edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The soundtrack featured seven songs that consisted of previous compositions from Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, although he created two piano pieces for the film. The film marked Sakamoto's final composition before his death on March 28, 2023.{{cite magazine |last1=Amorosi |first1=A.D. |last2=Saperstein |first2=Pat |date=2 April 2023 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pioneering Electronic Musician and Oscar Winner for 'Last Emperor' Score, Dies at 71 |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/ryuichi-sakamoto-dead-last-emperor-1235570971/ |magazine=Variety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407125453/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/ryuichi-sakamoto-dead-last-emperor-1235570971/ |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=19 April 2023}} The soundtrack was released posthumously on September 8 through Milan Records.
Development
In January 2023, Sakamoto was announced as the music composer for the film.{{Cite magazine |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=2023-01-06 |title=Ryuichi Sakamoto to Score Hirokazu Kore-eda's Next Film 'Monster' |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/ryuichi-sakamoto-score-monster-1235194902/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109093129/https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/ryuichi-sakamoto-score-monster-1235194902/ |archive-date=2023-01-09 |access-date=2023-11-23 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Kore-eda thought of Sakamoto's music during the production and felt that he would be apt for scoring the film, after a previous collaboration in the past decade failed to come into fruition.{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=2023-05-18 |title=Legend of the Croisette: How Hirokazu Kore-eda Put a Fresh Spin on His Trademark Humanism for Competition Title 'Monster' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/cannes-legends-hirokazu-kore-eda-monster-interview-1235494103/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629162644/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/cannes-legends-hirokazu-kore-eda-monster-interview-1235494103/ |archive-date=2023-06-29 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} While editing the film, Kore-eda listened to Sakamoto's music and assembled an initial cut with tracks from the musician’s older albums, which he sent to Sakamoto, who replied that ”it was very good”.{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Lillian |date=2024-03-12 |title=Hirokazu Koreeda: 'Ryuichi Sakamoto and I were a good match' |url=https://lwlies.com/interviews/hirokazu-koreeda-monster/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312123444/https://lwlies.com/interviews/hirokazu-koreeda-monster/ |archive-date=2024-03-12 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Little White Lies |language=en}}
Sakamoto, who was diagnosed with rectal cancer since 2021, felt that he did not have the physical strength to accept scoring an entire film. Instead, he contributed two new piano cues as per the request of the director. The soundtrack also includes another two piano pieces from his studio album 12 and older compositions.{{Cite web |last=Shackleton |first=Liz |date=2023-05-17 |title=Hirokazu Kore-Eda On Working With Late Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto And Reteaming With 'Shoplifters' Actress Sakura Ando On His New Cannes Movie 'Monster' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/cannes-hirokazu-kore-eda-ryuichi-sakamoto-sakura-ando-monster-1235368015/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519141240/https://deadline.com/2023/05/cannes-hirokazu-kore-eda-ryuichi-sakamoto-sakura-ando-monster-1235368015/ |archive-date=2023-05-19 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2023-09-11 |title='Monster' Director Kore-eda Hirokazu on Working With Composer Sakamoto Ryuichi on One of His Last Musical Compositions |url=https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/monster-koreeda-hirokazu-ryuichi-sakamoto-monster-1235719809/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017085458/https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/monster-koreeda-hirokazu-ryuichi-sakamoto-monster-1235719809/ |archive-date=2023-10-17 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In a commentary, Sakamoto stated that the film deals with an "esoteric theme" and that it was difficult to discern who the eponymous "monster" was.{{cite web |date=5 January 2023 |title=音楽：坂本龍一 |url=https://gaga.ne.jp/kaibutsu-movie/news/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906130932/https://gaga.ne.jp/kaibutsu-movie/news/ |archive-date=6 September 2023 |access-date=19 April 2023 |website=Gaga.ne.jp}}
While most of the cues are led by piano music, a sequence where Minato and the school principal play trombones and French horns developed a sonic contrast, which Kore-eda attributed to its climatic and emotional importance, and he felt that the use of a trombone as an expressive instrument at the core of the film would attribute it for emotional connectivity. The sounds of nature also felt integral to the musical soundscape, as with the plot starts with fire and ends with water, Kore-eda worked with the recording department to carefully differentiate the use of the nature sounds, resulted in its coexistence with Sakamoto's score.
Critical reception
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian stated that Sakamoto's score "creates a layer of nuance and meaning. Its plangent, sad piano chords will often counterintuitively be added to a scene of apparent drama or tension, implying that the meaning of this scene has not yet been disclosed."{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2023-05-17 |title=Monster review – Hirokazu Kore-eda's hydra of modern morals and manners |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/17/monster-review-hydra-of-modern-morals-and-manners |access-date=2023-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707161920/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/17/monster-review-hydra-of-modern-morals-and-manners |archive-date=2023-07-07 |issn=0261-3077}} Natalia Winkelman of The New York Times said that Sakamoto's "aching score" makes the film "lovingly detailed and accented".{{Cite news |last=Winkelman |first=Natalia |date=2023-11-22 |title='Monster' Review: Three Perspectives, One Truth |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/22/movies/monster-review.html |url-status=usurped |access-date=2023-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122230249/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/22/movies/monster-review.html |archive-date=2023-11-22 |issn=0362-4331}} Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com wrote "Sakamoto's music swoons and pulses with a subtle and, in his words, 'esoteric' complexity. His playing beautifully expresses Minato and his loved ones’ mutual loneliness without succumbing to treacly conventions or platitudes. It's mood music, which can be easy to take for granted in a movie where the plot seems most important."{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Simon |title=Monster: Movie Review (2023) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/monster-movie-review-2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123173512/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/monster-movie-review-2023 |archive-date=2023-11-23 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=RogerEbert.com |language=en}} David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter deciphered it as a "gentle score" that accompanies the drama.{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=David |date=2023-05-17 |title='Monster' Review: Hirokazu Kore-eda Measures the Weight of Bullying on Childhood Friendship in Tender But Diffuse Drama |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/monster-review-hirokazu-kore-eda-1235494246/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601060256/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/monster-review-hirokazu-kore-eda-1235494246/ |archive-date=2023-06-01 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Matthew Turner of NME wrote "The late composer's music adds heft to this twisty-turny Japanese drama".{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Matthew |date=2024-03-13 |title='Monster' review: intricately woven mystery bolstered by Ryuichi Sakamoto's final film score |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/monster-review-ryuichi-sakamoto-3600554 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315142940/https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/monster-review-ryuichi-sakamoto-3600554 |archive-date=2024-03-15 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
Dave Calhoun of Time Out wrote "Ryuichi Sakamoto only adds to the overarching air of thoughtfulness and empathy".{{Cite web |last=Calhoun |first=Dave |date=2023-05-18 |title=Cannes review: Hirokazu's Kore-eda's Monster is a thoughtful coming-of-age drama |url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/monster-2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519170648/https://www.timeout.com/movies/monster-2023 |archive-date=2023-05-19 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Time Out Worldwide |language=en-GB}} Nadir Samara of Screen Rant wrote "The sweeping score utilizes itself to transport the viewer into a world of confusion but to the tune of a graceful piano and sharp strings that pierce through the screen."{{Cite web |last=Samara |first=Nadir |date=2023-09-29 |title=Monster Review: A Mix Of Great Performances & Expert Screenwriting |url=https://screenrant.com/monster-review-2023/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930070625/https://screenrant.com/monster-review-2023/ |archive-date=2023-09-30 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} Bilge Ebiri of Vulture wrote Sakamoto's "delicate piano pieces" adds to the "film's heartbreaking fragility".{{Cite web |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |date=2023-05-17 |title=Hirokazu Kore-eda's Heartbreaking Monster Hovers Between This World and the Next |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/koreedas-heartbreaking-monster-movie-hovers-between-worlds.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123173929/https://www.vulture.com/article/koreedas-heartbreaking-monster-movie-hovers-between-worlds.html |archive-date=2023-11-23 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Vulture |language=en}} Meg Shields of Film School Rejects wrote "Sakamoto leaves behind a brilliant final score as heartfelt and tender" and called the track "20220207" is especially "bittersweet" as a "warped shadow of Wendy Carlos' main title theme for The Shining (1980), flecked with inquisitive warmth and playfulness".{{Cite web |last=Shields |first=Meg |date=2023-10-23 |title=Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Monster' Wields Compassion Like a Sword |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/monster-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025092649/https://filmschoolrejects.com/monster-review/ |archive-date=2023-10-25 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Film School Rejects |language=en-US}} Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood called it as "a moving final musical score that turns out to be pitch perfect here".{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=2023-05-17 |title='Monster' Review: Hirokazu Kore-Eda's Latest Is Powerful 'Rashomon'-Style Human Drama – Cannes Film Festival |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/monster-review-kore-eda-hirokazus-latest-cannes-film-festival-1235369708/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525060825/https://deadline.com/2023/05/monster-review-kore-eda-hirokazus-latest-cannes-film-festival-1235369708/ |archive-date=2023-05-25 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Tomris Laffly of TheWrap wrote "Ryuichi Sakamoto's mournful score of high-keys and strings, coddling the tale soulfully as one of the final compositions of his peerless career."{{Cite web |last=Laffly |first=Tomris |date=2023-05-17 |title=Monster Review: Hirokazu Kore-eda's Multi-Perspective Yarn is Poetic |url=https://www.thewrap.com/monster-review-hirokazu-kore-eda/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521042635/https://www.thewrap.com/monster-review-hirokazu-kore-eda/ |archive-date=2023-05-21 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Monster (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track listing
| title1 = 20220207
| length1 = 7:02
| title2 = Monster 1
| length2 = 3:56
| title3 = hwit
| length3 = 6:30
| title4 = Monster 2
| length4 = 2:55
| title5 = 20220302
| length5 = 2:51
| title6 = hibari
| length6 = 9:03
| title7 = Aqua
| length7 = 4:33
| total_length = 36:50
}}
Accolades
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ryuichi Sakamoto}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2023 soundtrack albums