I just wanted to do a little post on the composer of The Thin Blue Line’sscore. I’m not an expert on music by any means, but Glass’ compositions, particularly the ones that he does for films, always project an inquisitive mood onto me as a listener. I do not think I’m alone with this, because Errol Morris seems to take that minimalist attitude and match it beautifully with films that incorporate the act of searching. The repetitive pattern with ever so slight variations in notes progressing is the aural act of someone closely examining a text over and over, looking for clues.
I first heard a Glass composition in the deeply hypnotic documentary Koyaanisqatsi. In that film, the music often matches all sorts of movement, both with the camera and with the subjects in front of the camera. Such a synchronized match can lull one into a daze. I have caught this film before while flipping channels and almost been late for class because of lost track of time.
It’s no surprise that later filmmakers implemented his rhythmic movements in ways similar to Morris. Examining most of his film work shows a majority of films where the search for truth is a large factor: The Truman Show (which he did not write specifically for but his work was used in), Secret Window, The Illusionist, and Candyman. I’m extremely excited that his next project will be Woody Allen’s latest drama Cassandra’s Dream. Cassandra? How can that not be about finding out truth? Who knows? Cassandra does.