Film is a medium of stunning visuals and moving stories, but it becomes something so much more when accompanied by the soaring compositions of John Williams. It becomes magic. It becomes art.
Such was the sentiment expressed this past week by the likes of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Drew Barrymore, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford and even basketball star Kobe Bryant, when Williams became the 44th recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. The first composer to receive the honor, Williams' astounding career was celebrated in a June 15 gala event and television broadcast, and it was utterly joyous.
The night included highlights of his most notable scores, from "Star Wars," "Schindler's List" and "Harry Potter," to "Home Alone," "Superman" and "Jurassic Park." It also featured reflections from stars who have collaborated with him through the years, and a final statement from the man himself. In short, it was incredibly special to watch as both a fan of his work and of cinema in general, even if I was just looking on from my living room couch.
Upon reflection, it is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of John Williams to the art of cinema. You just can't separate his iconic compositions from the works they grace. After all, what would the shark be in "Jaws" without that threatening two-note bass interlude? Who would Indiana Jones be without his triumphant march? What would the friendship of E.T. and Eliot be without that swell of strings accompanying their moonlit bicycle ride?
There's just something about a John Williams score that unlocks an emotional door within us. That sentence may seem a bit dramatic, but at the moment, I'm just recalling all of the times I've sat in a movie theater or by my television absolutely transported by his music. I recall the unbelievable buildup of excitement I felt upon seeing my first "Star Wars" movie in a theater, the long silence before that familiar burst of brass begins the opening title march, and the rapturous applause that came with it from my fellow moviegoers. I recall how transfixed I become every time I hear that stirring french horn solo in his "Binary Sunset" theme. I recall that unexplainable feeling I get in my chest when a section of violins emerges with glorious vibrato in one of my favorite Williams pieces, "Buckbeak's Flight" from "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." His music just captures why I love movies, and why I think so many others do too. It's fanciful, formidable and above all, powerful.
The truth is, whether we realize it or not, the music of John Williams really is the score of our lives. It is there when we cheer for our favorite teams during Sunday Night Football, when we turn on NBC News and when we watch the Olympics. From Los Angeles to Rio and everywhere in between, his work has been present in our favorite films and broadcasts spanning a period of over 60 years.
In simplest terms, the man can write a tune. And how wonderful those tunes are and continue to be.
For a sense of his latest work, here's a look at the scoring session for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," for which he received his 50th Academy Award nomination:
