Horse Whisperer, The

Composing music for a Robert Redford movie is a good thing. Ordinary People made Pachelbel's Canon in D a mainstream hit. The Milagro Beanfield War won Dave Grusin an Oscar for his charming score, and A River Runs Through It nabbed a nomination for Mark Isham's popular themes. Thomas Newman's score for Redford's adaptation of Nicholas Evans's bestseller relates well to the leisurely paced, nearly three-hour horse drama: it's never complicated. The rhythms of Big Sky country are introduced in a warble of strings in Newman's score and never overstay their welcome. Newman's dexterity in building various layers is more apparent in his scores for The Player and The People Vs. Larry Flynt, but those are more acidic movies (and scores). Most of the film's country-music sting originates with the songs that are available on a separate soundtrack album. There's more fluidity on this CD and, at nearly an hour of music, the disc lets Newman's score ease over you. --Doug Thomas