Stark soundtrack

Rating: Null/10 (19 October 2002)

Much has been made of a few elements of this movie: the importance of the volleyball; the extended period in which Tom Hanks is the sole character (except for his schizophrenic conversations with Wilson); the package he returns at the end.
However, what struck me most about this film was the score--or, more accurately, the lack of it. There are some standard pieces during the beginning segment (Elvis tunes, Russian symphonic/choral pieces, Christmas songs) but otherwise, there's no incidental music for about the first 1 1/2 hours of the movie, and no music at all during the extended island sequence. The first real appearance of the score is when Chuck leaves the island and reaches the open sea. Even more remarkable is that the score stops during large portions of the credits, for just a recording of the pounding surf.
In short, this movie is almost as short on score as Shindler's List was on color. Good movie, and one that dares to break with some of Hollywood's most sacred conventions. Zemekis is a rebel.