Falling In Love

or all of the 1984 trappings, interesting to read them – it’s al- As occasionally happens, sev- Falling in Love is a throw- most as if they just did not want eral wonderful cues went un- Fback to 1940s and 1950s to give a great review because used in the film, most notably films like Brief Encounter and An they felt the film was beneath Grusin’s main title theme, which Affair to Remember, complete its stars – they begrudgingly was replaced with an already with two stars (Robert De Niro and halfheartedly say it’s good, existing Grusin piece, “Moun- and Meryl Streep), a meet-cute, damning it with faint praise. tain Dance” (tracked into the a budding romance no matter film several times). For this how hard the protagonists try to But because this kind of film world premiere release, we’re avoid it (both have settled into has basically gone the way of presenting Grusin’s entire routine marriages), and the ins the dodo bird, looked at now its score, including the original and outs and ups and downs of pleasures are many. At times main theme and all of the un- two people who are, yes, falling funny, at times rueful, at times used cues, exactly as he wrote in love. beautifully romantic, at times it, all transferred from the origi- sad, and at times painful, Falling nal session masters housed in De Niro had already done The in Love hits all the right notes the Paramount vault. Deer Hunter with Streep, and and weaves its spell quite effort- he’d also worked with direc- lessly. For those who’ve missed It’s always wonderful to be able tor Ulu Grosbard in True Con- it all these years, it will hopefully to issue a “new” Dave Grusin fessions three years earlier. be a wonderful discovery – and score. His brilliant work has Working from a screenplay by part of that discovery will be graced any number of classic Michael Cristofer (best known the incandescent and beautiful films since he began – his is a for his play The Shadow Box, score by Dave Grusin. distinctive and unique voice in and his screenplays for The film scoring and Falling in Love Witches of Eastwick and The 1984 was a very busy year for is yet another example of his Bonfire of the Vanities), De Niro Grusin. He scored Scandalous, prodigious talents. and Streep are simply wonder- Racing With the Moon, The ful as the star-crossed lovers, Pope of Greenwich Village, The — Bruce Kimmel proving what superior actors Little Drummer Girl and Falling can do with this kind of mate- in Love. rial and making us really care about their characters and their No one did this type of romantic plight. The stellar supporting film better than Dave Grusin. He cast includes Dianne Wiest, simply and effectively captures Harvey Keitel, Jane Kaczmarek every mood of the film, with and David Clennon. New York several stunningly gorgeous is a major character in the film melodies that weave their way and it looks absolutely stun- throughout the score, along with ning thanks to cinematographer some classic upbeat Grusin Peter Suschitzky. The film re- tunes. ceived middling reviews and it’s