Few people are more integral to film culture than John Williams. The famed composer not only crafted dozens of the most iconic soundtracks of the last fifty years but also some of the most memorable music in human history. Music By John Williams, a new documentary about the man and his career, tracks his incredible journey. The impact of the sounds he crafted remains impossible to quantify. Combining the beautiful footage of Williams’ filmography with present-day interviews, director Laurent Bouzereau provides a loving tribute to the man.
Music By John Williams follows his historic career.
Like most biographical documentaries, Music By John Williams does not attempt to present a new narrative around his career. Instead, Bouzereau takes us step by step through his career. After showing promise as a young musician and pianist, he transitioned into the role of a composer by the 1960s. Through the 1970s, Williams rose to prominence, winning three Oscars and earning thirteen nominations in the decade. Providing the scores for Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Superman, Harry Potter, Jaws, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind turned Williams into a household name for decades.
Bouzereau plays it safe in telling Williams’ story. The most interesting moments come in small asides, including a rare discussion about his first wife, Barabara Ruick’s death. Other pieces tell us the behind-the-scenes stories about Williams’ process and recordings, including some tumultuous moments with members of the Boston Pops. In doing so, we’re given a brief glimpse behind the curtain, but it feels very much within a purview set by Williams and his family. Bozereau also adds dozens of talking heads, including Steven Speilberg, George Lucas, Thomas Newman, Alan Silvestri, and dozens of Hollywood’s most famous creators. Doing so helps frame the influence and narrative of Williams’s career and rarely allows time to touch on under-discussed aspects of his career.
The incredible footage and themes hide a thin approach.
For most of Music By John Williams, it’s hard to view it as more than a tribute film. Watching it will feel incredible, but that does not make it particularly insightful. Instead, Music By John Williams is a nostalgic trip through many of the best movies ever made. Having that many great films, edited to accentuate Williams’ most iconic compositions will make any documentary soar. However, this approach also forces us to sprint through his works. As someone who loves Jurassic Park, less than five minutes did not feel like enough time with the material. It’s easy to imagine many other fandoms feeling the same regarding their favorite scores.
Until the final half hour of Music By John Williams, there’s a clear emphasis on Star Wars and the collaborations with Spielberg. Later in the film, we get a glimpse outside of these two long-time collaborations, but it still feels far less expansive than a composer with 150 credits might feel.
On the other hand, bringing together this much archival footage should be celebrated. With Chris Columbus discussing the power of the Harry Potter score, we’re reminded that many studios had to agree to license all of the scores and footage. Luckily, the industry came together, allowing most images and scores from Williams’ long career to appear in Music By John Williams. Bouzereau’s most incredible achievement might be clearing this massive catalog of clips and audio with so many people.
“The audiences are hungry for film scores.”
The strongest element of Music By John Williams emerges in its final act. As Seth McFarlene puts it, “the audiences are hungry for it,” and Williams asks the big questions about the art he’s created. What does it mean to make these compositions if they only feed an algorithm or formula? How can we innovate if no one gets the opportunity to do so?
Williams’ is placed into direct conflict with the industry. He continues to work with full orchestras where other composers have embraced synthetic creations. His musicians tout the importance of the craft, but Williams does not want to downplay the new artist. He notes that he wants to see where the field goes in the next fifty years. However, if we do not embrace aspects of the orchestra, we may never see another Brahms or Wagner. That would be a terrifying future for those who love grand orchestral works.
As Bouzereau explores his career with the Boston Pops and Williams’ non-film compositions, the audience is knocked off-balance (in a good way). It feels like you’re discovering a whole new side to someone you’ve known your entire life. Williams jokes that he would love to “go crazy for eight minutes in a brass section,” but film inherently confines the artist to find music to complement the director’s vision. Yet the recordings and sounds of Williams’ work away from film prove eccentric and creative. It’s a great reminder that our artists should never be confined to a single discipline. The geniuses will always transcend.
Is Music By John Williams worth watching?
If you like movies at all, yes. If you like music, also yes. Music By John Williams touches a man deeply ingrained in American pop culture. Williams remains an icon to this day, and his work has already made him immortal. Music By John Williams is a great way to enjoy his stunning career without pushing the audience. For many, this will make it a landmark documentary of the year. However, it feels a bit shallow without going deeper into the man’s psyche.
You can stream Music By John Williams on Disney+ beginning November 1. Music By John Williams premiered at AFI FEST 2024.
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