The Music of Moonrise

Wes Anderson is widely known for his distinct visual style, but equally as impressive is Anderson’s ability to pick the perfect composer to bring his film to life. Alexandre Desplat was the composer for many of Anderson’s films, and helped make the movie this essay is focusing on whole. Moonrise Kingdom was released in 2012, and was Anderson’s sixth film. The film was widely successful, and played on themes that a diverse audience could enjoy. Moonrise Kingdom is a film based in 1965, and centers around the young couple of Suzie and Sam. These two adventurous twelve-year-olds have fallen in love, and plan to run away. Suzie is an introverted and intelligent girl who lives with her family in a large house on the New England coast, and Sam is an orphan who is spending the summer at camp with his wilderness troop. The two meet and plan to run away together. After they do, Suzie’s parents, the troop leader, and a police officer named Sharp all begin to search area to find the kids. They eventually find Sam and Suzie, and after a climactic chase during a large storm, everything is resolved. The film ends with Sam painting a picture of moonrise kingdom, and telling Suzie he will see her again the next day.

The film ended up being extremely successful, and won many awards, including Best Use of Music in Film. The music used throughout this film could not be valued enough. Without the emotional impact songs have on an audience, films would not be the same. The music used in this film is all from an orchestra, and written specifically for the film. The music follows so closely to the film that it really helps tell the story.

One scene in particular is extremely centered around the music playing, and I thought it would be a great scene to discuss. The scene is the start of Sam and Suzie’s adventure to moonrise kingdom. It acts as a montage showing the long journey the two go on to make it to their planned destination. The song that Alexandre Desplat has composed for the scene is then sampled in many other parts of the movie later on. The song’s title is “The Heroic Weather Conditions of the Universe.” The title alone relates so perfectly to the clip chosen, because throughout the clip Sam’s outdoor skills seem heroic, and the clip mimics the different weather conditions experienced by the two characters. The song uses a base of romantic wind instruments juxtaposed with explosive drum and bass tones. The music begins extremely slow and simple and grows throughout the scene. It begins with only a harp, then a cello and flute are added. The sound is light and romantic at first, and an overtone of lighthearted adventure. More layers are added as the song progresses, including a piccolo, a ukulele, and an electric guitar. The contrast in the small wind instruments and the electric guitar really stands out. There is a strong parallel between the music that is being played, and the action on the screen. There is a point where the two are sitting on the top of a mountain, and it reaches the climax of the music. A piano, clarinet, and french horn are added all at once to help the explosiveness. The song explodes into a more commanding tone, and bring about a military vibe.

Watching Wes Anderson films is one of the things that really attracted me to my career path in filmmaking. I admire his ability to create a world within a film, and I do not think that could be possible without the music he chooses. He uses music so intensely that it is difficult not to change the way you view the film. I think really breaking the scene down and discussing it will still make me focus on the music even more.
- Moonrise Kingdom. The Heroic Weather Conditions of the Universe- Alexandre Desplat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQE2yhc-DY&feature=youtu.be