La música de John Williams

Music by John Williams offers an engrossing dive into the life and legacy of John Williams, a composer whose scores have defined cinematic moments for generations. Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, the documentary pays detailed homage to Williams, following his career from his jazz-infused youth through his classical triumphs in Hollywood. Archival footage, intimate interviews, and firsthand accounts from luminaries like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas underscore the deep trust directors place in Williams to elevate their films through music. Spielberg recounts their 50-year collaboration with warmth, illuminating how Williams shaped Jaws, E. T., and Star Wars with his distinct style and emotional insight.

Beyond just a career retrospective, the film reveals Williams' enduring dedication to his craft, showing him still composing by hand-eschewing digital tools in favor of the traditional pen-and-paper approach. Notably, interviews with fellow musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma and Gustavo Dudamel, highlight Williams' unique musical methodology and his influence on contemporary film scoring. The documentary captures Williams not only as a master of melody but as a creative force who has transformed orchestral film music into an emotional experience for viewers.

This documentary appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers, showcasing the depth, humanity, and meticulous artistry Williams brings to every composition. Bouzereau's intimate direction and deep respect for Williams make Music by John Williams more than a celebration; it's a heartfelt tribute to the man whose scores have truly become the soundtrack of our lives"

What a great documentary! You don't have to be a huge lover of music to enjoy this film. I do love movies, so this was of instant interest to me, and I'm so glad I was able to see this. It covers Williams' life and his vast career. Something that struck me was that I knew John Williams' music before I even knew John Williams! That's how immense his reach is, how broad his range across films of multiple genres. There were interviews by several well-known people including Stephen Spielberg, Chris Martin, and many others. A lot of behind the scenes moments are shown as well as many times where Williams himself talks about his various experiences (some challenging, some heartbreaking). This is a fascinating and touching look at the man and his decades of musical talent. Video review to come shortly.

This is a wonderful film. It isn't so much a documentary more a celebration of the music, life and humanity of John Williams. The celebration doesn't dwell on biography or deep musicological analysis but rather gives a guide to how this artist has for decades captured the essence of story, the heart of emotion in music.

The excerpts of him conducting in the scoring sessions are wonderful, and throughout what comes through is his joy and his love in making music and moreover enabling others to make music. There is something truly humbling about seeing the partnership between Williams and Spielberg, they speak with one united voice. Spielberg in his imagery and narrative and Williams in music and emotional core. They also clearly adore each other and to see two artists who have such a deep personal and professional bond is wonderful to watch documented.

I do wish this had been longer, a deeper dive I go his work and his process - but that is just greed! This is as good a celebration of the man as you will watch and makes you want to re-watch some movies just to hear those scores in their entirety.

The film made me think about joy so much. The joy the music brings as Chris Martin says 'nobody had a bad day because they listened to a piece by John Williams' and what a legacy that is to leave to the world.

We all have our favourite scores. Mine are the final Star Wars with the magnificent finale revelling in all those themes, and I have some that pop up fleetingly here like his work on Hook, which is always worth revisiting, a flawed film but an almost perfect score.

For me, Williams is up there with Mozart, as being a composer who understands instinctively our emotional response to a story, but more than that here his musical work goes beyond 'the brief' and has often lifted a movie above and beyond what it may have been without him.

He also genuinely comes across as a lovely man who cares deeply for his craft and for music, he has been and continues to be an inspiration not just for musicians and composers but for all of us who treasure creativity, craft and care.

A brilliant celebration.

A true masterpiece about the life and extrordinary work of a true legend, one of the very few of his kind still alive today. This documentary was so well made that even if it was 7 hours long it would still not be enough to honor all the incredible work the great maestro John Williams has done over so many decades on so many films. This world would not have been the same without the music that he has wrote over the years. Our parents grew up listening to it and so did we and I hope that the next generations will keep John's music to their heart. People like John Williams are great examples of talent and humanity and I hope that he is in good health and mind to keep up the amazing work, so that he receives more Oscar nominations. I wish the same for the people behind this documentary to get this to the Oscars 'cause a film about one of the people with the most Oscar nominations in the world, clearly would be Oscar-worthy.

What can one say about a music composer who has provided music for iconic movies like Jaws, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter movies, ET, Raiders movies, Home Alone, Schindler's list, Saving Private Ryan and many many more.

This documentary is for the hard core movie buff who understands and appreciates the role of backgound music in motion pictures. It chronicles the life and work of music Maestro John Williams who has provided music for many movies of different genres over the last 70 years or so. Now in his 90s with a large number of nominations/ awards to his credit, his work remains unparalleled. Whether it is the neoromanticism or the leitmotif or the 2 note ostinato in his music he had the power to reach the hearts of the average audience making the film director's job easier in the process. We get a good exposure of his work and thoughts through interviews. Director Steven Spielberg who has collaborated with him in around two dozen movies gives insights into various occasions of their work together.

Someone has rightly mentioned that the background score of a movie represents half the movie. The BGM truly supplements the acting on the screen and brings out emotions to amuse, enthrall, excite or move the audience. A movie without BGM is bound to fall flat. Can we transmit the ominous danger of " Jaws" or the pathos of " Saving Private Ryan " or the emotions of "ET" without the mesmerizing musical score of legendary music composer John Williams. In an awards function actor Christopher Reeve famously said that he couldn't have flown as Superman if John Williams had not provided music. John is reported to have said that "music is enough for a lifetime but one lifetime is not enough for music". He also said that music to him is as essential as breathing.