Music by John Williams

I was inspired by this documentary. We shouldn't be too quick to invite AI into our lives. We should marvel at human skill, creativity and recognise that craft takes time and unlocks so much. AI is not special, what people can achieve with imagination and experiences is.

I found this film entertaining and insightful and validated what I fear. Human craft is at risk with further progression of technology.

I loved the journey down memory lane of great films and tv, and the music that added so much inspired emotion. Took me back to so many great childhood memories, but also motivated me to revisit pieces I haven't seen for a long time, and others I've never seen.

Amazed at how wide John Williams resume spans, and feel privileged to have been invited to know more about his life and family and those that have worked alongside him and how in awe they have all been of him.

So glad I watched this.

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.

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"

I saw this film as the first red carpet event of the AFI film festival of 2024. Introduced by Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, who produced the film, they expressed their devotion and dedication to John Williams. John Williams certainly deserves that dedication - filmgoers and music lovers will definitely agree with Messrs. Howard and Spielberg. The documentary details how Williams got his start in the film industry as well as his personal life which had a tragedy that I was not aware of until seeing this film. We learn how Williams came up with the score to films such as "Jaws", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Star Wars" and many others. There are also funny anecdotes of Spielberg's initial reaction to Williams' score of "Jaws" and Spielberg's quip about Williams' composing the score to "Schindler's List", which adds a bit of levity to otherwise emotionally devasting story. I also learned about the Boston Pops musicians' snobbish reactions to Williams' direction as well as many more interesting facts about this absolute musical genius. I highly recommend this film to anyone interested in filmmaking as well as music.