Cliff Eidelman's most intimate and restrained effort to date,
One True Thing pivots on the composer's remarkably tender piano solos -- a small orchestra occasionally surfaces to add textural depth, but by and large, the score is a study in subtlety and nuance -- a rare commodity in fin de siècle Hollywood.
Eidelman vividly captures the bravery and resilience of a family grappling with tragedy. His music makes no room for sentimentality or pathos, and several themes, most notably "Halloween Carnival," boast a genuine playfulness that offers a welcome respite from the heartfelt melancholy that otherwise dominates. ~ Jason Ankeny