While
Disney and Pixar's previous films -- Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, and Monsters Inc. -- relied on the musical gifts of
Randy Newman for their scores and charming theme songs, for the undersea adventure Finding Nemo they recruited the skills of another
Newman. Academy Award-nominated composer
Thomas Newman, to be exact, and his eclectic, slightly ethereal style is an inspired match for the film's aquatic setting. From the "Jaws"-like tension in "Barracuda" to the gentle, rippling "Nemo Egg (Main Title),"
Newman captures the wonder, in its most terrifying and playful forms, of the water-dwelling denizens that make up Finding Nemo's cast of characters. Best of all, even though this is music for a so-called children's movie,
Newman didn't dumb down his style or try to make it perky and "kid-friendly"; tracks such as "Wow," "First Day," and "Lost in Fog" are just as haunting and complex as anything he would write for a "grown-up" film. That's not to say, however, that
Newman didn't have fun writing the music or that listeners won't enjoy more playful tracks like "The Turtle Lope," "Mr. Ray, Scientist," or "...P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney." From dreamy to scary to silly, each of
Newman's 39 cues for Finding Nemo is a wonderfully intricate, miniature composition. While this score may not be quite as dazzling as his work on scores like American Beauty, this is still a thoughtful and rewarding collection of music that is absolutely perfect for the film it supports. ~ Heather Phares