The film, Mona Lisa Smile is set in the middle of the last century, and when you say it that way, doesn't it seem long ago? The storyline of the film concerns girls in an elite college and what they should do with their education, marry and raise a family or have a career? It didn't occur to anyone that you could do both. Julia Roberts is the forward-thinking teacher who tries to tell her art class that they should think beyond the box and explore the world a bit before marrying.
Rachel Portman's touch is evident in this soundtrack. Not only does her suite, at the end of the CD, have a Fifties flavor to it, but the selection of songs nicely intones that atmosphere. There is the title song "Mona Lisa" (made famous by Nat King Cole), and "Santa Baby" (Eartha Kitt's hit). Contemporary artists do the old standards with wonderful remembrances of the original artists. Barbra Streisand's "Smile" is the only song using the original artist.
Seal doing "Mona Lisa" had me fooled. I thought it was Nat King Cole actually singing. Macy Gray on "Santa Baby" does the same. Not quite on the mark is Tori Amos ("You Belong To Me") or Mandy Moore ("Secret Love"), but the effect still takes you back in time. A special delight is the Trevor Horn Orchestra on "Istanbul" and "Sh-Boom."
Rachel Portman's suite at the conclusion of the CD is reminiscent of Elmer Bernstein's music for Far From Heaven. There is a certain time period to project to the audience and that is what the musicians do with lush strings and flutes. When you hear it for the first time, it makes you think of a crisp, autumn day with red maples on the horizon. It is the Fifties and all's right with the world and with this soundtrack.
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