FDC/PR
From accomplished sound editor Midge Costin, who has worked his magic on the likes of Armageddon, The Rock and Con Air, comes his feature directorial debut, a rather delightful, hugely insightful documentary, Making Waves: The Art Of Cinematic Sound, which premieres at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The absorbing, very well-made piece, is a detailed trip back through Hollywood history showcasing sound design as a true art form, one that I soon realised I have shown great ignorance to in the years that I’ve been going to the movies.
The film takes the traditional talking heads approach speaking with pioneers of the sound world – from Ben Burtt, the legendary sound designer who has worked on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series, Walter Murch, Francis Ford Coppola’s go-to sound guy and the man behind the aural cinematic masterpieces The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, through to the digital pioneers like Gary Rydstrom (Toy Story). Additionally, there are inputs on-screen from some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ryan Coogler, Robert Redford and Christopher Nolan. We are taken back to the times of silent film to track the evolution of the art, from the times of The Jazz Singer in 1927 to last year’s epic awards magnet Roma.
We’re treated to all areas of cinematic aural form – from Foley, to sound effects, ambient sound, score and ADR – the industry’s best deconstructing the art, its masters portrayed quite rightly as one of the most important people involved with the filmmaking process. A stand-out moment, one which truly display demonstrates the importance of sound in film is a look at the opening 23 minutes of Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg’s ‘90s WWII masterpiece, and how sound was used to astonishing effect to convey the horrors of the D-Day landings. It will send shivers up your spine.
Making Waves: The Art Of Cinematic Sound is an absolute triumph in documentary filmmaking and a must for cinephiles. It is one of the best films about cinema we’ve seen for yonks, and it will change the way you watch films forever. Masterful.
Making Waves: The Art Of Cinematic Sound was reviewed at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
