Ludwig Göransson appreciation post

I realized that I have liked all of Ludwig Göransson's most recent work, but the works that really got my attention when I listened to them are: Black Panther 1 & 2, Oppenheimer, Sinners, Tenet, and The Odyssey. 

Ludwig, for me, is what I think art is all about. You explore, you experiment, you convey emotions. Your work always makes others question it, feel it. Sometimes it can be instantly loved and sometimes even hated, but some of Ludwig's work grows on me over time.  I did not love or even notice Tenet's soundtrack when I first watched the movie. My understanding and love for it came after I listened to the whole album in one session this summer. I found the musicality in this heavily electro-infused soundtrack. (My least favourite genre). I found a pattern, a conversation, and suddenly I realized that I loved the soundtrack. Oppenheimer's whole album took hold of me after I read an interview where he explained that, per Nolan's request, the soundtrack was to be "felt" rather than listened to. It took me two listening sessions to finally get it. The leitmotif and the conversation happening in the soundtrack. How "Oppenheimer - Can you hear the music- Destroyer of worlds" was a conversation, and the story it was telling. 

Black Panther(1 & 2) and Sinners probably made me fall in love with his creative mind. The research he put into it, the desire for authenticity, connection, transcendence, and community you can feel while listening to the soundtrack. The Odyssey simply confirmed what I thought of Ludwig and cemented him in my heart as one of my favourite composers. He genuinely gives his all in his work, and he never takes it for granted. I think, and I say this as a very big Hans Zimmer fan, that if Ludwig keeps himself on track, he would not reach the "I sometimes parody myself and I have stopped pushing myself further" attitude Zimmer had until Dune popped up. 

Is Ludwig Göransson everyone's cup of tea? Non. And he doesn't have to be, which is the beauty of art. I can only wish he keeps exploring, and perhaps, as a former pianist myself, I hope he would favor this instrument a little more in his next projects :p 

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Dear Bryan Singer

Dear Bryan Singer,

You know how to make movies, you obviously put a lot of work into it. I praise you for that. You simply don't know how to make x-men movies. I have been talking in length here and there about the atrocious trilogies and spin-offs you offered us and yet, the only movie I liked (despite the changes some characters went through and the tropes some others went through (Emma, Darwin?...) it still was better than the other 8 movies or is it 9 you made.

You don't care. obviously! You tease us with special effects and bunch of characters you wave at our faces but you don't care. Why do you want to add X, Y, Z faces we know you won't exploit, if it's only to have them killed or benched? why do you ridicule so many of them? (Storm for example? Cyclops for example? Psylocke or Jubilee too? Bishop? WOLVERINE for God's sake.)

I have been fooled way too many times by your tricks. I thought, "oh this movie would be different" but it's not. I would have been happier if you focused on these two characters you love so much, Charles and Erik. tell us a story about them instead. tell us a story that focuses on what it is to be a mutant, how the world perceives them (how their families, friends.. not just the world as a whole. we need to see the fear, the rejection or the acceptance. NOT BEING TOLD about them). I would have been happier. Build a team instead of throwing big names you don't give a shit about. give us the time to get to know them, care for them, go for something smaller.

But no. You thought, "oh Everyone loves and knows Apocalypse, let's go for him instead". you Ruined Mystique, sincerely. less in the first couple of movies (in spite of her pinning for Magneto and then Wolverine. sure, let's have her be weak for men. Have her want to be "loooooved" SURE! SURE! that's so Mystique right?) but you still managed to screw her up and what she embodies! thank you.. not!
I tried to look at your movie with a distant gaze, look for symbolism, for hidden messages, for something to analyze it but it lacks substance. it's just throwing ideas here and there and see what sticks to the wall... Nah ah. I can't like it.

I already decided not to watch any of your movies again. I might stick to Deadpool because he gave me in 1h58 more X-men vibes than any of your movies did. So I'll stick to this director and ignore you forever.

PS: Can you STOP with the Phoenix already? WHy are you so obsessed with this shit? you don't know how to tell that story, Give up on it. I beg of you. It already was so hard to go through Apocalypse without being angry and sad but the minute I saw Jean freaking Phoenix Grey... I lost it. Stop. please. And stop with your tropes too. it becomes too predictable. You have a wonderful source material, the potential to write great stories, to reach out to the core of your fans and maybe even, tell teach them a lesson or two about tolerance and self-acceptance BUT YOU MISSED THE POINT.

Stop making the x-men. I beg of you. Go make all the other movies you're good at :)

Sincerely yours,

An x-fan of yours.