Annie Award nominated stop-motion feature $9.99, directed by Tatia Rosenthal, features a poetic and slightly minimalist score composed by Christopher Bowen, whose previous works include the soundtrack for the acclaimed Shira Geffen/Etgar Keret drama Jellyfish. The $9.99 music is small-scale with an emphasis on piano, a string quartet and electronics...

I have to admit that the subtle score for $9.99 wasn't really my cup of tea. While I'm sure it works well to lend an atmosphere to the movie, as a standalone release it doesn't really seem to go anywhere and certainly didn't raise any emotions in me.

The album starts off rather promising. 'The Sunshine Coast' is quite an interesting theme. Sadly this rather good beginning soon descends into blandness. The biggest problem is that each track is as dull as the last, offering nothing that makes you want to play this release more than the once.

The final track on the soundtrack is easily the worst (but at least it offered me the chance to feel something - even if it was distaste). Happiness, it's ironically titled, would have been a listenable track, if it hadn't been for the inclusion of someone saying "Happiness" constantly. It's basically a reworking of the 'The Sunshine Coast', but it's amazing how quickly it becomes annoying.

So, to sum up, there is not much here of merit to be honest. It's more a collection of music cues and rather bland music that just seems to go on and on for ever.

3

Darren Rea