Kathryn Stockett

Composer Thomas Newman has proven himself a true master at invoking an atmosphere of melancholic nostalgia on films like The Shawshank Redemption, Road to Perdition, and Little Women. His signature blend of long, stoic, and circular string melodies with soft, plaintive piano motifs fits perfectly into director Tate Taylor's film adaptation of author Kathryn Stockett's civil rights era dramedy, The Help. Like most of his work, Newman's sweet/sad and pastoral score stands up perfectly well on its own, brandishing its own distinct shade of Americana that manages to incorporate the whole melting pot, rather than just skim off the top.