Music vs. No Music

I just went to see the film Bobby (Directed by Emilio Estevez). What struck me was not the music that was in the film but rather the lack of music. Set in 1968 what music there was did have a nostalgic aspect to it, reflecting the time that is was set in. Demi Moore’s character, Virginia Fallon, was a singer which allowed for diagetic music from the band rehearsing and performing at times throughout the film. As I was watching the film it seemed to me that there was not much non diagetic music until the end when Senator Bobby Kennedy was shot. For me the effect of suddenly hearing the music was unsettling. As the film is based on fact, the ending is known from the start of the film. For me the effect of this music created a sense of uncertainty similar to the uncertainty that the characters would be feeling after Senator Kennedy was shot. I thought that by not using a lot of music or sound until the end worked in this film. Part of the effect that music has on the audience watching is to pull them into the narrative but here the lack of music had that same effect if not more so. There must be more films that are similar to Bobby that don’t fit the blockbuster style of film.