HANS ZIMMER AND FRIENDS: DIAMONDS IN THE DESERT

US, 2025, 158 minutes, Colour.

Hans Zimmer, Jerry Bruckheimer, Timothy Chalamet, Billy Eilish, Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Pharrell Williams, Zendaya, Loire Cotler, Laura Lapointe, Holly Madge, Johnny Marr, Juan Garcia-Herreros.

Directed by Paul Dugdale.

A film for audiences who enjoy music. And, especially, music composed for films. The focus here is on long time and prolific composer, Hans Zimmer. In more recent years, he had travelled with orchestra and many musicians, performing around the world. This film captures concerts in the Coca-Cola vast auditorium in Dubai, at other venues in the city and performances out in the desert.

However, it is of interest for film buffs because of the many interviews with actors and directors with whom he worked, as indicated in the credits above. Then also the producers, publicists that he worked with. And, a number of musical artists, singers, performance who are very talented especially a focus on guitarists and drummers, and the number of women in the orchestra talented with violins and cellos. The visuals of the performances and the camera angles and editing, frequently on the move, then impressive close-ups, a treat for those who enjoy music performances.

Zimmer himself is very genial, in his performances, his range of talent with instruments, especially the piano, his enthusiasm during the performances, his encouragement of particular talents, long close-ups, encouragement. And, for the sake of the performances, the number of members of the orchestra and of associated performances is large.

Zimmer also explains his history, European background, years in the United States, work in the United Kingdom, beginnings, developments, the range of films he has scored, much of it played (and, the difficulty for with some of the scores, played alone they can seem quite repetitive, momentarily monotonous, because they have been scored for the visuals on the screen which a live concert does not have – although there are some sequences from some of the film is.)

The discussions with actors and directors like Christopher Nolan (Dark Knight, Interstellar) and Denis Villeneuve (June) are quite informative.

The film is long, as mentioned some of the scores are long and repetitive, but the whole experience is well worthwhile, learning about musicians on composition, collaboration with the filmmakers, the challenges to the composes imagination, living with expectations of success.

One of the films made immediately after this concert film was F1, and audiences who are seen the documentary will appreciate the moods, the chords, the atmosphere of Zimmer’s score for F1.