10 Underrated John Williams Tracks
2. The Terminal - The Tale of Viktor Navorski (2004)
One of Spielberg's best films is hiding out in the 2000s between 2002's Minority Report/Catch Me If You Can and 2005's War of the Worlds/Munich. Spielberg has often cited Frank Capra as an influence and 2004's The Terminal is very Capraesque.
Tom Hanks plays the somewhat hapless but incredibly charming Viktor Navorski. Viktor arrives in New York City as a tourist only to discover that his home country no longer exists and he must remain in limbo while the matter is sorted out. The airport becomes his whole world and Spielberg opts to give the film a slightly unreal, whimsical tone.
Williams' The Tale of Viktor Navorski is a jazzy, jaunty polka that hints at different Eastern European cultures without fully committing to any one in particular. It's light and charming in the same way that the film itself is light and charming. It's relentlessly optimistic and has affection for every character, even the bad guys. Viktor is never in any danger; he just wants to see the city. Williams' music takes Viktor's hopes and dreams seriously but never tips over into overly saccharine territory.