He is best known for collaborating with director Bryan Singer, composing and/or editing many of his films, including Public Access (1993), The Usual Suspects (1995), Superman Returns (2006), Valkyrie (2008) and Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), as well as the X-Men film series. For his work on Singer's 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Ottman won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing.
Ottman was born in San Diego, California. Growing up in San Jose, Ottman made many amateur films garnering local attention in the community. He attended De Anza College and then transferred to the School of Cinematic Arts of the University of Southern California, where he graduated in 1988. One of his first assignments was to provide original music for the computer game I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. In 2007, Ottman appeared in the documentary Finding Kraftland for his agent Richard Kraft.
He is best known for his multi-tasking as editor and composer for Bryan Singer's films, and on a few occasions, producer roles to boot. The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, X2, Superman Returns (including adapting themes originally composed by John Williams), Valkyrie, Jack the Giant Slayer, X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse. Other notable films he worked on as composer are Snow White: A Tale of Terror, the 2005 remake of House of Wax, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Fantastic Four and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Invasion, and Astro Boy.
He also directed (in addition to editing and scoring) the 2000 horror film Urban Legends: Final Cut. He won a BAFTA Award for Best Editing for The Usual Suspects, as well as two Saturn Awards for Best Music for The Usual Suspects and Superman Returns. In 2019, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Editing and won the ACE Eddie Award and the Academy Award his work on Bohemian Rhapsody, a film Ottman saw through on his own after both directors' departure (Bryan Singer being fired and Dexter Fletcher beginning pre-production on "Rocketman" shortly after finishing the shoot.) Ottman navigated the film's development in post and the tricky waters between film-maker and studio, working with producer Graham King and Dennis O'Sullivan.
Upon Bohemian Rhapsody getting nominated for, and winning its Best Editing awards, a scene of the band outside a pub went viral online after a post by someone critical of the editing style. Ottman, aware of the clip, explained that for a test screening, a heightened pace for the first act was asked for by the studio. After the test, Ottman returned the scene to its original pace and design. Ottman regretted that he missed returning the scene outside the pub closer to his original version. The scene (directed by Fletcher) contained no master shot of the band at the table.
Glory Of Love
John Ottman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let your poor heart break a little
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love
You've got to laugh a little, cry a little
Before the clouds roll by a little
That's the story of,
As long as there's the two of you
You've got the world and all its charms
And when the world is through with you
You've got each other's arms.
You've got to win a little, lose a little
And always have the blues a little
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love.
As long as there's the two of you
You've got the world and all its charms
And when the world is through with you
You've got each other's arms.
You've got to win a little, lose a little
And always have the blues a little
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love.
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love.
The lyrics of John Ottman's "Glory Of Love" are rooted in the idea that love is not always easy, but it is always worth fighting for. The first stanza suggests that relationships require compromise and sacrifice, but ultimately the struggle is rewarded with love's glory. The second stanza emphasizes the idea that it is important to experience both the highs and lows of life with your partner, as the relationship is strengthened through shared experiences. The chorus repeats the idea that as long as there is love, there is something worth fighting for, and that the glory of love is found even in the difficult times.
Through the repetition of phrases like 'that's the story of' and 'that's the glory of love,' Ottman conveys that struggles and challenges within a relationship are an inevitable part of love. But rather than seeing these struggles as evidence of a failed relationship, the lyrics suggest that these difficulties are a natural part of love, and that through them we are able to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of human relationships. The lyrics overall instill a sense of hope and optimism towards the idea of love, despite its many challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got to give a little, take a little
Sometimes you have to compromise and make sacrifices in a relationship.
And let your poor heart break a little
It's inevitable that you will experience heartbreak at some point in your life.
That's the story of,
This is just how things are when it comes to love.
That's the glory of love
Even though relationships can be tough, the beauty of love comes from its ability to bring people together.
You've got to laugh a little, cry a little
Life is a balance of happy and sad moments, and it's important to experience both in a relationship.
Before the clouds roll by a little
Enjoy the good times while they last because trouble can be right around the corner.
As long as there's the two of you
As long as you have each other, you can get through anything together.
You've got the world and all its charms
Together, you have everything you need and want in life.
And when the world is through with you
Even if you lose everything else, you'll still have each other.
You've got each other's arms
Physical embrace is the ultimate comfort you can give each other.
You've got to win a little, lose a little
Life has ups and downs, and it's okay to experience both in a relationship.
And always have the blues a little
Sadness and heartbreak come with the territory of love sometimes.
That's the story of,
This is just how things are when it comes to love.
That's the glory of love.
Even though relationships can be tough, the beauty of love comes from its ability to bring people together.
That's the story of,
This is just how things are when it comes to love.
That's the glory of love.
Even though relationships can be tough, the beauty of love comes from its ability to bring people together.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Billy Hill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind