"The Prince of Tides" - Was Nick Nolte's Music Underrated?

Okay, so I just re-watched "The Prince of Tides" last night and, wow. That movie still hits hard. Barbra Streisand directed it, btw. The whole dysfunctional family drama against the backdrop of South Carolina's lowcountry...chefs kiss. But something I've been thinking about is the music. James Newton Howard did the score, and while it's beautiful, I almost feel like it gets overshadowed by Nolte and Streisand's performances. Like, people talk about that movie's EMOTION, but do they connect it back to the music? Specifically, I'm thinking about the scene where Tom (Nolte) is finally telling Susan Lowenstein (Streisand) about the traumatic event from their childhood on the boat with the Calhoun family. The music swells there, but it's not just 'sad' music. It's almost...hopeful? Like, even in the midst of confronting this horrific memory, there's a sense that healing is possible, a sense of lightness. I really think the score is doing a LOT of heavy lifting there to communicate that. My theory is that because "The Prince of Tides" is so character-driven, people focus primarily on the acting, which is fair! It's amazing! But I think a deep dive into the score reveals an even richer layer of emotional complexity. It's not just underscoring the visuals, it's actively participating in the storytelling. What do you guys think? Am I off my rocker, or is Howard's score a key element to why this movie still resonates so deeply? Also, does anyone know if there is an expanded version of the soundtrack? The official release feels too short.