When I first listened to this score, i was completely knocked flat- not by the score's quality, but how christian clemmy has raved about this score and not Daniel Lanois' Sling Blade! Horner's typical (debauch) use of contemporary instrumentation has nothing on Lanois' pure, soul-moving, unique score for Billy Bob Thorton's film! And what about Asche and Spencer's Monster's Ball?! My word of advice for someone interested in theatrical music for film and stage- if you're looking for a "modern" orchestral score to satisfy your pretentions, you've hit the jackpot. If you yearn for the days of The Rocketeer and Aliensyou might stop whincing for a millisecond. If you are looking for a film score that has heart and soul and returns to the roots of American music, than you are MILES away from where you should be. Horner has composed a more than adequate traditional film score, but there's no passion.
p.s.- he should put things in gear, pronto.
another p.s.- "the best?" what about John Barry (Out of Africa, Dances With Wolves), Maurice Jarre(A Passage to India, Dead Poets Society), Lalo Schifrin (Tango),John Williams(Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET: The Extra Terrestrial), Ennio Morricone, Jerry Goldsmith (Rudy, Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Rachel Portman(Benny and Joon, Beloved), Elliot Goldenthal, Alan Silvestri, Peter Gabriel, Vangelis, Mark Knopfler, Basil Poledouris...buddy, James Horner is a "Grade A" HACK judging from what he's done in the last 9 years.