|
 |
| 1/31/08
- | The Russia House: (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you can avoid becoming clinically depressed by Jerry Goldsmith's most painfully
stylish and beautiful career score.
| |
Avoid it... |
if bittersweet scores for jazz trio, small orchestra, and snazzy synthetic rhythms
are too sparse in construct to inspire you.
| |
| Rating: | *****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/28/08
- | The Hunt for Red October: (Basil
Poledouris)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
on DVD and watch the film if you want to hear Basil Poledouris' intelligent blend
of orchestra, synthetics, and choir in the dynamic, crystal-clear mix in which they
were intended to be heard.
| |
Avoid it... |
if you expect much of the majesty of the score to carry over from the film onto the
muffled and dry presentations on currently available commercial and bootleg albums.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/23/08
- | 3:10 to Yuma: (Marco Beltrami)
- All New Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you seek an very intelligent modernization of Ennio Morricone's famous style for
the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1970's, one that will leave an impression on you with its
distinct textures and rhythms.
| |
Avoid it... |
if you demand flowing romanticism, obvious thematic consistency, or a gracious
attitude from your Western scores.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
 |
|
1/22/08 - | The 2007 Academy Award
Nominations |
|
|
| |
Nominated for 'Best Score' are Dario Marianelli for Atonement,
Alberto Iglesias for The Kite
Runner,
James Newton Howard for Michael
Clayton, Michael Giacchino for Ratatouille,
and Marco Beltrami for 3:10 to Yuma. Alan
Menken and Stephen Schwartz received a stunning three nominations a piece for their three
songs from Enchanted. These
nominations are the first for Giacchino and Beltrami, both of whom well deserve the
recognition. Unlike last year, this field of nominated scores features a clear
favorite (Marianelli, already winner of the Golden Globe), though don't be
surprised if Giacchino pulls an upset. With the obvious exception of the terrible
Michael Clayton (which is a nod to the quantity of the composer's output
for the year more than to the quality of that one entry... standard practice), all
of the nominated scores are quite good. Gustavo Santaolalla has won the Oscar
the past two years (for his often criticized Brokeback
Mountain and Babel), a result of
the Academy's popular buffoonery that continues to irritate the film score community.
Because 2007 was John Williams' second straight year without a new score, this
year marks only the second time since 1966 that he has not been nominated in
consecutive years (2006-2007, 1985-1986). Tell us what you think of the nominations
at the Filmtracks Scoreboard!
|
|
|
| 1/19/08
- | Angel: (Philippe Rombi)
- All New Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you appreciate the thematic grace and instrumental sentimentality of the Golden
Age's romances and/or the flowing styles of Georges Delerue's more recent equivalents.
| |
Avoid it... |
if the undeniably powerful dramatic appeal of the score's opening cue cannot
compensate for a remaining score that relies far more on bright innocence and
uncontrolled bursts of charm.
| |
| Rating: | *****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/17/08
- | Rio Conchos: (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
on the 1989 re-recording if you seek an early glimpse at Jerry Goldsmith's darker,
folksy Western style in pristine digital sound.
| |
Avoid it... |
on that re-recording if you are a Goldsmith purist interested instead in a superior
presentation of the original recording, regardless of how badly aged the sound may
be.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/15/08
- | Rambo III: (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you'd be interested in a slightly more varied ethnic approach to the outstanding
action material written by Jerry Goldsmith for the previous two films.
| |
Avoid it... |
if you expect the same superior rhythmic pacing and thematic bombast of Rambo:
First Blood Part II in the action pieces of Rambo III.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/13/08
- | Body Heat: (John Barry)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you seek John Barry's highly acclaimed, seductively jazzy tribute to 40's-style
film noir.
| |
Avoid it... |
if the predictable structures of Barry's music, no matter how effectively matched
with the particular film, cannot be outweighed by the score's sex appeal.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/11/08
- | Triumph of the Spirit: (Cliff
Eidelman)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you respect the melodramatic awe that a truly well researched and rendered
Holocaust score can provide.
| |
Avoid it... |
if poor depth of sound in recording quality tends to distract you during heavily
layered orchestral scores.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/9/08
- | Playing by Heart: (John Barry)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you've been intrigued by the glimpses of 50's-style jazz for small ensembles
that have occasionally played minor roles in John Barry's more recent film scores.
| |
Avoid it... |
if you're more attached to Barry's grandiose style that feature a more ambitious,
dramatic intent for full ensembles.
| |
| Rating: | ***
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/7/08
- | The Flim-Flam Man: (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
if you seek a superior presentation of the parody Western The Flim-Flam Man in the
brilliance of its original stereo mix (an absolute necessity for the character of
its style).
| |
Avoid it... |
if Jerry Goldsmith's smaller-scale and unique Americana style, especially
concerning delicate themes for harmonica and woodwind, doesn't sustain your interest.
| |
| Rating: | ****
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/5/08
- | Reel Music: (Compilations)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
only if you are an established fan of each individual composer, and the
corresponding album
contains enough material absent from your collection to warrant your interest.
| |
Avoid it... |
if you expect consistency in sound quality (for these are original recordings) and
in the presentation of each artist's styles.
| |
| Rating: | (various)
Read the entire review
|
|
|
| 1/3/08
- | Choice Cuts: (Compilation)
- Expanded Review |
|
|
| |
Buy it... |
only if your taste in classic horror music weights heavily towards the more sparse,
electronically rendered style of John Carpenter.
| |
Avoid it... |
if you expect the album to provide a consistent, effective listening experience (or
a solid representation from symphonic horror scores).
| |
| Rating: | **
Read the entire review
|
|
