My visceral reaction upon opening this was WHAT?!?!?!?! when I saw that rating! And I'm not sure I'm convinced (acknowledging the others saying a film viewing is the only way to get the full impact). When I heard it last year, my impression was that it was a slightly-above-average RC action score with a few fun MV and 80s throwbacks. Nothing special, and I'm not sure the maybe-forthcoming expanded album would change my mind. (I'm also not overly interested in seeing the movie, but maybe I will sometime.) If/when I watch and if/when that expanded album is released, I'll keep your analysis firmly in mind!

My personal opinion aside, wow. What a write-up. This is your deepest dive and best recounting of the entire rundown, and top-notch analysis too. Your conspiracy corkboard image was correct, and that's how I felt reading it! That's a lot of strife for one nostalgia-based score. I feel kinda bad for Faltermeyer in all this, but I was a bit skeptical at the time of announcement that he would have a lot of pull, given how tied to the 80s his sound is (now I wonder, is there an alternate timeline where he scores Days of Thunder and we're talking about a DIFFERENT German overseeing a film music empire? ).

I don't know that all films need a vast add'l music/orchestrator empire, but man, this one sure did. Love that Balfe finally has a big thing he can go MINE at. (Kinda wonder what being the 'bomb-impending score fixer' does to you.) But yeah, it's hard to imagine one composer doing most of the work in such conditions, even without other projects. Man, what a rugged road to release. Cruise is sure a dichotomy of a person, fun to work with from some vs. a controlling, exacting personality even when he's not the director (and of course, his entrenchment and complicitness/influence within Scientology).

And I for one am glad you followed the madness as far as you did! Love this series, and I'll be sad when it reaches its end of regularly scheduled posting! (Your writing is of such quality to be a book!)

... A Faltermeyer PotC? Now that I'd wanna hear.