Men in Black

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Let's use a bit of logic shall we. Any score that has been nominated in the past, present of future must have something special right? Something that makes the movie so good and the soundtrack so amazing correct? Well, its unfair to neglect winners of Elfman but it is more unfair to award others that fail miserably on CD. Why is Men in Black nominated if such amazing efforts as Edward Scissorhands or Sommersby are forgotten? It first of all makes the choice only more laughable but is also simply unfair. Now, in the case of Men in Black, we have the score that does miracles for its film. But how do they award such a score, do they listen to the soundtrack separately because then I would already have said a simple "No". It has an appropriate main theme, some really nice moments of score but equally so horrendous material and if this is Oscar material with a consideration to win, then kill me now.

After several years of stunning melodic beauty, Danny Elfman returned to his famous dark style. This is no way another Batman but some things simply connect and perhaps that it what suits Men in Black the best. The bouncy main theme starts the score with 'M.I.B. Main Theme' and is enjoyable for its zany mood. Also parts like 'Headquarters', 'The Suit' and 'K Reminisces' are decent if even fun. Still, the soundtrack's best moment was 'Orion's Belt / Cat Stinger' which has typical Elfman choral awe. At this point during the movie I said "I can see why he was nominated for an Oscar." But then you listen to the score separately and then any action track, horror scare or complicated rhythm is heard differently, and then you simply don't care anymore. Tracks that truly make me sick sometimes are 'D's Memories / Chase', 'Edgar's Truck / A New Man', 'Sexy Morgue Babe / Icon' and 'Take Off / Crash'. Its all good for the movie but this is no way Oscar friendly. I can mention 1000 of scores that then also deserve this fame and credit.

Danny Elfman is a big fan based composer, someone who has more talent then some people think and we don't need to repeat which scores proved that ample. But simply no way is Men in Black good, its not even decent. It does however own portions of score that are brilliant but overall it is a non satisfying release to listen to. The big problem is also that this fame has helped the sales of the score and in the end I would love to know if other people simply feel robbed with putting the money into an effort that isn't even that good. I appreciate its work inside the movie's context and I'm glad for the choral parts (which truly stun in tracks 11 and 15) but Men in Black is not good to listen to. The ideas were there, but the composer had other intentions, and as for me, I'm simply disappointed. Only for the Elfman MIB's and then still.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. M.I.B. Main Theme (2.58)

2. D's Memories / Chase (3.55)

3. Edgar's Truck / A New Man (2.58)

4. Imports / Quiet Moment (2.20)

5. J Contemplates (1.17)

6. Headquarters (1.12)

7. The Suit (1.27)

8. Morgue Time (0.48)

9. Petit Mort (1.41)

10. K Reminisces (0.47)

11. Orion's Belt / Cat Stinger (2.17)

12. Noisy Cricket / Impending Trouble (2.06)

13. Sexy Morgue Babe / Icon (5.41)

14. Take Off / Crash (7.19)

15. Finale (3.03) Excellent Track

16. M.I.B. Closing Theme (2.37)

Total Length: 42.43

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Danny Elfman ===