Hoffa

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

On occasions, David Newman is attached to a non silly or romantic comedy. And then he can score something not like Nutty Professor, Scooby-Doo or The Flintstones. There are occasions, recently Brokedown Palace and The Affair of the Necklace and in his early times pictures like Hoffa. The movie, directed by Danny DeVito (a good personal friend who let him score some of his other movies) stars Jack Nicholson in what could be a great role for him as Hoffa. Personally, I know little about the history of American presidents or political leaders but no doubt the movie will push to scandals, history and whatever troubled their lives. Right along that lives David Newman's score, one that has obscured itself from the shelves and became a small collector's item. Reason for that is simple, David Newman scores no comedy but basically a dramatic movie so he could give it no more the silly adequate touch but something far deeper, and deeper is one of the words to use. Another reason because Hoffa is requested is its main theme, appearing as it should do with great effect in its own movie trailer as for the trailers of First Knight and Frequency. This theme is like many others a great composition and fits further, long after most of the score. It appears two times most gloriously in the score, the first time in 'Hoffa End Credits', which surprisingly opens the disc. Here the culmination is done and all parts of the score are summarized into 8 minutes of music. Yet it does solely revolve around statements of the main theme growing with variation to the most perfect result. And secondly in 'Trucker Salute' which repeats on a specific moment the theme so dramatically powerful (0.29), it makes you salute almost the CD player (which would be silly).

Basically, Hoffa has what others don't have, a great main theme which makes the score but unfortunately it is also the sole reason why you have it. It is in fact the only moment you remember of the score. It repeats the theme countless times on disc and with variations either in the dramatic uplifting form or the darker almost string gliding Thomas Newman way, 'RTA Riot & Wake' is a good example of this. 'Going to Jail' is even a big temp track string passage like Born on the Fourth of July and moves especially from this passage into the main theme, as it was meant to be. The theme repeats its performance further in 'Hoffa Trailer', which basically is the music composed by Newman for the trailer, stating first some tension music before as said the theme appears gracefully on screen. And so, the theme repeats itself especially noticeable in the first 10 tracks before the same music (with little variation) starts to unravel from then on, becoming also short since brief tracks of 50 seconds end the score. 'Jimmy Goes to Jail' still captures some better emotion as does track 11. Somewhat a flawed repetitive score in unison, Hoffa still has several tracks that kick dramatic power and those carry the theme on its best outing. Hoffa is made for a reason, for the theme that David Newman gave to the movie, to show he is more then a comedy composer (still adding emotion to even the most lighthearted touch, you see it every time in every score) and therefore, the score is recommended to those that love strong theme based scores, even if overall the album doesn't satisfy much at 43 minutes. Like Thomas Newman, the darker quality can make the score a bit forgettable and brief signs of trumpet solo's aren't really memorable in the first place. But Hoffa still has a theme worthy of attention.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Hoffa End Credits (8.00) Excellent Track

2. RTA Riot & Wake (6.58)

3. Truck Talk (3.09)

4. Trucker Salute (1.11) Excellent Track

5. Ride To The RTA (3.19)

6. This Man's Going To Be President (1.33)

7. Hoffa Trailer (2.15)

8. First Transition (1.06)

9. Billy Flynn (4.07)

10. Jimmy Goes To Jail (2.43)

11. Meeting The Mafia (1.18)

12. Loading Dock Riot (0.48)

13. Going To Jail (1.11)

14. Bobby's Cell (1.44)

15. Ants At A Picnic (1.11)

16. Mob Negotiations (0.55)

17. Jimmy's Last Ride (0.59)

Total Length: 43.10

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

=== Link to Composer Site: David Newman ===