Veronica Guerin

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Harry Gregson - Williams is finally breaking through, and the year 2003 promised to bring diversity and class together. Sinbad was an explosive adventure score which promised some swashbuckling adventures while the more percussive rhythms of The Rundown weren't exactly cohesive, but the Spanish flair and guitar moves were fetching nonetheless. And next to that came Veronica Guerin, the movie based around the true story of reporter Veronica in Ireland, chasing down the drug cartels not with guns but with the almighty pen, meaning the truth. Ultimately she was killed for it but the truth came out and therefore her life was not lost in vein. Joel Schumacher came back to Harry Gregson - Williams after the good work (speaking for the effect in the film) he did for the last movie of Schumacher namely Phone Booth. But for Veronica Guerin, luckily the more melodic voice of Gregson - Williams was needed for this score, and so he delivered. And it was needed also, because how otherwise could you paint such a fantastic track as 'Bad News'. This is the highlight of the score and that for 2 reasons, first it uses a folks tune and a 10 year old street singer (not anymore I think) as lead singer and first his voice seems not all fitting, but when the short orchestral backing supports his voice harmoniously the effect is more then mesmerizing and you dare not to sing with it, because the emotion it carries is too deep for you to disturb that. And secondly the short bodhram drums and flute in the second part carry it to a more somber but perfect note. This track is the testament that Harry Gregson - Williams is more then the MV composer he was considered for the time he co wrote The Rock for instance. No more of that, I can tell you that.

That it perhaps stays with that exceptional track is true, but some other tracks are nice too. For instance the more uplifting moments of 'Driving' and 'Research', covering both an upbeat Irish jig which again feels just like it was coming out of Ireland for sure. And the other tracks are more darker, somber, sadder and some of them even more unsettling but they all carry a short main theme with them that connect them all to the tone of the story. 'Dublin 1996' shows it first and its performed mainly by an electric violin. Also Harry throws in some beats and they work remarkably well. 'The Killing' by then uses also this theme but also light percussion and a rhythm to back up it well. By then 'The Beating' seems to become more of the same with the theme again setting the tone, but in truth, this track carries so much emotion with it, it should be another highlight. Its extremely touching but the electric violin performs this and if it was performed with a real violin instead, it would have been sublime. But then again, you can't blame Harry Gregson - Williams for using it because it is the distinct sound of the electronic violin that sounds almost Irish in tone that it was chosen for sounding just Irish like. But again, if ever? 'First Warning' uses more sampled unsettling dark tones and doesn't hurt much because we understand the reason and of course is never to be heard again. The final tracks bring back the more emotional oomph. Because there are also 2 songs, both the same and sung by Sinead O' Connor, but its the second 'The Funeral' that makes her voice sound strong and emotionally grasping over the visuals that makes the effect more then the original song, heard at the start. But they are good tracks in the end and one and the start and one at the finish make the score more worthwhile in the end. Veronica Guerin is therefore more then The Rundown and even its more dramatic touch doesn't heart at all the rating nor the listening experience. Add to that some extremely powerful emotional music and I think Veronica Guerin is more then a worthwhile addition to an already powerful film.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. One More Day: Sinead O' Connor (3.15)

2. Dublin 1996 (2.49)

3. Driving (1.37)

4. Preparations (1.49)

5. The Killing (5.07)

6. Research (1.03)

7. Traynor Lies (2.08)

8. The Beating (4.24)

9. Conservations (1.53)

10. First Warning (1.13)

11. Bad News * (5.58) Excellent Track

12. Second Warning (2.25)

13. Deceit (3.32)

14. Never Show Your Fear (1.22)

15. The Funeral: Sinead O' Connor (2.24) Excellent Track

* Performed by Brian O'Donnell

Total Length: 40.59

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Harry Gregson - Williams ===