The Man Without a Face

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

In the year where drama scores were composed practically by James Horner himself, The Man Without a Face comes off as somewhat better than the rest. Better then Jack the Bear which captured a darker heavier sense and better than Searching for Bobby Fisher which nonetheless captured a beautiful main theme on its own. This motion picture directorial debut of Mel Gibson led to Horner scoring the blockbuster and epic war movie Braveheart the following year, which led both the men to fame and glory. This drama is an example of Horner scoring it the way he's done before, but with each difference that the themes are different (if he of course isn't stealing them of his own). The score for then about 45 minutes takes a special mood, and never lets go of it since the soft melodies and typical piano play and string section dominate the entire score. Just like any other in the genre (Bicentennial Man, The Spitfire Grill) the score is a charming listen but there are scores I prefer above this soundtrack and there are where I prefer The Man Without a Face above others, its that simple. The score has a charming main theme and some nice moments, but as said before, its charming and somewhat a background listen which can easily work a bit on the forgettable side too.

The score opens basically the way it will enfold during the entire score, with piano and light strings, creating a mood that listens somewhat between the mix of Casper, Bicentennial Man and Sneakers. Its then of course simple that the two longest tracks are the best of the lot, in which the main theme envelops to a lovely set of strings and tuba entitled 'A Father's Legacy' and 'Lookout Point / End Credits'. The next track 'Chuck's First Lesson' by then states already much of the same, still with the lovely piano and main theme in good form. A track which is a bit different then the rest is 'Flying', going for brief times into a Sneakers mode (not surprisingly since Sneakers was composed just a year earlier) but also has these soft flying strings which makes the track light as a feather. But by then the soundtrack stays more or less the same, good beautiful piano play and the soft emotional strings we heard so many times before. It is just that it doesn't stay that interesting like it could have been. That was one of the good sides of a score like Bicentennial Man, it captured a theme so influenced but beautiful that it took your interest back to the top, while here it stays the same, soft yet beautiful and calm but rather background listening all the same.

Some moments like of Casper are witnessed in 'The Tutor' and a crescendo of strings is reached in 'No Compromise'. Even a short remembrance is heard in 'McLeod's Last Letter' where Horner adds a brief playful side to the score which brings vaguely The Spitfire Grill's 'Reading the Letters' to mind (seems to me that Horner has a good quality in scoring letters being red or written). An opera piece of Puccini is in fact a lovely and good addition to the score (and the fact that I hate opera with these voices says a lot). The final track is a lovely return of the entire score with the main theme in stronger order, and is in fact a sole compilation of the entire score. The Man Without a Face is a lovely background listen, it captures a theme that is interesting and sweet, but the overall sameness doesn't take the score where it could have been. Therefore soundtracks like Bicentennial Man and The Spitfire Grill are much better to listen to. But the first and definitely last track are great, the opera piece isn't a burden whatsoever (even a small highlight) and various other moments make me think back to other scores, but in a good sense because they turn back to good ideas. Not a rip off job, just an emotional soft listen which once and a while is rather attractive as background soothing.

\ľľľ1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. A Father's Legacy (6.14) Excellent Track

2. Chuck's First Lesson (2.48)

3. Flying (3.49)

4. McLeod's Secret Life (1.58)

5. Nightmares And Revelations (4.21)

6. McLeod's Last Letter (2.57)

7. Lost Books (1.56)

8. The Merchant Of Venice (2.55)

9. The Tutor (3.21)

10. No Compromise (4.56)

11. "Ch'ella Mi Creda" * (2.26)

12. Lookout Point / End Credits (7.56) Excellent Track

* From the Opera "La Fanciuella des West" by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Jussi Björling

Total Length: 45.46

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=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===