Sneakers

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Not many scores can say that they have the roots of other James Horner scores but surprisingly Sneakers has them, sometimes even extremely loud in comparison. First of all, anyone liking the piano use in scores such as Searching for Bobby Fisher, Bicentennial Man and A Beautiful Mind will discover that the roots are coming of this score. Also things that would later clear up in scores such as Apollo 13 and Clear and Present Danger or even Casper seem to have something to do with Sneakers. In the end it is original or not, but Sneakers surely brings some moments of good fun. First of all, almost any James Horner score has something new to present and I think Sneakers has several, perhaps light things but still clearly new to the ear. Like the chants that accompany the music of Horner in the begin or the lovely theme of the movie, it is simply sometimes all what a soundtrack of Horner needs to be entertaining to a degree and I consider that enough in the case of Sneakers. Also the use of saxophone by solo artists such as Branford Marsalis is working very effectively.

So does the score open, women chants, the use of piano like heard in aforementioned scores as Searching for Bobby Fisher and the almost sultry sounds of the sax backing it up. It seriously works to please me. '"Too many Secrets"' and 'The Hand - Off' both cover some more suspenseful moments of music, representing at these times the moments of Clear and Present Danger and Apollo 13, sometimes even vividly. The actual main theme of the score is fun, 'The Sneakers Theme' presents it in a lively bouncy way and so does track 6. The crashing piano as heard in many scores (including Apollo 13) opens the track 'Playtronics Break - In' when the sound gets really suspenseful at times, giving the listener really a sense of tension. Especially here I considered that Apollo 13 is extremely influenced by Sneakers, such as any Horner score does. The sax that weaves through it is just as effective as in the begin of the score. Still, one of the moments that lights this score better than before are moments like in 'The Escape / Whistler's Rescue' and '"... And the Blind shall See"', these tracks bring one theme that truly feels destined to become one excellent piece of music. Reminding me of flashes of Project X's flying music and great heroic moments of The Land Before Time and The Rocketeer, it is music that lifts the spirits and for the first time, takes this score in a different route.

Anyway, it seems to be of all of this that Sneakers has a lot to present. And frankly it does, I didn't remember that Sneakers had so much at offer that in a way it remains an extremely satisfying listen. Of course, at the other end of the scale, people who hate Horner will find out that a lot of original music seems to come from different sections of his musical career, such as Apollo 13 to be precise. Or even the smallest thing like sound effects from track 4 that would appear later in Casper. Very strange, in a way Horner can't help it but it does make Sneakers on the whole an attractive package. Let me explain it like this. If any person has nothing against the usual way of Horner and likes a wash of everything, then perhaps Sneakers on half sale can become a pleasurable listen with something of everything. Because Sneakers seems to be such a score that mixes all the good moments of others soundtracks into one to make a fitting and enjoyable whole.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (2.54)

2. "Too Many Secrets" (6.13)

3. The Sneakers Theme (3.31)

4. Cosmo ... Old Friend (7.05)

5. The Hand - Off (3.03)

6. Planning The Sneak (3.17)

7. Playtronics Break - In (10.35)

8. The Escape / Whistler's Rescue (3.18) Excellent Track

9. Goodbye (3.20)

10. "... And The Blind Shall See" (4.28)

Total Length: 48.29

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