Hollow Man

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Horror and thrill. Take away the sensuality that spiced Basic Instinct and the mystery that surrounded The Haunting and you get Paul Verhoeven's latest movie, or equally important Jerry Goldsmith's newest movie score Hollow Man. Interesting to note because the score uses both methods of the previous soundtracks quite well, it however loses the feel of interest when horror becomes the primary focus of the movie and Goldsmith has to support that with the crash or the bang or the chill. It's nothing innovating and especially something I appreciate lesser then usual. The score hardly becomes the newest sale in attraction and only one thing will persuade you to grasp for it when you spot it in the local shop, Jerry Goldsmith. Not many composers can equal the performance of what Jerry brings here, but they might do it on a different way and perhaps is that the main negative aspect of the score. I hear nothing that makes the soundtrack special on its own.

With this score its all about a question of taste and interest. Horror scores have never been my taste of listening pleasure and the interest of this score fades away after several tracks. Goldsmith does use several ingredients of Basic Instinct's main theme, and this do represent the so called friendship towards the main characters, and The Haunting effect succeeds in bringing the mystery to life. All well and lovely but besides the rather positive begin minutes I hear nothing that persuades or surprises me. It becomes the interesting fit for the movie and in a way that is the only thing that horror scores have to do. You just expect something more of a man like Goldsmith and this time he simply doesn't deliver it. As said the main minutes that support the mystery and friendship are appropriate and the middle part of 'Bloody Floor' helps a great deal with the better end material of the score.

So, at the end you get the medium listen and the full scare for the movie. Movie music of this horror caliber will always become listed with the weaker side towards the interest and melodic approach, but you always search for the exceptions and Goldsmith's isn't the one. Hollow Man is the only score release of Goldsmith this year and that makes the disappointment only bigger, a craftsman like him deserves more and better and I feel that this movie project will never become the better bet. The fans will buy it, the horror enthusiasts will enjoy it probably and others will check out better soon there after. The taste decides the main pleasure of the score and the rest is up towards the composer itself. And even Goldsmith can not deliver it always and anytime. Next time a bit better because all what Hollow Man remains after the end is a rather thin memory, that looks rather transparent after the second or third listen.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Hollow Man (2.56)

2. Isabelle Comes Back (6.01)

3. Linda & Sebastian (2.55)

4. This Is Science (6.17)

5. Not Right (2.39)

6. What Went Wrong? (1.41)

7. Broken Window (2.57)

8. False Image (1.56)

9. Hi Boss (2.47)

10. Find Him (4.37)

11. Bloody Floor (9.59)

12. The Elevator (2.57)

13. The Big Climb (3.06)

Total Length: 51.31

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=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===