The Sum of all Fears

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

We are nearing the day that we will read "Jerry Goldsmith retiring from the movie music world". Until that inevitable day, we have to get a kick out of the projects he scores still these days and one of the recent to grace the Jack Ryan stage is Phil Alden Robinson's The Sum of all Fears. Well, I actually had a pretty good feeling about the trailer, promising something of attitude and suspension. Of the music of Goldsmith, I expected something of that same fate, covering the Goldsmith sound of the recent years and frankly, The Sum of all Fears has that standard Goldsmith sound. Yet, with any Goldsmith score there should equally be a moment that graces the screen in its original and sole captivating form, even for just seconds through on album. The Last Castle had those seconds in a beautiful string piece, for The Sum of all Fears, it is a beautiful choral hymn that actually reminds me easily of a mix between The 13th Warrior's choral sound and the hymn like feel of Zimmer's Russian The Peacemaker. Perhaps it doesn't make the score better in its quotation at the end but it definitely feels right at home between all the standard Goldsmith sounds that surround it, even if it amuses as a casual listen.

The score also was noticed because of its song based main theme version, like Goldsmith composed a few in his career (First Blood or the Rambo theme to name one instantly coming to mind). The main theme is based around the Russian hymn or vice versa but it equally makes the score better in the whole. Opening and ending the score album, 'If we Could Remember' is actually quite good. Having a good voice and a nice sound, it is an easy to enjoy piece. Yet without hesitation the highlight of the disc is 'The Mission', it is an impressive piece combining both an Opera vocal with a Russian choral sound, giving you both the main theme or song based thematic material. It doesn't give a climax yet the immense beauty it sometimes reaches through the choir is brilliant. And what flies after this sole musical highlight is nothing of that strength. Basically this is standard Jerry Goldsmith suspense music, nothing that demands a tone faster then usually during Executive Decision or The Last Castle but still containing that exact tone while a more Thirteenth Warrior like flavor is mixed through the guitar and occasional choir, like in 'The Bomb' or in 'That Went Well' which in the end equally leans close to The Peacemaker. Basically from the middle, anything sounds somewhat the same and while the occasional average song (track 6) or classical piece (track 11) show the difference, only the end can entertain me with more flair.

The track 'Real Time' bounces more with better action suspense music, covering melody and a growing color in a most pleasing piece of music. The same counts for 'How Close?' even if this only counts for several moments, like in begin or at the end with a soft main theme performance. This main theme is heard both in 'The Same Air' as in the reprise of the song 'If we Could Remember'. The Sum of all Fears is in the end not the score I expected since it actually got some rather good reviews. Or it least feels that way. Perhaps newcomers can entertain themselves but fanatics who already own a dozen of Goldsmith in this vein will quickly spot the standard tone of Goldsmith at the helm of his orchestra. This makes me wonder why The Sum of all Fears received that positive remark while The Last Castle didn't, yet still covering the same standard tone in an overall sense. I know why, because the latter didn't have a choral hymn or a song which revolved around the main theme. Again, for Goldsmith standards it is a normal score with some good to wonderful moments and for most composers it is a very pleasing and succeeded work. Yet, I still expected something more. It covers a nice main theme and it can entertain me both in its song based version as the hymn. Perhaps making clear that it is the biggest asset of an album that brings otherwise nothing new under the sun, or is that sum?

Score: ***
Songs: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. If We Could Remember: Yolanda Adams * (3.30)

2. The Mission ** (5.57) Excellent Track

3. The Bomb (2.56)

4. That Went Well (2.45)

5. Clear The Stadium (1.33)

6. If We Get Through This: Tabitha Fair (3.36)

7. The Deal (2.35)

8. Changes (2.27)

9. Snap Count (2.12)

10. His Name Is Olson (1.51)

11. Nessun Dorma *** (2.58)

12. Deserted Lab (1.52)

13. Real Time (2.51)

14. How Close? (6.06)

15. The Same Air (2.00)

16. If We Could Remember (Reprise): Yolanda Adams * (3.34)

* Written by Jerry Goldsmith & Paul Williams

** Includes "If We Could Remember", performed by Shana Blake Hill

*** Written by Giacomo Puccini, Guiseppe Adami & Renato Simoni, performed by Bruce Sledge

Total Length: 49.39

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

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