Face/Off

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

As you look now to the career of John Powell, there is an increasing level of quality discovered. Going so high that you even forgot he once begun, just like any other Media Ventures composer with action movies and the scores that rumble with it. Of course, some people call this the synthetic noise and electronic dribble of tones, not melodies. But if its got a rhythm, a cool theme or just a cohesive whole then I'm all for it. Face Off consists of 80% cohesion and 20% of the rest that people despise. So somewhere between those that hate and love it lies my personal interest. It is clear that John Powell also has the touch of mixing an orchestra with synths and electronics, and it gets several momentous ratings in the soundtrack. Of course for a Woo movie as high calibered as this, you need to make the action music count and Powell doesn't disappoint. It thrusts inside as outside. Of course I'm but human and there are certain things I don't really approve, like the moments in tracks '80 Proof Rock' and 'The Golden Section Derma Lift' but its not all like that. 'Furniture' which truly rocks of sound and an additional composer's voice speaks in 'Hans' Loft', coming of Gavin Greenaway. This is one of the best action moments on the score. John Powell's main theme is so sharply written that with minor changes it can work as a full out action theme and as a beautiful love theme, fully witnessed in the begin and end track. Especially 'Ready for the Big Ride, Bubba' is a nice highlight.

Also one score moment to mention is 'This Ridiculous Chin', as some people might not know, this movie enhances the double personality literally with faces that are taken off and placed on someone's else body. Of course this makes the contest of best actor during this movie even better but also makes the story more interesting. Powell scores this scene by the way brilliantly with an exceptional piece of music, almost portraying it with a certain kind of tension, reaching Hollow Man standards of mystery and unbelief. And just to mention, because there is a lot of mixing between score parts from begin and end it is impossible to give the correct order of the tracks. John Powell as of today isn't anymore in action movies. Now his own voice has spiced up classics like Antz, Chicken Run, Evolution and Shrek. Especially people begin to realize that Media Ventures composers don't simply score action and that's it. Powell proved with Face Off he has a talent for writing this kind of movie music, but his voice has expanded and grown. Still, Face Off needs to pack the pace, rhythm, blast, power and sound that needs to accompany an action film such as this. Flying pigeons and super slow motion stunts take the pace even higher while the one explosion after the other is surrounded by Powell's powerful score. Yet Face Off offers more and through the begin and end people will realize why this man is capable of so much more. Action fanatics will no doubt smell the speed of a Woo film reaching the highest limits. Powell does the same with the score.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Face On ** (4.57)

2. 80 Proof Rock (4.29)

3. Furniture (7.12)

4. The Golden Section Derma Lift (3.13)

5. This Ridiculous Chin (6.49)

6. No More Drugs For That Man * (7.27)

7. Han's Loft * (3.35)

8. Ready For The Big Ride, Bubba (3.54) Excellent Track

* Contains additional Music by Gavin Greenaway

** Contains "Since by Man Came Death" from Messiah by George Frideric Handel

Total Length: 41.46

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

=== Link to Composer Site: John Powell ===