A Few Good Men

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

This soundtrack was scored the years that Marc Shaiman was trying to create a name for himself. Just fresh of Misery, just hooted on the fun of The Addams Family and City Slickers, there comes a courtroom drama with Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise and directed by the man that knows him best Rob Reiner. While A Few Good Men is up to your taste or not isn't an issue here because I believe it will suit what you expected of it from begin to end. Its just, will you have the feeling that it enthralled you or at least in normal words interested you, because for a 26 minute listen (with one song through that), it might be too little for some to spend some money on it in the first place. I think nothing, because I recorded it so don't have anything to say in the matter. Still, a little good nature fanfare of heroism and relief at the end can do miracles from making a normal listen to become a normal listen but a recorded one in the final phase. Shaiman fans at least might see it as optional.

For 24 minutes, the score takes its time to address any cliché that we have come to expect of the genre. As with military movies covering something of that nature, we have got the war related marches we all know once you hear them. So does the begin and the end offer its type of that same expected sound. More, you have the mood and intriguing mystery tones, brought to life by synthesizers and if the best in a very interesting piano theme for that. 'Code Red / Semper Fidelis' has the synth tones that sound just right at home in this score and 'Facts and Figures' which is a combination of piano and jazz, all in good working order. The rest is the moody courtroom music which any time sooths the film but isn't that interesting on CD. However, the relieving momentum (how short it may play) in 'Honor' is well worth a moment of your time. Its not because it is a highlight (hell no) but considering the somewhat moody approach, it darn feels that way to me. A Few Good Men ends as expected with the popular march 'Stars and Stripes Forever' and has one song in the middle 'Hound Dog' which is the original version and even contains people doing well, hound dog howling things (consider this a wolf doing OK).

I said it from the begin and I say it once more at the end, there is nothing remotely special about A Few Good Men of Marc Shaiman. Its just the typical score for a courtroom drama and it just covers all the stuff you would expect sooner or later. But I believe it is still made for a purpose, if you are either a fan of Marc Shaiman in all his styles or a fan of the movie. Because otherwise it might become too much money for too little score and perhaps will even irritate you because of the too little, too much factor. So, see only it as needed material to purchase if you really know what to expect or either know what you will like of sound. Its basically a background listen for you to hear while not paying attention to it. But its also the problem that, for what you hear is all fine, you don't get the satisfaction out of it, and especially if you pay a normal prize for it, this could disappoint you more and more. In that way, I believe A Few Good Men lacks something memorable. And if you keep returning to me to blame someone then I'm just gonna say this. "What! A Few Good Men not sounding as I might have represented in this review? I think I am entitled to say that! You want answers? It is just an average to solid listen for the genre it accompanies. I want the truth! You can't handle the truth! Ahhhhh, classic words!"

\ľľ1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Code Red / Semper Fidelis (2.09)

2. Kaffe (2.14)

3. Facts And Figures (1.53)

4. Guantanamo Bay (2.45)

5. Hound Dog: Willie Mae Thornton (2.48)

6. Plea Bargain (2.15)

7. Trial And Error (3.30)

8. Pep Talk (3.15)

9. Honor (3.47)

10. Stars and Stripes Forever (2.07)

Total Length: 26.43

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Marc Shaiman ===