The Legend of Bagger Vance

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

With the emotional grandeur she inspired us all last year. It seems to be that Rachel Portman starts the next year with the same strategy, and offers another melodic treat of a score. Still, there is something that keeps The Legend of Bagger Vance far from reaching that illustrious top where some have said it belongs. Perhaps it is the small misfortune that some tracks tend to offer just enjoyable music and nothing more, perhaps it is the unexpected and almost comedic marching music heard in 'Savannah Needs a Hero', 'Junuh Sees the Field' and 'Junuh Comes out of the Woods' that keeps them from becoming masterpieces of their own, and perhaps that the score simply isn't good enough to enter that select group of masterpieces. But other then that, it listens as a typical Portman score, offering enough moments to enjoy the music nonetheless. First the three pieces of music, old jazz band selections that do nothing except irritate the hell out of me. I can not appreciate this kind of music and it simply bores anyway you look at it. The score is much fuller of life and offers the melodic music we have come to expect with some inspiring minutes of wordless singing. This keeps the score far from becoming simply Portman as we heard it in The Cider House Rules.

The main theme however has similarities with that theme of The Cider House Rules and is equally attractive. Moments like 'Junuh Sees the Field' and 'Junuh Comes out of the Woods' offer excellent moments of beauty but they suddenly march further with some comedic twist and actually disrupt the overall flow of the music. Though they grow with each listen, I find them somewhat disturbing nonetheless. The score has also some hints to other scores, with 'Savannah Needs a Hero' we get the same violin / woodwind score out of Black Beauty and Elfman fans will also love the bouncy mood straight out of Beetlejuice. And last but not least the trumpet solos, they remind me each time of Poledouris' Kimberly. The year started promising for Portman, and Oscar considerations might be just around the corner. Emotionally it brings another heart in motion and musically there is nothing smoother then a Portman score of this caliber. The Legend of Bagger Vance is another treat and offers plenty of the old Portman bag to capture each imagination with interest. The score has its moments of pure beauty and hidden in each track, it offers something new each time you hear it. So Portman fans know where to look if they want another inspiring and melodic piece of heavenly music. It only proves what kind of score The Legend of Bagger Vance is, a typical and attractive soundtrack straight of the list, offered with the heart and soul of a respected composer, beginning to capture more hearts then she simply realizes.

Score: ****
Songs: *

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. My Best Wishes: Fats Waller (2.27)

2. The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2.11) Excellent Track

3. Savannah Needs A Hero (4.52)

4. Bagger Offers To Caddy For Junuh (4.07)

5. Bagger & Hardy Measure The Course At Night (2.32)

6. The Day Of The Match Dawns (3.07)

7. Birdie (1.46)

8. Junuh Sees The Field (5.11)

9. Hole In One (2.30) Excellent Track

10. Junuh Comes Out Of The Woods (3.55) Excellent Track

11. Bagger Leaves (3.12)

12. Old Hardy Joins Bagger By The Sea (5.50) Excellent Track

13. Bluin' The Blues: Muggsy Spanier (2.39)

14. Mood Indigo: Duke Ellington (3.05)

Total Length: 47.50

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=== Link to Composer Site: Rachel Portman ===