Seabiscuit

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When Garry Ross made that enchanting fantasy tale of Pleasantville, the world cheered to find such an enticing original tale, and Randy Newman came onboard to score one of his most beautiful scores. When Garry Ross created Seabiscuit, the world cheered to find such an emotional, beautiful and wonderful movie where everybody laughed and cried at the same time. So, Randy Newman came aboard once more and yet this score can't bring what I had hoped of it. Basically, there were struggles between the composer and director and whatever the case, things altered for the best or worse and what you get in the movie isn't always presented on disc, meaning perhaps what you heard in the film will not always enchant itself for you to hear. So, Seabiscuit as a score is lovely but doesn't always enthrall like it should have done, because basically it doesn't explode the way I remembered it in the film, or perhaps because director and composer here saw different things eventually. Nonetheless, its a lovely score all the same, with 'Main Title' opening soft ala A Bug's Life, later shifting for some soft guitar. Some light tones of Pleasantville are heard in 'Idea' and in 'Frankie', especially in the later it almost sounds like Rachel Portman at times. The main theme is first heard in 'The Crash' on flute while that same main theme is heard when Randy performs it lovely on piano in 'Seabiscuit'. Its a lovely theme, never exploding to grandness but it doesn't have to be, because already a more beefed up version for instance over the last track is what makes the theme memorable, not super grand but grand enough to remember it in the end. Some kind of sparks are heard in 'Call me Red', which moves to some jigged up Texan guitar and violin, its fun and fast and adds that little punch to the music for once.

Whatever for, we also have some typical Mexican music, with vocals too in 'La Tequilera', followed by some further Mexican flair in 'Marcela / Agua Caliente', where guitar adds the pepper on that. Solo guitar adds some light emotion in 'Campfire' but really the first exciting music (apart from that track 5) happens in 'Red's First Win' when after a minute and 48 seconds, it starts to give some expected Americana, with drums and heroic fanfares. But this never adds that little spark of what it needs to really make it memorable. A nice wonderful heroic version of the main theme is heard in 'Tanforan' but more laid back jazz brings it back to reality. Some suspension in 'Infield Folks' is followed by true jiggy Irish fun. Giving this score some nice versatility to be sure. It is however 'The Derby' that gives the listeners finally some sense of racing, I mean at the highest stake. With some tension moving to fanfares and parts of the main theme, it is giving some oomph to the race for once. Solo guitar nicely in 'The Wedding', followed by some suspension building for the tragic 'Night Ride / Accident'. Sadly neither 'To the Line', 'The Unkindest Cut' or 'Ready?' really ever explode, they all build a bit on light suspense, but for what its worth, 'A Nice Ride' gives at least the main theme again some meaning with a nice version to wrap things up. I really enjoyed the film and I remembered there were moments of Newman's score that were far better then what we receive here. Of course, you can't place anything but louder music in a CD but here its unfairly placed I presume. Its lovely, its at times exciting and it brings diversity, but Seabiscuit is not giving the Horse any action to really make him finish first. In English, it doesn't make him a winner.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (2.05)

2. Idea (2.08)

3. The Crash (3.06)

4. Seabiscuit (0.59)

5. Call Me Red (2.54)

6. Frankie (1.22)

7. La Tequilera (1.14)

8. Marcela / Agua Caliente (2.23)

9. Campfire (1.17)

10. Red's First Win (3.35)

11. Tanforan (1.43)

12. Infield Folks (1.38)

13. Pumpkin (1.36)

14. The Derby (3.14) Excellent Track

15. Wedding (2.06)

16. Night Ride / Accident (1.40)

17. To The Line (3.37)

18. The Unkindest Cut (3.30)

19. Ready? (3.01)

20. A Nice Ride (3.16)

Total Length: 46.34

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=== Link to Composer Site: Randy Newman ===