Flyboys

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Gridiron Gang, The Guardian, Snakes on a Plane and Glory Road, all somewhat enjoyable movies that prove Trevor Rabin might be making it after all in Hollywood. Hell, that's what he did the last few years but still, sometimes you wonder how easily he gets himself bound to one project. One that raised a few eyebrows was National Treasure, one other was Flyboys, Tony Bill's decent war movie high in the air. At least visually the movie promises and delivers high standards, for us it was a question how the music would stand the test of time. Trevor Rabin is not a bad composer at all but I think many fans would have loved to see this fall in the hands of a John Debney, Alan Silvestri, James Newton Howard or a James Horner in the end. But for Rabin enthusiasts this was a promising hook to grab onto and in that end I guess Trevor Rabin might have surprised just a few persons of the non Rabin group, again. That there is still a Rabin influence and sound to be detected is obvious but sometimes I hear or I swear to hear something daringly new from him that brings me to the conclusion, the man is actually growing in maturity as a composer. Listen for instance to 'Training Montage' where he inserts an intriguing like piano movement over a blossoming main theme version, or the way he lets his choir be heard ominously epic in 'Dogfight' and 'Black Falcon'. However for me the biggest stunner in finding the new tricks is indeed 'Dogfight', as said the choir is heard in epic standards over whirling strings, but more the brass suddenly loses thematic standards over a more difficult rising action suspense, meaning its like actual ambition suddenly rises from the score. That the same track suddenly loses appeal from its moody mid piece is actually sad because it loses to focus its attention upon the wonderful begin. The score opens with 'Main Title' and it a relaxing flute and piano that brings the soft version of the patriotic theme forward, to be put inside a Patriot like Williams maneuver in 'Training Montage', being cleverly funny in toying alongside the Williams influence of that score and putting it alongside the main theme heard for the first time large on screen. 'Cassidy Funeral' is then the soft whisperer of the group and also here Rabin makes some new things happen.

With 'We're out of Gas' a brief but typical Rabin suspense is brought forward, only to be enlightened through 'The Last Battle' containing a wonderful rise from the patriotic flute theme to a stunning main theme with full choir bringing life and heroism to the battle. But its 'Rawlings and Luciane Fly' that will put everyone in seventh heaven with a Horner like flair attached to the main theme and choir, more piano and string work paint an epic stamp to its name. Perhaps here most people will think of the Horner influence but if you listen carefully the main theme is an alternate version of the Alcatraz base theme of Deep Blue Sea, so nuff said. The softer 'Rawlings and Luciane' glides the main theme through versions on the strings and flute. With 'The Planes Arrive' we receive the main theme in a variation on heroic steroids and its lighter after that in 'The Cuffs are Off'. With 'Heroes' Rabin returns to the normal Flyboys world in style, hearing first the patriotic theme before the ominous trailer music is heard, but when the gloves are off the brass blazes the main theme in pure heroism forward, the action music suddenly sounds freshly exiting and the main theme receives its final version worthy of praise. And actually 'Battle Hymn' should have ended the score with its ethereal soothing piece. Not that 'Black Falcon' covers unworthy material but its misplaced in the order the CD presents its music, the track itself brings as said the choir forward along with a brief Armageddon feeling and enough thrills. But its the somber 'Briefing Room' that does nothing good for the end of the score. All in all, you were witnessing again a Rabin score with a couple of surprising twists and ideas, the piano and whirling strings surrounding the main theme and the choir is used somewhat differently from time to time. Yet I have the feeling that Flyboys could have been a big hit when a couple of things would have changed the experience, especially the order of the score on CD. Flyboys however sounds still great on compact disc, especially the flying sequences whether in combat on under the glazing sun are spectacular. Its here where Rabin doesn't disappoint one bit. And its that why Flyboys is worth the prize of discovery, even for those Debney, Silvestri, Newton Howard or Horner fans alike.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (5.27)

2. Training Montage (3.41)

3. Cassidy Funeral (6.15)

4. We're Out Of Gas (0.25)

5. The Last Battle (3.10) Excellent Track

6. Dogfight (5.36)

7. Rawlings And Luciane Fly (2.32) Excellent Track

8. Rawlings And Luciane (3.32)

9. The Planes Arrive (1.53)

10. ID The Planes (0.49)

11. The Cuffs Are Off (0.46)

12. Have To Get Luciane (1.17)

13. Heroes (4.32) Excellent Track

14. Battle Hymn (1.47)

15. Black Falcon (4.12) Excellent Track

16. Briefing Room (2.11)

Total Length: 48.19

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Trevor Rabin ===