50 to 1
William Ross
" feel good drama, with thundering finale cue as exciting encore "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the download only release
50 to 1 might have been a one time deal, because the movie just wasn't as successful as the story behind it. The film tells the true tale of a thoroughbred racehorse that beat the odds at the 2009 Kentucky Derby, winning the owner 103.000 dollars which he won by making a 2 dollar wager (50 to 1 odds). It of course makes for perfect Hollywood feel good drama, resulting in the 2014 film 50 to 1 (starring Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane and William Devane). Considering such a beloved feel good story deserves a beloved feel good score, composer William Ross had strong enough odds to take that wager seriously.
And this results in the typical but enjoyable soundtrack experience 50 to 1. The music varies between the guitar (traditional as electric), fiddle and harmonica pieces, which supports the characters and the place they come from (New Mexico), such as "Ten Years Later", "Riding to the Ranch", "Meeting Bird" (first statement of the playful main theme), "Game Plan" or the playful "Arrival at Churchill Downs" (which carefully presents the Tin Cup fanfare that would make its mark at the "The Kentucky Derby" later on).
Naturally, the score's chock full of emotional moments too, positive hopeful rhythms, the stuff that champions are born from. "A Must-See Horse", the determined marches in "The Breeders' Cup" and "Borderland Derby", and the hopeful "The Night Before". Meaning examples aplenty. Sadly these cues do start promisingly, but due to the short length they can't deliver the final blow. Something of course "The Kentucky Derby" and "The Race & Epilogue" did have the time for.
In "The Kentucky Derby" the Tin Cup fanfare is fueling the anticipation with a steadfast rhythm, in "The Race & Epilogue" that determination is literally pushing Mine That Bird (the horse) and its rider to the unbelievable first place at the Derby. This track is of course the best track of the disc, another William Ross moment to unleash that exquisite drive that pushes the horse and the music to its unbelievable victory. Sadly this track was temp tracked all too clearly with Mark Isham's thundering heroic theme (and final race cue in general) of Racing Stripes. But no matter the temp track romance, I love how Ross combines the Isham based heroic theme together with his own Tin Cup fanfare the moment the horse crosses the finish line. Indeed the stuff champions are made off.
50 to 1 is the perfect example of William Ross' endearing orchestral voice. It has many moments that lighten up the room, infusing violin scherzo's, Mexican trumpets and emotional exhilarating finales that make an impression no matter the time or place. But things like that also require the time to make their mark, and 50 to 1 sadly lacks the time to develop those ideas, like for instance the amazing Touchback had 3 years ago. That and the fact the final race was influenced by Mark Isham's Racing Stripes album. William Ross has it in him to come up with wondrous exciting material all on his own, it's sad love for the temp material doesn't change that. All in all, a winner alright, but too damn short to continuously prove it.
Favorite Moment - The Race & Epilogue (3.02 - 3.51)
Temp track or not, it's the explosion we fans were waiting for
Track Listing
1. Ten Years Later (2.22)
2. Losing Streak (0.45)
3. Riding to the Ranch (0.54)
4. Meeting Bird (1.46)
5. A Must-See Horse (1.18)
6. The Breeders' Cup (2.06)
7. Game Plan (0.53)
8. Bird Plays (1.03)
9. Borderland Derby (2.05)
10. Welcome to Roswell (0.53)
11. Training Bird (2.39)
12. Arrival at Churchill Downs (2.53)
13. Calvin's Luck (1.04)
14. Side Entrance (1.18)
15. The Night Before (1.24)
16. The Kentucky Derby (3.25)
17. Prelude to the Race (1.20)
18. The Race & Epilogue (9.00) Excellent track
Total Length: 37.06
And this results in the typical but enjoyable soundtrack experience 50 to 1. The music varies between the guitar (traditional as electric), fiddle and harmonica pieces, which supports the characters and the place they come from (New Mexico), such as "Ten Years Later", "Riding to the Ranch", "Meeting Bird" (first statement of the playful main theme), "Game Plan" or the playful "Arrival at Churchill Downs" (which carefully presents the Tin Cup fanfare that would make its mark at the "The Kentucky Derby" later on).
Naturally, the score's chock full of emotional moments too, positive hopeful rhythms, the stuff that champions are born from. "A Must-See Horse", the determined marches in "The Breeders' Cup" and "Borderland Derby", and the hopeful "The Night Before". Meaning examples aplenty. Sadly these cues do start promisingly, but due to the short length they can't deliver the final blow. Something of course "The Kentucky Derby" and "The Race & Epilogue" did have the time for.
In "The Kentucky Derby" the Tin Cup fanfare is fueling the anticipation with a steadfast rhythm, in "The Race & Epilogue" that determination is literally pushing Mine That Bird (the horse) and its rider to the unbelievable first place at the Derby. This track is of course the best track of the disc, another William Ross moment to unleash that exquisite drive that pushes the horse and the music to its unbelievable victory. Sadly this track was temp tracked all too clearly with Mark Isham's thundering heroic theme (and final race cue in general) of Racing Stripes. But no matter the temp track romance, I love how Ross combines the Isham based heroic theme together with his own Tin Cup fanfare the moment the horse crosses the finish line. Indeed the stuff champions are made off.
50 to 1 is the perfect example of William Ross' endearing orchestral voice. It has many moments that lighten up the room, infusing violin scherzo's, Mexican trumpets and emotional exhilarating finales that make an impression no matter the time or place. But things like that also require the time to make their mark, and 50 to 1 sadly lacks the time to develop those ideas, like for instance the amazing Touchback had 3 years ago. That and the fact the final race was influenced by Mark Isham's Racing Stripes album. William Ross has it in him to come up with wondrous exciting material all on his own, it's sad love for the temp material doesn't change that. All in all, a winner alright, but too damn short to continuously prove it.
Favorite Moment - The Race & Epilogue (3.02 - 3.51)
Temp track or not, it's the explosion we fans were waiting for
Track Listing
1. Ten Years Later (2.22)
2. Losing Streak (0.45)
3. Riding to the Ranch (0.54)
4. Meeting Bird (1.46)
5. A Must-See Horse (1.18)
6. The Breeders' Cup (2.06)
7. Game Plan (0.53)
8. Bird Plays (1.03)
9. Borderland Derby (2.05)
10. Welcome to Roswell (0.53)
11. Training Bird (2.39)
12. Arrival at Churchill Downs (2.53)
13. Calvin's Luck (1.04)
14. Side Entrance (1.18)
15. The Night Before (1.24)
16. The Kentucky Derby (3.25)
17. Prelude to the Race (1.20)
18. The Race & Epilogue (9.00) Excellent track
Total Length: 37.06