Clear and Present Danger
James Horner
" Clearly James and Effective Hornerisms "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
In a time when trailers left a definitive impression behind (look this one up on youtube), there were movies that thrilled audiences through the perfect combination of star power, action and politics. And it were those thrillers that gave us the most memorable Jack Ryan of the Tom Clancy books. Harrison Ford stars as Jack Ryan, an appointed Acting Deputy Director who's kept out of the loop when members hold a covert war against the Columbian drug cartels. The movie was highly enjoyable because of Harrison Ford's charisma, the movie's electrifying action scenes and the fitting James Horner score.
The score was composed during one of Horner's best periods (the same year as Legends of the Fall and one year before Braveheart and Apollo 13 (a score that often returns in this one)). And revisiting Clear and Present Danger after all this time shows us one thing very clearly. No matter if this one is but a small name in the long line of Horner classics, the listen is a memorable one. This because of the sophistication Horner puts in this one (like in most of his scores). The way he uses the shakuhachi to present the constant threat of the drug cartels, the way rumbling piano makes an atonal piece all the more effective, the way he uses synthesized suspense to underscore the more sophisticated American attacks.
This is probably Horner's biggest surprise, the use of moody synthesized suspense. Plus the way it reflects the American advanced weaponry vs the standard shakuhachi guns of the drug cartels ("The Laser - Guided Missile", "Escobedo's New Friend"). Another key element is the heroic sound for Jack Ryan, the man who is anything but a soldier. The biggest version of this theme is near the end of the amazing "The Ambush" cue, when it literally rises out of the chaos, igniting Ryan's desperate rescue attempt all the more on screen. This theme returns in "Greer's Funeral / Betrayal", buried under layers of emotional strings, trying to show us that his fight, his flame for justice did not die with the passing of a friend. Plus the send off in "Truth Needs a Soldier / End Title", which is classic James Horner material. The bells, the fanfare, it's all expected territory. Just the dying sounds of a shakuhachi instead of the familiar strings is a pleasant inside joke of Horner.
As said, Apollo 13 appears the most throughout this score (look out for the almost complete re-entry music of "Re-Entry & Splashdown" in "Main Title / Clear and Present Danger"), but Aliens is clearly on board as well, with the complete use of the desolate space music of the beginning of Aliens in "Looking for Clues", to name but an example. Meaning, there's no Horner score without the Horner re-use moments. But it doesn't bother me that much here, especially because of Horner's ability to make them effective and meaningful. And besides, we have heard all this in every other Horner score to begin with. So, Clear and Present Danger might not become a Horner classic through these elements, but it still remains an enjoyable listen after all this time, mostly due to the 2 most electrifying minutes of the disc in "Operation Reciprocity". What a track!
Favorite Moment - The Ambush (7.24 - 7.35)
The Apollo 13 fanfare that sent shivers down my spine the moment I heard it appear on screen
Track Listing
1. Main Title / A Clear and Present Danger (5.24)
2. Operation Reciprocity (3.22) Excellent track
3. The Ambush (9.48) Excellent track
4. The Laser - Guided Missile (3.49)
5. Looking for Clues (3.30)
6. Deleting the Evidence (4.38)
7. Greer's Funeral / Betrayal (6.21)
8. Escobedo's New Friend (5.26)
9. Second Hand Copter (2.13)
10. Truth Needs a Soldier / End Title (5.48) Excellent track
Total Length: 50.39
The score was composed during one of Horner's best periods (the same year as Legends of the Fall and one year before Braveheart and Apollo 13 (a score that often returns in this one)). And revisiting Clear and Present Danger after all this time shows us one thing very clearly. No matter if this one is but a small name in the long line of Horner classics, the listen is a memorable one. This because of the sophistication Horner puts in this one (like in most of his scores). The way he uses the shakuhachi to present the constant threat of the drug cartels, the way rumbling piano makes an atonal piece all the more effective, the way he uses synthesized suspense to underscore the more sophisticated American attacks.
This is probably Horner's biggest surprise, the use of moody synthesized suspense. Plus the way it reflects the American advanced weaponry vs the standard shakuhachi guns of the drug cartels ("The Laser - Guided Missile", "Escobedo's New Friend"). Another key element is the heroic sound for Jack Ryan, the man who is anything but a soldier. The biggest version of this theme is near the end of the amazing "The Ambush" cue, when it literally rises out of the chaos, igniting Ryan's desperate rescue attempt all the more on screen. This theme returns in "Greer's Funeral / Betrayal", buried under layers of emotional strings, trying to show us that his fight, his flame for justice did not die with the passing of a friend. Plus the send off in "Truth Needs a Soldier / End Title", which is classic James Horner material. The bells, the fanfare, it's all expected territory. Just the dying sounds of a shakuhachi instead of the familiar strings is a pleasant inside joke of Horner.
As said, Apollo 13 appears the most throughout this score (look out for the almost complete re-entry music of "Re-Entry & Splashdown" in "Main Title / Clear and Present Danger"), but Aliens is clearly on board as well, with the complete use of the desolate space music of the beginning of Aliens in "Looking for Clues", to name but an example. Meaning, there's no Horner score without the Horner re-use moments. But it doesn't bother me that much here, especially because of Horner's ability to make them effective and meaningful. And besides, we have heard all this in every other Horner score to begin with. So, Clear and Present Danger might not become a Horner classic through these elements, but it still remains an enjoyable listen after all this time, mostly due to the 2 most electrifying minutes of the disc in "Operation Reciprocity". What a track!
Favorite Moment - The Ambush (7.24 - 7.35)
The Apollo 13 fanfare that sent shivers down my spine the moment I heard it appear on screen
Track Listing
1. Main Title / A Clear and Present Danger (5.24)
2. Operation Reciprocity (3.22) Excellent track
3. The Ambush (9.48) Excellent track
4. The Laser - Guided Missile (3.49)
5. Looking for Clues (3.30)
6. Deleting the Evidence (4.38)
7. Greer's Funeral / Betrayal (6.21)
8. Escobedo's New Friend (5.26)
9. Second Hand Copter (2.13)
10. Truth Needs a Soldier / End Title (5.48) Excellent track
Total Length: 50.39