Columbus Circle
Brian Tyler
" Nice change of pace, though again too long for its own good "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
The film Columbus Circle is one of those typical non action scores that Brian Tyler does every so often. The film goes about a heiress who has shut herself inside her Columbus Circle apartment for nearly two decades. A detective investigating the death of one of her neighbors and the duo who moves into the subsequently vacant apartment force her to face her fears of the outside world. Doesn't sound particularly exciting, and it's not a movie that many have seen by now. Still, room enough for Brian Tyler to deliver us something we don't hear enough from him. Namely something non action based.
Opening with "Main Title", the score gives us an indication that some things don't change. Namely Tyler's suspenseful build up and use of whirling strings (reminding us of similar openings like The Final Cut). However the solo piano moment at the end does depict that changes can be made to a known formula nonetheless. This piano returns a lot throughout the score and remains the binding element between Tyler's somber underscore and the more on edge elements. That on edge element is aided much better in "Columbus Circle", when violin and cello give it a much more classical edge that suits this composer's tone quite nicely (wonderfully reprised in the final track). The lighter tones of "Intricate Moves" and the restraint of "Agoraphobia" and "Abigail's Story" show a side that suits Tyler well. Even the wonderful solo violin in "Emerging" does deliver something unique. Sadly the atonal and rhythmic suspense of "Exit Strategy" and "Identity Theft" does not, and delivers Tyler in a nutshell (good for this score but bad for its original tone).
The end doesn't change the tone of this one at all, and everything culminates in the 11 minute suite "Puzzle Pieces" (which suddenly reminded me that I heard this main theme before, meaning it's strangely familiar of James Newton Howard's theme of Dante's Peak). In fact, it's quite easily to say you only need to hear this suite, considering it puts the best (track 2 above anything else) in one entertaining suite.
Columbus Circle is a nice change of pace, and more importantly tone. In a period where nothing but action stood out for Tyler fanatics, it will be a refreshing change of heart. However, Columbus Circle stays in the same moody circle for its entire duration, and one can wonder off too easily if you don't stay focused on the subject at hand. A violin extravaganza like in tracks 2 or 6 was able to do that in a flash, and surprising moments like that are too sparse for its entire duration. Honestly I could call this The Final Cut 2, because there's something about the constant somber and on edge tone that makes me think frequently of that score. Again nothing bad at all, and a nice change of heart for the Tyler admirer, but nothing overtly special too.
Favorite Moment - Emerging (0.38 - 1.10)
Violin ala The Village by Brian Tyler
Track Listing
1. Main Title (3.25)
2. Columbus Circle (3.13)
3. Discovery (2.47)
4. Intricate Moves (2.23)
5. Agoraphobia (2.08)
6. Emerging (2.49)
7. Abigail's Story (3.31)
8. Digger (2.34)
9. Exit Strategy (7.00)
10. Stratford (3.10)
11. Klanderman (2.23)
12. Dr. Fontaine (0.53)
13. Identity Theft (4.44)
14. Comforting (1.09)
15. Extortion (2.47)
16. The Detective (3.14)
17. Lillian and Abigail (3.03)
18. Puzzle Pieces (11.45) Excellent track
Total Length: 62.58
Opening with "Main Title", the score gives us an indication that some things don't change. Namely Tyler's suspenseful build up and use of whirling strings (reminding us of similar openings like The Final Cut). However the solo piano moment at the end does depict that changes can be made to a known formula nonetheless. This piano returns a lot throughout the score and remains the binding element between Tyler's somber underscore and the more on edge elements. That on edge element is aided much better in "Columbus Circle", when violin and cello give it a much more classical edge that suits this composer's tone quite nicely (wonderfully reprised in the final track). The lighter tones of "Intricate Moves" and the restraint of "Agoraphobia" and "Abigail's Story" show a side that suits Tyler well. Even the wonderful solo violin in "Emerging" does deliver something unique. Sadly the atonal and rhythmic suspense of "Exit Strategy" and "Identity Theft" does not, and delivers Tyler in a nutshell (good for this score but bad for its original tone).
The end doesn't change the tone of this one at all, and everything culminates in the 11 minute suite "Puzzle Pieces" (which suddenly reminded me that I heard this main theme before, meaning it's strangely familiar of James Newton Howard's theme of Dante's Peak). In fact, it's quite easily to say you only need to hear this suite, considering it puts the best (track 2 above anything else) in one entertaining suite.
Columbus Circle is a nice change of pace, and more importantly tone. In a period where nothing but action stood out for Tyler fanatics, it will be a refreshing change of heart. However, Columbus Circle stays in the same moody circle for its entire duration, and one can wonder off too easily if you don't stay focused on the subject at hand. A violin extravaganza like in tracks 2 or 6 was able to do that in a flash, and surprising moments like that are too sparse for its entire duration. Honestly I could call this The Final Cut 2, because there's something about the constant somber and on edge tone that makes me think frequently of that score. Again nothing bad at all, and a nice change of heart for the Tyler admirer, but nothing overtly special too.
Favorite Moment - Emerging (0.38 - 1.10)
Violin ala The Village by Brian Tyler
Track Listing
1. Main Title (3.25)
2. Columbus Circle (3.13)
3. Discovery (2.47)
4. Intricate Moves (2.23)
5. Agoraphobia (2.08)
6. Emerging (2.49)
7. Abigail's Story (3.31)
8. Digger (2.34)
9. Exit Strategy (7.00)
10. Stratford (3.10)
11. Klanderman (2.23)
12. Dr. Fontaine (0.53)
13. Identity Theft (4.44)
14. Comforting (1.09)
15. Extortion (2.47)
16. The Detective (3.14)
17. Lillian and Abigail (3.03)
18. Puzzle Pieces (11.45) Excellent track
Total Length: 62.58