Johnny English
Edward Shearmur
" How do you like your Martini's English? Shearmur, not stirred! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Johnny English was a box office hit around the world, but a mediocre spoof of James Bond nonetheless. In this movie Johnny English is the only spy left to safe England (and the crown) from an evil mastermind. Needless to say funny and unfunny situations make the movie a boring experience (at least in my book). The only thing that kept me awake (apart from Natalie Imbruglia) was composer Edward Shearmur's classy score. Shearmur, a composer I sorely miss today is one of those old fashioned masterminds that likes to write old fashioned scores. Only for this one, Shearmur created the unmistakable spy score that is made to sound like Bond, but tastes like English.
Considering Johnny English's a spoof of Bond, it was quite clear it would go to the ends of the earths to make it sound just like that. And that includes score and song. The song is a creation between Robbie Williams and yes Hans Zimmer. Why on earth Hans Zimmer is part of this production is beyond me, but "A Man of all Seasons" is quite essentially fifty times better than most of the recent songs I've heard coming from the actual Bond movies. And honestly, I could say the same of the score that follows after it.
The theme of Johnny English opens the score section really well with "Theme from Johnny English". It's especially strong when its pushed forward through the blazing horns and the catchy guitar, making it instantly likeable. Whilst listening to it, I could always hear a taste of John Barry in it. Because for me this stands for the music James Bond grew up with, making the score on that part already a winner. Of course the theme is around throughout the entire album, making its appearances in almost any track.
Another part that quite essentially spells out spy music is the laid back jazzy material that underscores Johnny English throughout his encounters with the gorgeous women of the movie. It's spotted during the second part of "Russian Affairs", during "A Man of Sophistication" and even during "Off the Case", putting a spell on the main theme.
Now if you're looking for anything exciting, I must disappoint you that Johnny English has very little action material. But what's present is damn impressive. "Truck Chase", the 4 minute crowd pleaser is a constant continuation of English's main theme thrown in a rhythmic brass festivity. The fact the trumpet goes occasionally wild is a good sign Shearmur wants to keep it over the top and above all fun. That crazy trumpet also makes its appearance during "Parachute Drop" when it brings forward another sassy main theme performance, while "Into Pascal's Lair" dares to break some rhythmic ground.
An evil theme is born in "Pascal's Evil Plan", but lacks that overpowering quality I've been hearing all along throughout the score. Because right here Shearmur keeps it light and slightly mysterious. Luckily Shearmur keeps some things a certainty, and "For England" dares to over exercise its own intentions with a stirring main theme version that quite honestly spells out Giacchino from his Medal of Honor period. And no matter how short it is, that always means something. The final track lasting a whopping 15 minutes is nothing but a bad producer joke, considering it has roughly 9 minutes of silence between a main theme version (with electric guitar) and a recapitulation of the jazzy background score of track 12.
And for me it's all this that hurts Johnny English the most. While the songs are entertaining enough in their own right, they take up more time than you might expect, placing Edward Shearmur's music somewhat on the background from time to time. What Edward Shearmur does with his time and material is nothing short of deliciously entertaining (despite reprising a bit too often its catchy main theme), but 9 minutes of silence and 20 minutes of songs show us just half of Shearmur's written score. But again, a winning main theme and a couple of excellent spy influenced cues do make me miss Edward Shearmur all the more, especially considering a remake is on the way, and he's not part of it.
Tracklisting
1. A Man off all Seasons: Robbie Williams (3.59)
2. Theme from Johnny English (2.25) Excellent track
3. Russian Affairs (1.27)
4. A Man of Sophistication (1.35)
5. Kismet: Bond (5.14)
6. Truck Chase (4.52) Excellent track
7. The Only Ones: Moloko (4.12)
8. Parachute Drop (2.47)
9. Pascal's Evil Plan (2.33)
10. Theme from Johnny English "Salsa Version": Bond (3.21)
11. Off the Case (2.00)
12. Café Conversation (2.12)
13. Into Pascal's Lair (1.43)
14. Does Your Mother Know: ABBA (3.14)
15. For England (2.22) Excellent track
16. Riviera Hideaway (1.17)
17. Agent No. 1 (15.13)
Total Length: 60.40
Considering Johnny English's a spoof of Bond, it was quite clear it would go to the ends of the earths to make it sound just like that. And that includes score and song. The song is a creation between Robbie Williams and yes Hans Zimmer. Why on earth Hans Zimmer is part of this production is beyond me, but "A Man of all Seasons" is quite essentially fifty times better than most of the recent songs I've heard coming from the actual Bond movies. And honestly, I could say the same of the score that follows after it.
The theme of Johnny English opens the score section really well with "Theme from Johnny English". It's especially strong when its pushed forward through the blazing horns and the catchy guitar, making it instantly likeable. Whilst listening to it, I could always hear a taste of John Barry in it. Because for me this stands for the music James Bond grew up with, making the score on that part already a winner. Of course the theme is around throughout the entire album, making its appearances in almost any track.
Another part that quite essentially spells out spy music is the laid back jazzy material that underscores Johnny English throughout his encounters with the gorgeous women of the movie. It's spotted during the second part of "Russian Affairs", during "A Man of Sophistication" and even during "Off the Case", putting a spell on the main theme.
Now if you're looking for anything exciting, I must disappoint you that Johnny English has very little action material. But what's present is damn impressive. "Truck Chase", the 4 minute crowd pleaser is a constant continuation of English's main theme thrown in a rhythmic brass festivity. The fact the trumpet goes occasionally wild is a good sign Shearmur wants to keep it over the top and above all fun. That crazy trumpet also makes its appearance during "Parachute Drop" when it brings forward another sassy main theme performance, while "Into Pascal's Lair" dares to break some rhythmic ground.
An evil theme is born in "Pascal's Evil Plan", but lacks that overpowering quality I've been hearing all along throughout the score. Because right here Shearmur keeps it light and slightly mysterious. Luckily Shearmur keeps some things a certainty, and "For England" dares to over exercise its own intentions with a stirring main theme version that quite honestly spells out Giacchino from his Medal of Honor period. And no matter how short it is, that always means something. The final track lasting a whopping 15 minutes is nothing but a bad producer joke, considering it has roughly 9 minutes of silence between a main theme version (with electric guitar) and a recapitulation of the jazzy background score of track 12.
And for me it's all this that hurts Johnny English the most. While the songs are entertaining enough in their own right, they take up more time than you might expect, placing Edward Shearmur's music somewhat on the background from time to time. What Edward Shearmur does with his time and material is nothing short of deliciously entertaining (despite reprising a bit too often its catchy main theme), but 9 minutes of silence and 20 minutes of songs show us just half of Shearmur's written score. But again, a winning main theme and a couple of excellent spy influenced cues do make me miss Edward Shearmur all the more, especially considering a remake is on the way, and he's not part of it.
Tracklisting
1. A Man off all Seasons: Robbie Williams (3.59)
2. Theme from Johnny English (2.25) Excellent track
3. Russian Affairs (1.27)
4. A Man of Sophistication (1.35)
5. Kismet: Bond (5.14)
6. Truck Chase (4.52) Excellent track
7. The Only Ones: Moloko (4.12)
8. Parachute Drop (2.47)
9. Pascal's Evil Plan (2.33)
10. Theme from Johnny English "Salsa Version": Bond (3.21)
11. Off the Case (2.00)
12. Café Conversation (2.12)
13. Into Pascal's Lair (1.43)
14. Does Your Mother Know: ABBA (3.14)
15. For England (2.22) Excellent track
16. Riviera Hideaway (1.17)
17. Agent No. 1 (15.13)
Total Length: 60.40