Miracle
Mark Isham
" No miracle, but it works to please me "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Mostly scoring dramas and snazzy thrillers, it is important to remember that Mark Isham is also capable of writing music for films he hasn't done much. Covering the victory match of a bunch of nobodies over an unbeatable Russian opponent is the next feel good sports drama about whatever it takes, you will be the best. It's always good to see sports movies because the good guys usually win. And the heart, the friendship, the courage, the fight for the throne is always appreciated by movie fans.
But to get back at the score, Miracle is not Hoosiers, it's not Rudy, it's not D3: The Mighty Ducks, it's not A League of Their Own or it's not Tin Cup. It's less patriotic, less stirring and more sincere. At first, this score came over as quite boring. But listen after listen made Miracle something else. I stick with my initial first rating, but Miracle surely shows that Isham knows a thing about sports scoring as well.
Besides the 3 songs of the era thrown in at the end of the score (which feel perfectly chosen for the time and place), Isham's score runs for about 45 minutes. Divided into 4 tracks, "The Team" shows a sombre theme appearing on trumpet. Apart from the promising end, the opening track doesn't promise much.
The 17 minute "Training" is not that strong at first as well. There's a promising opening with cello, piano and snare drum but the darkened, burdened mood doesn't do much. However, the reason why I purchased the first score of Isham was because I wanted a grand ending. Sport movies always have grand endings and even if it's not what I truly wanted, the 15 minute "The Miracle" is a strong track. Containing no sore spot, Isham continuously builds with The Matrix techniques (5.43) to a heroic final blast, that moment is reached on 11.37.
Miracle is not capturing the uplifting spirit of Hoosiers, nor the beauty of Rudy. It is Mark Isham that paints the doomed tale quite noble yet also quite moody. Because they were destined to fail. That things pick up a different sound is because it seems anything is possible once they realize it is in fact possible. Apart from the strong final track, Miracle does require a bit of patience. While it could have been more, I nonetheless have the feeling it is the perfect score for the movie. And that's always the most important thing to remember.
Tracklisting
1. The Team (7.16)
2. Training (17.28)
3. The Games (4.42)
4. The Miracle (15.33) Excellent track
5. (Don't Fear) The Reaper: Blue Öyster Cult (5.09)
6. Must of Got Lost: J. Geils Band (2.58)
7. Thunder Island: Jay Ferguson (3.31)
Total Length: 56.43
But to get back at the score, Miracle is not Hoosiers, it's not Rudy, it's not D3: The Mighty Ducks, it's not A League of Their Own or it's not Tin Cup. It's less patriotic, less stirring and more sincere. At first, this score came over as quite boring. But listen after listen made Miracle something else. I stick with my initial first rating, but Miracle surely shows that Isham knows a thing about sports scoring as well.
Besides the 3 songs of the era thrown in at the end of the score (which feel perfectly chosen for the time and place), Isham's score runs for about 45 minutes. Divided into 4 tracks, "The Team" shows a sombre theme appearing on trumpet. Apart from the promising end, the opening track doesn't promise much.
The 17 minute "Training" is not that strong at first as well. There's a promising opening with cello, piano and snare drum but the darkened, burdened mood doesn't do much. However, the reason why I purchased the first score of Isham was because I wanted a grand ending. Sport movies always have grand endings and even if it's not what I truly wanted, the 15 minute "The Miracle" is a strong track. Containing no sore spot, Isham continuously builds with The Matrix techniques (5.43) to a heroic final blast, that moment is reached on 11.37.
Miracle is not capturing the uplifting spirit of Hoosiers, nor the beauty of Rudy. It is Mark Isham that paints the doomed tale quite noble yet also quite moody. Because they were destined to fail. That things pick up a different sound is because it seems anything is possible once they realize it is in fact possible. Apart from the strong final track, Miracle does require a bit of patience. While it could have been more, I nonetheless have the feeling it is the perfect score for the movie. And that's always the most important thing to remember.
Tracklisting
1. The Team (7.16)
2. Training (17.28)
3. The Games (4.42)
4. The Miracle (15.33) Excellent track
5. (Don't Fear) The Reaper: Blue Öyster Cult (5.09)
6. Must of Got Lost: J. Geils Band (2.58)
7. Thunder Island: Jay Ferguson (3.31)
Total Length: 56.43