Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
Joe Kraemer
" Nothing's imposible anymore for Joe Kraemer "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
After their mutual success on Jack Reacher, director Christopher McQuarrie, star / producer / stunt person Tom Cruise and composer Joe Kraemer collaborated together again, this on the hit series 5th entry, namely Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation. The movie was successful to show there is still no reason to stop the Ethan Hunt formula for Tom Cruise, but perhaps it should also keep the director / composer on board of the series. The movie was (despite an overtly loooooong final act) a fresh addition to the genre, and composer Kraemer's often thrilling score became quite a potent mix in the film. And that the sparks fly off your speakers is evident once you start listening to "The A400" cue.
One of the most amazing stunts in the movie required one of the most powerful mission: impossible theme versions possible, and Kraemer gradually builds to that conclusion. It's a wonderful opener and offers alongside the known main theme a sub theme of Schiffrin's MI list, namely the plot theme (also used by Michael Giacchinno in the third score). Both themes work together to form this powerful no nonsense opener. The second track (already from the final scene in the film) is a powerful (again gradually developing) cue, only this time unleashing the Solomon Lane theme (aka the bad guy of this film). Like the 2 themes of Schriffin, this theme is carefully interwoven throughout the remainder of the score, often hinting just softly Lane's presence. And a 4th theme (the theme for the girl character Ilsa Faust) is Giacomo Puccini's final opera piece of Turandot, namely the stand alone aria "Nessun Dorma". And even though it works to a degree, this piece is too powerful and too romantic for the relationship between Hunt and Faust.
So, you have several themes racing through one another, often accentuated by an occasional moment of brilliance ("The Syndicate" which has an explosive exotic plot theme variation, which ironically brings back fond memories of Jerry Goldsmith's The Mummy), but the real thrill often comes from Kraemer's powerful action music. Rhythmic, loud and full of thundering delight, it are tracks like "Escape to Danger", "A Flight at the Opera", the final minute of "The Torus" and "Moroccan Pursuit" that keep you gasping for air.
Sadly after that, it slows down. Like the film with its entire final act, this final act of the score doesn't continue to enthrall. Too many soft suspenseful cues (albeit with plenty attention to the themes) with the same returning ideas for an occassional action track ("A Foggy Night in London"). It's easy to say this score is about 15 to 20 minutes too long, plus they should have left the explosive "Solomon Lane" cue where it should be (namely at the end). Nonetheless Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is a very good and powerful Mission Impossible score, easily one of the best. But a quarter too long and a bit lacking in diversity once you start paying attention to it. But don't let this fool you, it still remains one of the strongest surprises of last year.
Track Listing
1. The A400 * (6.40) Excellent track
2. Solomon Lane (4.09) Excellent track
3. Good Evening, Mr. Hunt * (2.37)
4. Escape to Danger * / ** (2.47)
5. Havana to Vienna * (5.14)
6. A Flight at the Opera * (2.23) Excellent track
7. The Syndicate * (3.45) Excellent track
8. The Plan* (3.23)
9. It's Impossible * (1.24)
10. The Torus * (7.03)
11. Moroccan Pursuit * (2.29) Excellent track
12. Grave Consequences * (4.14)
13. A Matter of Going * / ** (5.06)
14. The Blenheim Sequence * (4.02)
15. Audience With the Prime Minister * (4.25)
16. This is the End, Mr. Hunt (3.49)
17. A Foggy Night in London (2.11)
18. Meet the IMF * (1.48)
19. Finale and Curtain Call * / ** (6.14) Excellent track
* Contains "Theme from Mission Impossible" & "The Plot" by Lalo Schifrin
** Contains "Nessun Dorma" (From "Turandot") by Giacomo Puccini
Total Length: 73.43
One of the most amazing stunts in the movie required one of the most powerful mission: impossible theme versions possible, and Kraemer gradually builds to that conclusion. It's a wonderful opener and offers alongside the known main theme a sub theme of Schiffrin's MI list, namely the plot theme (also used by Michael Giacchinno in the third score). Both themes work together to form this powerful no nonsense opener. The second track (already from the final scene in the film) is a powerful (again gradually developing) cue, only this time unleashing the Solomon Lane theme (aka the bad guy of this film). Like the 2 themes of Schriffin, this theme is carefully interwoven throughout the remainder of the score, often hinting just softly Lane's presence. And a 4th theme (the theme for the girl character Ilsa Faust) is Giacomo Puccini's final opera piece of Turandot, namely the stand alone aria "Nessun Dorma". And even though it works to a degree, this piece is too powerful and too romantic for the relationship between Hunt and Faust.
So, you have several themes racing through one another, often accentuated by an occasional moment of brilliance ("The Syndicate" which has an explosive exotic plot theme variation, which ironically brings back fond memories of Jerry Goldsmith's The Mummy), but the real thrill often comes from Kraemer's powerful action music. Rhythmic, loud and full of thundering delight, it are tracks like "Escape to Danger", "A Flight at the Opera", the final minute of "The Torus" and "Moroccan Pursuit" that keep you gasping for air.
Sadly after that, it slows down. Like the film with its entire final act, this final act of the score doesn't continue to enthrall. Too many soft suspenseful cues (albeit with plenty attention to the themes) with the same returning ideas for an occassional action track ("A Foggy Night in London"). It's easy to say this score is about 15 to 20 minutes too long, plus they should have left the explosive "Solomon Lane" cue where it should be (namely at the end). Nonetheless Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is a very good and powerful Mission Impossible score, easily one of the best. But a quarter too long and a bit lacking in diversity once you start paying attention to it. But don't let this fool you, it still remains one of the strongest surprises of last year.
Track Listing
1. The A400 * (6.40) Excellent track
2. Solomon Lane (4.09) Excellent track
3. Good Evening, Mr. Hunt * (2.37)
4. Escape to Danger * / ** (2.47)
5. Havana to Vienna * (5.14)
6. A Flight at the Opera * (2.23) Excellent track
7. The Syndicate * (3.45) Excellent track
8. The Plan* (3.23)
9. It's Impossible * (1.24)
10. The Torus * (7.03)
11. Moroccan Pursuit * (2.29) Excellent track
12. Grave Consequences * (4.14)
13. A Matter of Going * / ** (5.06)
14. The Blenheim Sequence * (4.02)
15. Audience With the Prime Minister * (4.25)
16. This is the End, Mr. Hunt (3.49)
17. A Foggy Night in London (2.11)
18. Meet the IMF * (1.48)
19. Finale and Curtain Call * / ** (6.14) Excellent track
* Contains "Theme from Mission Impossible" & "The Plot" by Lalo Schifrin
** Contains "Nessun Dorma" (From "Turandot") by Giacomo Puccini
Total Length: 73.43