On Deadly Ground
Basil Poledouris
" Soaring theme is too good for Steven Seagal's debut movie, end of story! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It's difficult to see actor Steven Seagal as a great actor, let alone as an actor. But in 1994 he directed his one and only movie, namely On Deadly Ground. The basic premise was simple, a single man takes on a ruthless oil corporation. The movie was far from perfect, but delivered the typical gun ho approach that you've come to expect from a Seagal movie. Of course whatever you expect of Seagal's directing, expect something better from the late Basil Poledouris' score.
I'm sure many will have passed On Deadly Ground, but the truth is that Basil was always a lot like Jerry Goldsmith. No matter the atrocious script or film, Basil wanted the score to sound strongly on its own two feet. And On Deadly Ground is no fluke in that department. In fact, it even has one of those legendary strong main themes the composer was able to conjure up from time to time. And it is that theme that opens and closes this 30 minute listening experience.
Lonesome ethnic pan pipes, ethnic percussion and warm lovely brass guide us to this score's winning main theme in "Main Titles". The rest of the score turns out to bring the typical enjoyable Poledouris music. In "Aegis Flameout" the suspenseful fanfares deliver a sense of urgency that is put on hold in "Forrest Found" through a returning main theme performance. The long track "The Journey" also delivers some variations on the main theme, with an occasional ingenious moment of Poledouris here and there. The mystical elements here are particularly present (with the inuit throat singing as a special surprise).
The strongest track apart from the opening and closing track is "Forrest Decides / Horse Chase" where Poledouris throws in an action version of the main theme and some striking fanfares. The same counts for "Jennings Goes Down". Whatever happens in this score, Poledouris remains to bring it melodic. The final track "The Warning / End Credits" dares to bring in a nice emotional theme to finish the score with.
And in the end it is this that makes On Deadly Ground so easy to listen to. A wonderful main theme, a couple of soaring fanfares and a lovely if totally underused drama theme. Not much but a hell of a lot more than most of the scores today. It makes us miss the talent of Basil Poledouris even more. Because in total stinkers of movies these men were able to bring us something that surpassed their visual partner.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (2.18) Excellent track
2. Aegis Flameout (1.43)
3. Forrest Found (1.35)
4. The Journey (7.57)
5. Forrest Decides / Horse Chase (3.54)
6. Jennings Goes Down (4.45)
7. The Warning / End Credits (7.18) Excellent track
Total Length: 29.36
I'm sure many will have passed On Deadly Ground, but the truth is that Basil was always a lot like Jerry Goldsmith. No matter the atrocious script or film, Basil wanted the score to sound strongly on its own two feet. And On Deadly Ground is no fluke in that department. In fact, it even has one of those legendary strong main themes the composer was able to conjure up from time to time. And it is that theme that opens and closes this 30 minute listening experience.
Lonesome ethnic pan pipes, ethnic percussion and warm lovely brass guide us to this score's winning main theme in "Main Titles". The rest of the score turns out to bring the typical enjoyable Poledouris music. In "Aegis Flameout" the suspenseful fanfares deliver a sense of urgency that is put on hold in "Forrest Found" through a returning main theme performance. The long track "The Journey" also delivers some variations on the main theme, with an occasional ingenious moment of Poledouris here and there. The mystical elements here are particularly present (with the inuit throat singing as a special surprise).
The strongest track apart from the opening and closing track is "Forrest Decides / Horse Chase" where Poledouris throws in an action version of the main theme and some striking fanfares. The same counts for "Jennings Goes Down". Whatever happens in this score, Poledouris remains to bring it melodic. The final track "The Warning / End Credits" dares to bring in a nice emotional theme to finish the score with.
And in the end it is this that makes On Deadly Ground so easy to listen to. A wonderful main theme, a couple of soaring fanfares and a lovely if totally underused drama theme. Not much but a hell of a lot more than most of the scores today. It makes us miss the talent of Basil Poledouris even more. Because in total stinkers of movies these men were able to bring us something that surpassed their visual partner.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (2.18) Excellent track
2. Aegis Flameout (1.43)
3. Forrest Found (1.35)
4. The Journey (7.57)
5. Forrest Decides / Horse Chase (3.54)
6. Jennings Goes Down (4.45)
7. The Warning / End Credits (7.18) Excellent track
Total Length: 29.36