Patch Adams
Marc Shaiman
" It's feel good drama music, but damn it, it sure feels good! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Marc Shaiman can write some sensational music if he wants to, but usually he sticks with romantic comedies and dramas. With Patch Adams he combines drama, beauty and orchestral power into one dazzling score of just 20 minutes long. This score was released on a soundtrack release alongside many classic songs, but on the DVD there was an interesting extra. Namely, you could listen to the music of Marc Shaiman as a stand alone listen as well. Considering both the music on the extra and on the CD are alike, there is no reason to buy the score if you already have the DVD.
What is there to say about the score that hasn't been said already, or basically about the movie? While being butchered simply for being too feel good, or perhaps because it was made by Tom 'Ace Ventura' Shadyac, any person would have loved the outcome if it was directed by Steven Spielberg, and basically in the same wrapping paper. I loved the film because it contained human characters and above all a heart that made the movie so touching. That heart is also found in Marc Shaiman's score. It's a winning 20 minutes that uses all the cliché's, but if he makes them so good, then the hell with cliché's, because this is wonderful music from start to finish and a much deserved Golden Globe nominee.
We have the piano driven main theme in "Main Title" and while soft, it's gorgeous to see it transform into more orchestral color later on. "Children's Ward" and the second part of "Speech / Children's Reprise" are beautiful light bouncy tunes which carry the heart of a child and the emotion of a person that cares for them. The wacky silly and playful nature that Robin Williams exhibits during these scenes are only more believable due to the music that underscores it.
"Hello" is slightly different, but still makes the emotion and the fluffiness work in a short and beautiful piece. And basically from then on, the music becomes one giant emotional firecracker. "Front Porch" introduces the secondary theme that would later swell gorgeously in several scenes, including the sensational last 2 tracks. "Butterfly / Noodle Pool" brings the main theme and secondary theme together in an explosive orchestral feel good attitude and "The Ruling / Graduation" brings fanfares, the secondary theme and a true massive explosion at 2.24 that is sure to become Shaiman's best piece of music for a long time.
For me, it doesn't matter that Patch Adams is feel good drama music, what matters is that it feels good to listen to it. True, for 20 minutes the music lacks a bit of diversity but it isn't a problem because it's only 20 minutes of music anyway. With the songs of the movie, it can make a worthy soundtrack album, on the DVD during the extra it can make a nice wonderful surprise. For a person liking what he hears during the movie, it's a beauty of emotion and heart. Or basically the standards of how Patch lives in general.
Score: ****
Songs: ***12
Tracklisting
1. Faith of the Heart: Rod Stewart (4.18)
2. Let it Rain: Eric Clapton (5.02)
3. Only You Know and I Know: Dave Mason (4.07)
4. Carry On: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (4.26) Excellent track
5. Bell Bottom Blues: Derek and the Dominoes (5.02)
6. Good Lovin': The Rascals (2.31)
7. The Weight: The Band (4.35)
8. People Got to be Free: The Rascals (3.01)
9. Stand: Sly and the Family Stallone (3.08)
10. Main Title (2.14)
11. Look Beyond the Fingers (1.45)
12. Children's Ward (2.33) Excellent track
13. Ranch Reveal (1.27)
14. Hello (1.30) Excellent track
15. Speech / Children's Reprise (2.38) Excellent track
16. Front Porch (2.34) Excellent track
17. Butterfly / Noodle Pool (2.56) Excellent track
18. The Ruling / Graduation (3.25) Excellent track
Total Length: 57.00
What is there to say about the score that hasn't been said already, or basically about the movie? While being butchered simply for being too feel good, or perhaps because it was made by Tom 'Ace Ventura' Shadyac, any person would have loved the outcome if it was directed by Steven Spielberg, and basically in the same wrapping paper. I loved the film because it contained human characters and above all a heart that made the movie so touching. That heart is also found in Marc Shaiman's score. It's a winning 20 minutes that uses all the cliché's, but if he makes them so good, then the hell with cliché's, because this is wonderful music from start to finish and a much deserved Golden Globe nominee.
We have the piano driven main theme in "Main Title" and while soft, it's gorgeous to see it transform into more orchestral color later on. "Children's Ward" and the second part of "Speech / Children's Reprise" are beautiful light bouncy tunes which carry the heart of a child and the emotion of a person that cares for them. The wacky silly and playful nature that Robin Williams exhibits during these scenes are only more believable due to the music that underscores it.
"Hello" is slightly different, but still makes the emotion and the fluffiness work in a short and beautiful piece. And basically from then on, the music becomes one giant emotional firecracker. "Front Porch" introduces the secondary theme that would later swell gorgeously in several scenes, including the sensational last 2 tracks. "Butterfly / Noodle Pool" brings the main theme and secondary theme together in an explosive orchestral feel good attitude and "The Ruling / Graduation" brings fanfares, the secondary theme and a true massive explosion at 2.24 that is sure to become Shaiman's best piece of music for a long time.
For me, it doesn't matter that Patch Adams is feel good drama music, what matters is that it feels good to listen to it. True, for 20 minutes the music lacks a bit of diversity but it isn't a problem because it's only 20 minutes of music anyway. With the songs of the movie, it can make a worthy soundtrack album, on the DVD during the extra it can make a nice wonderful surprise. For a person liking what he hears during the movie, it's a beauty of emotion and heart. Or basically the standards of how Patch lives in general.
Score: ****
Songs: ***12
Tracklisting
1. Faith of the Heart: Rod Stewart (4.18)
2. Let it Rain: Eric Clapton (5.02)
3. Only You Know and I Know: Dave Mason (4.07)
4. Carry On: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (4.26) Excellent track
5. Bell Bottom Blues: Derek and the Dominoes (5.02)
6. Good Lovin': The Rascals (2.31)
7. The Weight: The Band (4.35)
8. People Got to be Free: The Rascals (3.01)
9. Stand: Sly and the Family Stallone (3.08)
10. Main Title (2.14)
11. Look Beyond the Fingers (1.45)
12. Children's Ward (2.33) Excellent track
13. Ranch Reveal (1.27)
14. Hello (1.30) Excellent track
15. Speech / Children's Reprise (2.38) Excellent track
16. Front Porch (2.34) Excellent track
17. Butterfly / Noodle Pool (2.56) Excellent track
18. The Ruling / Graduation (3.25) Excellent track
Total Length: 57.00