The Fugitive
James Newton Howard
" Effective supportive score works better in the film "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It's strange how some things work out. I mean The Fugitive of James Newton Howard was nominated for best original score in the year 1993. Of course no one saw it winning, but it was still a sign in the right direction that after The Prince of Tides, James Newton Howard was finally considered to be a major league player. Of course there's a reason why The Fugitive was nominated, and that was because the movie took the world by storm. Not only did it brought forward a couple of beloved performances of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, it also delivered a classic manhunt thrill ride that wowed audiences the moment they saw the train crashing that armored transport bus.
So, whether or not you believe The Fugitive to be a worthy nominee, it does play its tricks well out inside the movie, yet a bit harder on disc. It starts with the moody "Main Titles" that underscores the frightening opening scene of the film. The main theme itself is a fitting theme that gets a saxy version in "The Fugitive Theme" and a hopeful positive one in "It's Over", which is by far the best one of them all. Other moments include the usage of a saxophone in "Kimble Dyes his Hair" and "No Press" (which get quite sinister and suspenseful after a while). The revealing "Sykes' Apt." isn't changing a lot with its dark sinister score.
The Fugitive is obviously not scarce of action and thriller moments too. Like the film, they come and go throughout the experience. In "The Storm Drain" the feel is suspenseful through the use of bass and ominous strings, all the while "Subway Fight" and "Stairway Chase" lets loose the suspenseful and rhythmic chords. But the highlight is undoubtedly "Helicopter Chase" where out of nowhere one of the better action themes of James Newton Howard comes flying through, delivering a non stop feeling of suspense. It was so good for the audience that it was used in multiple trailers, of course not the least in the less successful sequel to The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals.
I like it that James Newton Howard received his second nomination, but I'm afraid The Fugitive isn't the more deserving one. Because it feels more at home in the excellent movie, which is partly the reason why it was nominated in the first place. Don't get me wrong, the score is an effective thriller score that delivers several worthy moments, but when I want to think back at the whole, I remember that one amazing action theme sums up everything. And that is not nearly enough for being an Oscar contender, at least if you know what the man wrote after it instead.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (3.52)
2. The Storm Drain (4.25)
3. Kimble Dyes his Hair (4.22)
4. Helicopter Chase (4.50) Excellent track
5. 'The Fugitive' Theme (3.05)
6. Subway Fight (2.26)
7. Kimble Returns (3.07)
8. No Press (4.55)
9. Stairway Chase (2.32)
10. Sykes' Apt. (4.19)
11. It's Over (3.39)
Total Length: 41.41
So, whether or not you believe The Fugitive to be a worthy nominee, it does play its tricks well out inside the movie, yet a bit harder on disc. It starts with the moody "Main Titles" that underscores the frightening opening scene of the film. The main theme itself is a fitting theme that gets a saxy version in "The Fugitive Theme" and a hopeful positive one in "It's Over", which is by far the best one of them all. Other moments include the usage of a saxophone in "Kimble Dyes his Hair" and "No Press" (which get quite sinister and suspenseful after a while). The revealing "Sykes' Apt." isn't changing a lot with its dark sinister score.
The Fugitive is obviously not scarce of action and thriller moments too. Like the film, they come and go throughout the experience. In "The Storm Drain" the feel is suspenseful through the use of bass and ominous strings, all the while "Subway Fight" and "Stairway Chase" lets loose the suspenseful and rhythmic chords. But the highlight is undoubtedly "Helicopter Chase" where out of nowhere one of the better action themes of James Newton Howard comes flying through, delivering a non stop feeling of suspense. It was so good for the audience that it was used in multiple trailers, of course not the least in the less successful sequel to The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals.
I like it that James Newton Howard received his second nomination, but I'm afraid The Fugitive isn't the more deserving one. Because it feels more at home in the excellent movie, which is partly the reason why it was nominated in the first place. Don't get me wrong, the score is an effective thriller score that delivers several worthy moments, but when I want to think back at the whole, I remember that one amazing action theme sums up everything. And that is not nearly enough for being an Oscar contender, at least if you know what the man wrote after it instead.
Tracklisting
1. Main Titles (3.52)
2. The Storm Drain (4.25)
3. Kimble Dyes his Hair (4.22)
4. Helicopter Chase (4.50) Excellent track
5. 'The Fugitive' Theme (3.05)
6. Subway Fight (2.26)
7. Kimble Returns (3.07)
8. No Press (4.55)
9. Stairway Chase (2.32)
10. Sykes' Apt. (4.19)
11. It's Over (3.39)
Total Length: 41.41