The Greatest Game Ever Played
Brian Tyler
" Lovely Sports score by Brian Tyler "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
When Walt Disney and sports collide, it kinda feels like a match made in heaven. After all, sports movies usually give us the feel good dramas, the hopeful positive winning attitude that in life you have to believe in your dreams. And when it comes to Disney in general, I think I could repeat the same about the magic they sprinkle every time around their romantic story. One of their lovelier entries in this particular genre is The Greatest Game Ever Played, a true story of a 20 year old boy who loved the game and defeated his idol in the 1913 US Open.
Actor Bill Paxton directed his second long feature after Frailty and hired 2 smart choices to aid him in his conquering quest. 1) He hired rising star Shia LaBeouf as leading actor, and 2) he re hired rising composer Brian Tyler, who did such a good job on Paxton's first feature film Frailty. Now looking back so many years after its initial release it is safe to say The Greatest Game Ever Played remains one of the stronger films in the genre, offering a heartfelt dramatic feel good drama that hoists a nice warm directional hand of Bill Paxton, a strong steady performance of Shia and co stars, and a lovely, entertaining score by Brian Tyler.
Considering it's lovely, are there any bad parts to tell about The Greatest Game Ever Played? Well I bet the temptrack will distract most unknown listeners easily well, after all its temp tracking a seriously beloved score namely Legends of the Fall of James Horner (oh the irony). Yes ladies and gentlemen, don't be surprised to discover a wonderfully close resembling version of the main theme of Legends of the Fall to appear in the following tracks: "Main Title Overture", "The Greatest Game Ever Played", "Ouimet Trails by One", "And Then There were Three", "Sunset" and even a piano version of it in "An Unlikely Outcome"
Now considering we've talked about the negative parts of TGGEP, what's good about it then? Well, the following: The absolutely riveting string work in "Main Title Overture", the powerful rise of the determination theme in "Determination", the Thomas Newman sound meets the Brian Tyler thumps in "The Amateur", the lovely dramatic music in "Broken Dreams" and Thomas Newman playfulness in "Dog Leg" (it's beginning to show how much this sometimes listens like Thomas Newman, just listen to track 23).
Yet sometimes tracks go a notch further in delivering that excellent factor, and one must only love the percussive pounds and rhythmic speed in "Angel". The return of the delightful string work in "The Game is Afoot" shows some of Tyler's best moves in this soundtrack.
The score dies down a bit near the end though, considering most tracks are either too short or duplicate the same material a bit too much. The additional source cues are nice additions, though perhaps a bit misplaced in order. The classical work "Angel" sung by soprano Dawn Upshaw leaves an impression inside the film, the cheerful "And the Band Played On" was the comedic intermezzo, leaving room for Brian Tyler's reprisal of his overture, namely "End Title Overture" to end the album in style.
Brian Tyler's sports drama The Greatest Game Ever Played is a lovely score on album, if a bit flawed in the listening experience. Considering the tracks are too short near the end, and considering the album delivers a completely different film order, it makes the album at its most enjoyable during the first part. But during the film, you'll encounter it at all the right places, especially with his rousing "Angel" cue receiving no SFX or dialogue at all during its glory moment in the film.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title Overture (2.54) Excellent track
2. Immigrant's Theme (2.45)
3. Determination (1.47)
4. The Amateur (3.44)
5. Broken Dreams (1.59)
6. A Call to Arms (1.58)
7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (1.48)
8. Dog Leg (2.11)
9. Angel (1.56) Excellent track
10. Invitation (1.22)
11. Broken Dreams Reprise (2.05)
12. Ouimet Trails by One (1.38)
13. Ride the High Country (1.20)
14. Indecision (0.48)
15. Heads Turn (0.46)
16. The Game is Afoot (1.20) Excellent track
17. An Unlikely Outcome (3.14)
18. A Chance Encounter (1.59)
19. And Then There were Three (1.39)
20. Ride the High Country Reprise (1.22)
21. True Valor (1.03)
22. A Quiet Dignity (0.45)
23. Duel (0.38)
24. Showdown (2.24)
25. Sunset (1.56)
26. Angel: Dawn Upshaw (3.22)
27. And the Band Played On: Amick Byram (2.06)
28. Hello Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend: Joe Jackson (1.48)
29: End Title Overture (2.47) Excellent track
Total Length: 54.45
Actor Bill Paxton directed his second long feature after Frailty and hired 2 smart choices to aid him in his conquering quest. 1) He hired rising star Shia LaBeouf as leading actor, and 2) he re hired rising composer Brian Tyler, who did such a good job on Paxton's first feature film Frailty. Now looking back so many years after its initial release it is safe to say The Greatest Game Ever Played remains one of the stronger films in the genre, offering a heartfelt dramatic feel good drama that hoists a nice warm directional hand of Bill Paxton, a strong steady performance of Shia and co stars, and a lovely, entertaining score by Brian Tyler.
Considering it's lovely, are there any bad parts to tell about The Greatest Game Ever Played? Well I bet the temptrack will distract most unknown listeners easily well, after all its temp tracking a seriously beloved score namely Legends of the Fall of James Horner (oh the irony). Yes ladies and gentlemen, don't be surprised to discover a wonderfully close resembling version of the main theme of Legends of the Fall to appear in the following tracks: "Main Title Overture", "The Greatest Game Ever Played", "Ouimet Trails by One", "And Then There were Three", "Sunset" and even a piano version of it in "An Unlikely Outcome"
Now considering we've talked about the negative parts of TGGEP, what's good about it then? Well, the following: The absolutely riveting string work in "Main Title Overture", the powerful rise of the determination theme in "Determination", the Thomas Newman sound meets the Brian Tyler thumps in "The Amateur", the lovely dramatic music in "Broken Dreams" and Thomas Newman playfulness in "Dog Leg" (it's beginning to show how much this sometimes listens like Thomas Newman, just listen to track 23).
Yet sometimes tracks go a notch further in delivering that excellent factor, and one must only love the percussive pounds and rhythmic speed in "Angel". The return of the delightful string work in "The Game is Afoot" shows some of Tyler's best moves in this soundtrack.
The score dies down a bit near the end though, considering most tracks are either too short or duplicate the same material a bit too much. The additional source cues are nice additions, though perhaps a bit misplaced in order. The classical work "Angel" sung by soprano Dawn Upshaw leaves an impression inside the film, the cheerful "And the Band Played On" was the comedic intermezzo, leaving room for Brian Tyler's reprisal of his overture, namely "End Title Overture" to end the album in style.
Brian Tyler's sports drama The Greatest Game Ever Played is a lovely score on album, if a bit flawed in the listening experience. Considering the tracks are too short near the end, and considering the album delivers a completely different film order, it makes the album at its most enjoyable during the first part. But during the film, you'll encounter it at all the right places, especially with his rousing "Angel" cue receiving no SFX or dialogue at all during its glory moment in the film.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title Overture (2.54) Excellent track
2. Immigrant's Theme (2.45)
3. Determination (1.47)
4. The Amateur (3.44)
5. Broken Dreams (1.59)
6. A Call to Arms (1.58)
7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (1.48)
8. Dog Leg (2.11)
9. Angel (1.56) Excellent track
10. Invitation (1.22)
11. Broken Dreams Reprise (2.05)
12. Ouimet Trails by One (1.38)
13. Ride the High Country (1.20)
14. Indecision (0.48)
15. Heads Turn (0.46)
16. The Game is Afoot (1.20) Excellent track
17. An Unlikely Outcome (3.14)
18. A Chance Encounter (1.59)
19. And Then There were Three (1.39)
20. Ride the High Country Reprise (1.22)
21. True Valor (1.03)
22. A Quiet Dignity (0.45)
23. Duel (0.38)
24. Showdown (2.24)
25. Sunset (1.56)
26. Angel: Dawn Upshaw (3.22)
27. And the Band Played On: Amick Byram (2.06)
28. Hello Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend: Joe Jackson (1.48)
29: End Title Overture (2.47) Excellent track
Total Length: 54.45