This is an underrated little gem of a soundtrack from 1993. Mostly laidback and textural, with some lovely jazz excursions (muted trumpet outbursts) and sustained synth chords with plenty of mood. And charming rhythm box percussion. And even some orchestral suspense effects.
I have never seen the film (about homeless people in Washington?!?), but I don't need to in order to get pleasure from this. Lovely on sunday afternoons when your head is sore from a night on the town.
I agree. The soundtrack has many listener friendly tracks of music. I saw the movie many years ago and Howards' music was well featured throughout the film. A small gem from his earlier film music period. I haven't listened to it in awhile. I think I'll visit this musical landscape this weekend.
I've thought about getting this score for about 12 years now...but it hasn't happened yet! Very nice score, I've seen the film at least once, an incredibly touching film that I recommend to everyone, with JNH's urban, rock-based Grand Canyon/Intersection-style that he used a lot in the early 90s, kind of a mixture of his early synth-only scores and his latter symphonic ones.
A 'little film' that came and went with (unfortunately) scant public recognition. Lovely score by James Newton Howard and a very touching performance by Matt Dillon who is matched here by Danny Glover.I remember seeing the film in Seattle with only about 5 people in the audience.
Another dusted off CD after the JNH Live Experience. Very Grand Canyon/Falling Down-like in it's musical make-up and the trumpet moments recall some of Mark Isham's works. It's got a cool vibe to it and conjures up some vivid moods of hope vs desolation. As noted above, Matthew's Casket is the emotional pay-off of the score, although it's more gently understated than big catharsis. I've never seen the film, not even sure it's ever had a TV airing in the UK? Oh, and a composer credit block size that takes on Elfman's DARKMAN
