There are some scores about which it's difficult to try and draw any strong feelings and Enemy at the Gates has proved particularly troublesome. First of all it's James Horner, so some similarity with his previous work or worse, the work of someone else, is fairly inevitable. However, the similarity between the main theme to that of Schindler's List is close to the point of almost being shameful. I believe, but am not entirely certain, that Williams' melody is based on a Jewish folk melody and so Horner could legitimately claim to be doing the same, but unfortunately Williams got there first and frankly did a much better job. The other most important motif is the four note villain motif from Willow which as a threatening fantasy motif is quite appropriate, but for a serious drama, seems just a little over the top.
The opening few tracks are, unfortunately, the highlight of the album and feature some splendid and thrilling brassy moments, even if the overall effect is perhaps a little over the top. The addition of the chorus, notably during the Russian march of Vassili's Fame Spreads is definitely over the top, although thoroughly rousing on CD. The problem of overly long James Horner albums has almost reached broken record stage now and Enemy at the Gates would certainly have been better with a little pruning. Ultimately the length of the album and the similarity between so much of it leads to the problem of it seeming like and endless succession of similar episodes without any real progress. Perhaps it is more coherent alongside or with a retrospective knowledge of the film, but as stand alone music rather grinds on a little, particularly during the last third which almost becomes particularly tiresome.
Rating ~ Total Time ~ 78:01Enemy at the Gates is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud whose previous credits include The Name of the Rose which was scored by James Horner and Seven Years in Tibet which was blessed with one of John Williams' finest scores of the past decade. Presumably Annaud was unable to arrange for Williams to score Enemy at the Gates (given his comments in the liner notes for Seven Years in Tibet I suspect he must at least have asked Williams) and so the task falls to James Horner. The film about a pair of snipers didn't do terribly well at the box office despite starring Joseph Fiennes and Jude Law together with a lot of hype and decent reviews. However, it seems ripe for a thoughtful, potent and dramatic score.
