So it is with the film, the
problem of identification is partially true of the score.
Silvestri has merely written his own, less harsh and original
versions of Ennio Morricone's often bizarre efforts. The main
theme is a solemn, Mexican influenced trumpet melody backed by
strumming guitar that is both effective and memorable and crops
up a couple of times throughout the score. Unlike Morricone,
Silvestri's writing is somewhat mundane with little especially
interesting in the orchestration. The one strange facet about
some of the score is that it often sounds like it's escaped from
a sci-fi film. The Gunfight Montage features a rhythm not totally
unlike Holst's oft imitated Mars from the Planets. The harmonies
as well lend themselves to much less a Western feel. Kid vs.
Herod starts off with something that could be from Silvestri's Judge
Dredd before the main theme appears to correct the
atmosphere. While a bit of a mixture of ideas
and mild pastiche, the music itself is always interesting and
perfectly listenable, with several more tender interludes in
between the terse music of the gun fights themselves. Dinner
Tonight and I Don't Wanna Die both feature some delightful
acoustic guitar writing that nicely alleviates the tension that
generally prevails. It is pleasing to note that Silvestri's score
does not suffer from bouts of uninteresting action music which
can often blight his efforts. Clearly Raimi wanted every note to
count; and so it does. As a pastiche it's not a bad one and while
not being nearly as imaginative as Morricone, it is well written
and enjoyable. Rating ~ Total Time ~ 34:12I am still undecided whether Sam
Raimi's film is an homage or spoof of Sergei Leone type Westerns.
Much of it is quite grim and so I'm inclined to go for homage,
but the shameless plundering of just about every cliche from the
genre does mean it comes across more as pastiche than just
homage. Still, Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman give excellent
performances as the Woman with No Name and the hugely evil lord
and master of the town of Redemption. The plot is a long shooting
competition, with Hackman being the fastest and everyone else out
to hopefully prove him wrong. Raimi is a director whose work is
always well worth seeing and his imaginative use of camera as
well as superimposition only heightens the suspense and tension
at crucial moments.
