Customer Reviews

Hoodlum: Original Score Soundtrack

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Elmer Bernstein, who just recently turned 80 this year and still going strong, does a great job doing the music for Hoodlum. Not owning many Bernstein scores and only hearing a few of them, I was a little anxious about this one. I decided to give it a chance though and i'm glad I did. The music contains a grandiose theme with a lush symphonic orchestra. The theme is present in "Prologue" and "Francine" among others. The theme however was underused quite a bit and should of been used a lot more because it is that good. The rest of the score contains a soft piano, sax solos, and a few woodwind solos accompanied by the orchestra. "Revenge" is one of the few action cues in the score, which lasts for a short time. "From the Womb to the Tomb" shows Bernstein in his western style, reminding me of The Magnificent Seven. The last cue "Amazing Grace" is good but I think should have been left off the soundtrack. The director of the film, Bill Duke in the liner notes says it best: "Elmer Bernstein's score is timeless. However, it simultaneously captures the heart and spirit of 1930s Harlem. In short...it is wonderful."

This is was just okay for me. It was nothing special. With all due respect to the esteemed reviewer above me it is one of Bernstein's lesser scores. I cannot recommend it and I have no favorite tracks.