Customer Reviews

The Limey

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cliff Martinez made excellent use of the piano, invoking detective jazz stabs and Satie melancholy. Pianist Michael Williams (from the group 1 40 4 20, jazz albums "Wet" and "Jazz Trespassers") plays most expressively. The two have worked together before on "King of the Hill" with great success. Cliff's unexpected harmonies defy traditional voice leading to give a more ambivalent emotional tone for the director's handiwork. Martinez seems to understand music is abstract, while film rarely is.

I am, concededly, neither a musician nor any sort of expert in the field. I do fancy myself to have an appreciation of soundtracks. As is common with many films, this CD combines rock music with music composed specifically for the movie. It works. Indeed, the choice of, "The Seeker," as the title track for both the film and soundtrack is inspired, Terence Stamp's links with The Who notwithstanding.

I do wish that the full track-- or at least a clearer track-- of Terence Stamp's, "Colours," had been provided. This sound link to the film _Poor Cow_, in itself a precursor to _The Limey_, is integral to the relationship between Wilson (Stamp) and his daughter, Jenny.

A good CD purchase for fans of the film!

Reflects the strengths of the film -- experimental, yet grounded in traditional styles. The Cliff Martinez tracks are among his best work. Ranks among the best of '99 alongside Angela's Ashes (Williams), House on Haunted Hill (Davis) and The Mummy (Goldsmith).

Most of the time, when I watch a movie, the soundtrack or score is done well enough that it blends into the movie, doing its job, padding certain scenes and adding drama or humor or whatever the intention is. But, sometimes, a soundtrack goes well beyond just being a "part" of a movie. The soundtrack and the score to the Limey succeeds in doing just that. If ever a musician, such as Cliff Martinez, in this case, has better captured a character's emotion and translated directly into music as beautifully and seamlessly as this, I do not know. The sadness that pours from Wilson is heard in the score and you will not go away without being affected. One of the best soundtracks I have ever heard.