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For some reason,
Sylvester Stallone insists on transporting us back to the 80's. While
Rocky Balboa certainly provided a fitting,
belated ending to the Rocky series, Stallone's over-the-top John
Rambo bordered on the preposterous. We
traverse more toward the latter with the latest offering, The
Expendables, as a who's who of tough guys
have been assembled to give us one more ride down macho lane. Joining that
roster, all be it behind the scenes, is a composer who knows how to throw a
punch or two with his music and that would be Brian Tyler.
As the composer
of choice for Stallone these days, it's no surprise that Tyler's music is
reminiscent of what
Jerry Goldsmith delivered for the action star. That said, there is a bit
more ferocity, in general, from Tyler's music as it steamrolls from start to
finish with music that would make any Expendable proud. Indeed, the amount
of energy that this score contains is quite staggering, even by Brian
Tyler's standards. But that's far from being a bad thing.
When you
dive into this score, be prepared for a fully coherent, high-energy assault
that will be sure to snap you out of any doldrums you might be in. Tyler
ensures that the Expendables crew is well represented with heroism and brawn
without making the experience feel tired or old (though playing to
Stallone's age might have been an interesting concept). Whether you are an
action music fan or not, there is no denying that there is a spark within
the notes and that the music is very much alive.
Throughout
the flurry of action material that is delivered, Tyler gives us a main theme
to return to that will place the listener back in the 80's through its shape
of melody. I look at this both as a homage and a functioning element that
distinguishes this score. It's one thing to create a main theme that
imitates a certain brand but this one hardly feels forced. Tyler's theme is
genuine in what it is trying to accomplish here and I truly dig this retro/modern
fusion.
Ultimately,
whether The Expendables film goes on
to reach the type of monetary success that will justify it as a success is
unknown at this time, I do appreciate Sly's ambition to pursue doing what he
loves at his age. I also think he and Brian make a good tandem and this
high-octane score is a great example of that.
An action
fan's delight, Brian Tyler gives us an invigorating listening experience
with his music for The Expendables, a
score that takes charge from the outset and never relinquishes its momentum. |
