Search - Martin & Wood Medeski, Alex Wurman, Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet :: Criminal: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture

As Good As the Movie. Okay: Better!

M. Alley | Dutch Flat, California United States | 05/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First things first: go rent or purchase the movie CRIMINAL. Quite frankly, I don't even recall the film in theatres -- I simply happened to rent it from my local grocer in the little winky town where I live. It was fabulous! Excellent writing, great dialogue, good cinematography, excellent acting -- it was the complete package. John C. Reilly, a character actor you've seen many times before, stars -- and pulls off a wonderfully convincing job. I won't reveal the plot. I'll just say it went places I didn't expect it to go. The movie? A full 5 stars in my book. Probably one of the best movies I've seen in a year.



The soundtrack provides you with what you wanted from the film. I purchase soundtracks somewhat frequently because, in my opinion, soundtracks are the last bastion of orchestral excellence in the United States. There are wonderful composers and conductors such as John Williams, James Horner, Trevor Jones, Randy Newman, Elmer Bernstein, Henry Mancini, Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, Jerry Fielding -- the list goes on and on.



This isn't an orchestral soundtrack -- far from it. But, as opposed to many soundtracks that have little to do with what you ACTUALLY HEARD AT THE MOVIE, this soundtrack is reflective of the reality of the film.



Other than original music by Alex Wurman (which makes up the bulk of the CD), there are some very nice and tasty pieces by the Max Roach Quintet (track 5, and some GREAT sax!) and Medeski, Martin and Wood (tracks 6 and 14 -- never heard in the movie but appearing on the CD), as well as Roundalay (track 13) by the Oscar Peterson Trio.



The rest of the CD presents the original music from the film by six wonderful artists. Score author Alex Wurman plays organ and clavinet, with some very nice bass work by Rob Jost. Teddy Kumpel and Andy Georges share guitar work, with drums by Abe Speller, and turntable work by DJ Hodgy.



The overall feel is cool, jazzy, free, breezy, hip, heavy on the organ and bass.



Boys and girls: what the movie promises, the soundtrack delivers. See the film. Buy the CD. This CD can stand alone as just plain damned good music. Thanks for reading my review."