Search - Ennio Morricone :: Frantic

Morricone's Most Modern & Elusive Soundtrack

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 10/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For years this was one album from Morricone I had to have as an avid movie soundtrack collector! Luckily, I obtained my cd copy from eBay a year ago for a price extremely lower than what some sellers are trying to pawn it off for (can you say price gouging)!...It's only hard to find(out of print) because neither sales for either the film or soundtrack were "astounding". The only minor fault with the soundtrack is the repetitive main/central Frantic theme song for the opening and ending credits that plays throughout the cd in subtle variations.



However, while this Roman Polanski/Harrison Ford thriller flick came and went, back in 1987, the music itself from the film is something to behold.The Frantic soundtrack is exactly what it is;a dramatic soundtrack that captures the film's most tense moments as well as an atmosphere of suspense and mystery. There's only one slow and mellow jazz-like vocal track sung by Simply Red but the rest is all Ennio Morricone's artistry.My only quip is that it should have also contained other tracks featured in the film by artists such as Grace Jones and David Sanborn and a few others.Most of the soundtrack is built around the main Frantic theme complete with sweeping orchestral strings/violins/flugel horn as major musical components and classical musings with an electric bass guitar. The guitar should sound out of place but doesn't and only makes for a memorable movie theme. It's really the whole album's trademark sound.It's the guitar work that gives Frantic it's contemporary/modern edge.Where any other artist or composer would have botched the marriage of an electric bass guitar with an orchestral ensemble, Morricone's guitarist makes it all work flawlessly! It almost has that spaghetti western sound or feel much in the same vein as when Morricone also created the music for The Big, The Bad and the Ugly from the 60's starrring Clint Eastwood...Frantic serves as an updated or modern homage to his earlier work in those terms...In order to really enjoy this soundtrack fully you must first see the film to really feel it's memorable impact.The entire film is set against a Parisian/European backdrop(hence, why you will also hear an accordion instrument also strategically placed in certain portions of the soundtrack).Ahh, Paris !



The Frantic soundtrack definitely captures the mood, feel, and look of a Polanski film that unfortunately kinda went unnoticed by the public and critics. However, be cautious when purchasing this out of print soundtrack from various online sources. Prices range from clearance red tag costs to the extreme "one of a kind" mark ups !..."