Depending on your viewpoint, director Brian De Palma has been frequently lauded/taken to task for liberally appropriating the stylistic flourishes of other directors. And if De Palma's biggest "inspiration" on Snake Eyes i... more »s Alfred Hitchcock, the director found an admirable, if unlikely, semblance of frequent Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann in Ryuichi Sakamoto. Though better known for more delicate, electronic, and ethnically tinged work, here Sakamoto does a truly amazing Benny impression, cranking up the brass and swirling the strings into an unsettling sonic maelstrom that would've done late '50s Hitch proud. Meredith Brooks and LaKiesha Berry also contribute a pair of songs in the contemporary pop vein that the kids seem to like so much. --Jerry McCulley« less
Depending on your viewpoint, director Brian De Palma has been frequently lauded/taken to task for liberally appropriating the stylistic flourishes of other directors. And if De Palma's biggest "inspiration" on Snake Eyes is Alfred Hitchcock, the director found an admirable, if unlikely, semblance of frequent Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann in Ryuichi Sakamoto. Though better known for more delicate, electronic, and ethnically tinged work, here Sakamoto does a truly amazing Benny impression, cranking up the brass and swirling the strings into an unsettling sonic maelstrom that would've done late '50s Hitch proud. Meredith Brooks and LaKiesha Berry also contribute a pair of songs in the contemporary pop vein that the kids seem to like so much. --Jerry McCulley
"Save the annoying, obligatory pop songs (included to snag a wider audience, no doubt), this is an alternately fun and lush score to the underrated and visually stunning film. Sakamoto's haunting theme (best on extended track 11) is a loving tribute to Morricone and Herrmann and the cheesy '70s gangster film thrill/scare cuts are a hoot. Another great score by today's most diverse film composer."
Cool Stuff
Inspector Gadget | On the trail of Doctor Claw | 07/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd never heard of Ryuichi Sakamoto before seeing this movie and since then I've never seen anything else scored by him which is a real shame because he's very good.
Snake Eyes instantly begins with an awesome theme played out on lush violins. It echoes Bernard Herrmann classic scores to Hitchcock movies. And seeing as how with this movie Brian DePalma was paying tribute to Hitchcock it's only fitting that Sakamoto would be such a sport. Usually when a score imitates another movie it doesn't stand on its own. But Snakes Eyes sounds soooo cool. Track 10 'The Storm' is worth buying the CD on its own.
Ignore the meaningless songs tacked on at the end. Sakamoto's score ends with the beautiful 'Snake Eyes-Long Version'. It's a shame that this came out in the modern day. If this score accompanied a classic movie it would have been well-remembered. Find a copy and buy!"
Sakamoto does it again
Inspector Gadget | 11/24/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With orchestrations evidently heavily influenced by Stravinsky, this album is definitely overlooked because of the box-office flop of the movie. Be sure to pick this album up at the record stores."
Meredith Brooks track makes this a MUST HAVE!!!!!!!
Brad (brad@cyberzane.net) | Ohio | 10/08/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like pulsating instrumentals, then this is definitely a must-have album, but it is a must-have in my opinion simply because of the song "Sin City" by Meredith Brooks. If you like Meredith Brooks, then you must add this CD to your collection. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!"