by anon on 5/10/2006
favorite track: 7
 
Another Goldsmith/Dante collaboration: an exciting score filled with tons of action and cartoonish style music, right? Wrong!

Matinee does have its moments with action (track 9 "This Is It") and cartoonish moments (track 5 "The Scam"), but what impresses me most about this score is the main theme. A lovely theme that is also used to represent the two teen lovers in the film.

The opening cue, "Coming Attraction," introduces this theme in a bouncy and almost bubbly way.

Track 2 "Hold On" introduces the theme for John Goodman's character. Because of Goodman's "large" appearance and quirky personality, his theme is used with soft yet bouncy music, which Goldsmith then adds carnival pipes too later on (in "Halfway Home").

In track 5 "The Scam," Goldsmith makes up a small theme for the "bad guy" of the movie. This has to be my least favorite cue on the soundtrack.

Moving on. "Showtime" opens with the main theme of the movie and then moves on to a neat sounding old "B-Movie" theme which shows up for a second time later on in the cue. The action "motif" is introduced in this cue and is played by the piano and plucks from the strings.

I could go on and on about this soundtrack, but really the highlight has to be the cue "Next Attraction" which is a 7 minute end title of all themes used in the movie.

For Goldsmith fans, I strongy urge you to buy this soundtrack not only because of the heart warming and memorable themes, but because this soundtrack will certainly touch the hearts of not just Goldsmith fans, but any person who collects, or listens to movie score soundtracks!

Steve in Ontario, Canada