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Review: Jack Foley
MASSIVE Attack were personally approached by Luc Besson and the
film's director, Louis Leterrier, to record the soundtrack to
their Jet Li film, Unleashed.
The result is as dark, brutal and occasionally poignant as you
might expect - encompassing all of the usual Massive Attack values
in a style that is more suited to a film soundtrack.
The score was put together over an 11-week period and seeks to
capture both the fast-paced action (Atta' Boy) and its
reflective sadness (Sweet Is Good).
It is comprised of 21 pieces of music which run in a chronological
order throughout the film and is reflective of the change of paces
that occur throughout.
The film itself focuses on Jet Li's Danny, a slave who has lived
his life like a dog, having been trained as such by his owner,
Bart (Bob Hoskins).
Danny is given a shot at a new life, however, following a chance
meeting with Morgan Freeman's blind piano player only to find
that his past comes back to haunt him.
Needless to say, the soundtrack is book-ended by pumped up, beat-heavy
tracks that are used to accompany Danny's breathtaking fight scenes.
Put together with such choreography, they work wonders, while
also embracing the trademark Massive Attack values.
Elsewhere, as Danny begins to discover the joys of life and love,
while coming to terms with his past and the death of his mother,
the music is sadder and much more reflective, allowing simple
piano chords and gentle beats to take centre-stage.
It's an intriguing mix - sometimes exhilarating, sometimes beguiling
- that marks an interesting style for Massive Attack that's well
worth checking out for fans.
It obviously works best once you have seen the film, but several
tracks stand out in their own right (especially Danny The
Dog), evoking memories of the emotive, cinematic style of
Teardrop.
For that reason alone, it's to be recommended to both movie fans
and Massive Attack fans alike.
Unleashed: Our verdict on
the film
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