The Last Castle (2001)
Added on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Posted by Philippe Mouchon
Expanded and remastered Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack on 2 CDs! Dreamworks Pictures presents, Rod Lurie directs, Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Clifton Collins Jr., Delroy Lindo star. A clash of wills, a test of strength… behind bars! Gandolfini is the military prison warden, Redford the new inmate with a twist: he’s also a decorated general, not accustomed to following but leading, now a fallen hero just doing his time.
Expanded and remastered Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack on 2 CDs! Dreamworks Pictures presents, Rod Lurie directs, Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Clifton Collins Jr., Delroy Lindo star. A clash of wills, a test of strength… behind bars! Gandolfini is the military prison warden, Redford the new inmate with a twist: he’s also a decorated general, not accustomed to following but leading, now a fallen hero just doing his time.
Before long his ideals put him in conflict with the warden’s and the other prisoners find themselves “pawns” in a giant chess game with their lives at stake.
The chess metaphor (note the film’s title) anchors the increasingly dangerous game playing out between the two protagonists.
An all-out battle looms ahead. Complex film had the misfortune of being completed just as the terrible events of September 11, 2001 took place. The impact affected the mood and outcome of the film itself with the American flag as a centerpiece. In fact, Jerry Goldsmith completed his score close to the terror attacks and named his primary theme, “September 11, 2001”.
The incredibly moving, solemn minor-key theme plays typically on solo trumpet, scored by the composer for ace trumpeter Malcolm McNab, who contributes a personalized paragraph in the booklet notes specifically for this release.
But the score offers much more: as conflicts build, Goldsmith increases the tension as well. War does come and Goldsmith attacks with his unique brand of ferocious, percussive action writing.
New Intrada 2-CD set presents Goldsmith’s full score with numerous previously unreleased cues, all taken from the original 3-channel digital stereo session mixes, culminating in the lengthy, climactic “Battle For The Castle” (composed by Mark McKenzie), also being released for the first time.
Here aggressive staccato rhythms and orchestral punctuation mark the violent confrontation. Still more action hits with Goldsmith’s “Hold Them” and “Taking Command”.
No matter how intense or exciting the score should become, listeners will always find the ever-noble, ever-expressive sound of Malcolm McNab and his golden trumpet taking the spotlight.
Several alternates also appear as well as three versions of the climactic “The Flag” sequence.
CD 2 presents the classical music (which the warden sometimes listens to), conducted and/or supervised by Jerry Goldsmith as well as a remastered presentation of the original Decca album as prepared by Bruce Botnick.
Kay Marshall designs dramatic package, Jeff Bond contributes notes, Mark McKenzie orchestrates, Bruce Botnick engineers, Jerry Goldsmith composes & conducts.
Intrada Special Collection 2-CD set available while quantities and interest remain!