MovieChat Forums > The Firm (1993) Discussion > Decent. But that score..

Decent. But that score..

posted 9 years ago by nomadprog
14 replies | jump to latest

This movie would have benefitted from a darker toned score. The light hearted piano score made everything to bouncy and took the intensity out of everything.
Bad judgment call on the music and makes a huge difference.

[–] Rudd-12 7 years ago

Funny how we all hear "different". I would never describe this as bouncy. I thought it was dramatic and worked quite well with the story and location. I don't think anybody's walking away humming their favorite part or anything. I wouldnt even call it a particularly enjoyable soundtrack on the whole. But it works for the movie to me.

[–] MisterKinish 7 years ago

Yeah, bothered me too.

[–] Yabeina (185) 4 years ago

I first noticed the annoying bouncy music early on when the couple were holding hands in a limo. It seemed very out of place. Then I realized it was Memphis type music, not their music. And they are soon to be shown to be out of place in the Memphis they signed on for. The music is perfect, and as another thread mentioned, it hasn't dated, unlike cheezy synth music of the time.

[–] Ripkens25 (1898) 4 years ago

I never considered it annoying or bouncy. It just kinda felt like....Memphis. I liked that it wasn't your standard, cookie-cutter background score, and instead...had a flair for the surroundings. You could almost smell that secret BBQ sauce in the air. And the score took darker tones on the piano keys when appropriate. Ultimately, it elevated the film from very good to "great", IMO.

[–] Yabeina (185) 4 years ago

I agree it elevated the film. I dislike blues music generally, but once I realized why it was used, it fit well.

[–] Who (5146) 3 years ago

Agree. I loved the book and thought this film adaptation was good, adding an interesting twist at the end too. I have tuned in to rewarch a few times over the years, but instantly get turned off by that music. It is clanky and intrusive for a story that is driven by mounting tensions and dangers.