A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

A 1998 movie, One Tough Cop tells the true story of the investigation of a 1981 rape on a nun in Harlem, when two police officers took things into their own hands when they don't particularly like the way the official investigation is heading.  Starring Stephen Baldwin, Chris Penn and Gina Gershon, and directed by Bruno Barreto, it wasn't particularly well-received, and is now forgotten.  It's notable for film music fans in that it was one of the last theatrically-released movies scored by the great Bruce Broughton, whose underemployment should frankly be made a federal offence for film studio heads.

Unusually for Broughton, the score is very subdued, and features only a small string orchestra, augmented with electronics.  It's a radical departure from the composer's usual style, which offers highly-complex and frequently very warm orchestral music.  There is no particular theme as such, with the first hint of warmth emerging in a pleasing string passage in the middle of "Convent Crimes", a third of the way through the album.  The score is more a string of atmospheric, cold suspense tracks.  Broughton proved in Shadow Conspiracy that he's as good as anyone when it comes to writing for suspenseful thrillers (even ones as ridiculous as that), but in truth this isn't nearly so satisfying a score.  It is with skill that Broughton crafted the music, and it certainly inspires the right emotions from the listener, but is not appealing to listen to.  Even at just 32:49, the album seems to drag on, with several tracks really not doing much of anything.  

There are exceptions, of course.  "Press Conference Melee" opens with some stabbing, jabbing string writing which is distinctly Herrmannesque, but even here the cue goes on to become just a little droning, and the synths don't particularly work, pleasant though the piano solo which eventually emerges undoubtedly is.  The brief "Bo's Testimony" is heartfelt and lovely; and the finale, "Exoneration", is where Broughton finally comes into his own and provides an emotional and beautiful couple of minutes' music, before closing with more suspense- and synth-laden material.  All in all, though, One Tough Cop is one tough listen; for fans of the composer, the lengthy final cue alone is of sufficient quality to make it recommended, but for everyone else, there are many other wonderful Broughton scores to get first.

Tracks

1. The Marketta (6:00)
2. Aftermath (2:21)
3. Convent Crimes (4:07)
4. The Alley (1:47)
5. Defying Diaz (3:17)
6. Press Conference Melee (3:05)
7. The Shootings (4:02)
8. Bo's Testimony (2:20)
9. Exoneration (5:35)