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A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

In many ways a seminal score, US Marshals has defined the way Jerry Goldsmith has scored action sequences ever since.  While by no means a classic, the movie is a distinctly above-average action thriller, a pseudo-sequel to The Fugitive with Tommy Lee Jones reprising his role from that movie, and it was very successful at the box office.  Goldsmith's use of a trumpet fanfare through the action sequences has since become a staple of his work; it's very effective, rather unlike what he was writing up to that point, and allows a high level of malleability while still being very dynamic music.

"Nuggets and Bullets" introduces us to the fanfare, a brief piece combining brass and a subtle electronic beat.  "Sinking Plane" introduces us to the strong action music, but it's in "Heading for the Swamp" when Goldsmith really hits home with a thrilling, exciting piece of music.  As I said, it is a style he has frequently repeated; probably the most notable occasions are Star Trek: Insurrection and The Last Castle, the action sequences of which have remarkable similarities to the work here.  "Swamp Search" is a classic piece of Goldsmith action/suspense music; six minutes long, it shows why he has always been (and still remains) in such demand for this type of film.  He is able to write such dynamic and interesting suspense music, something so very few film composers are able to do - most of them don't have a clue how to write interesting music for suspense sequences - perhaps they should give this score a listen!  The pounding piano, fluttering flute, pulse-pounding action when it comes - this is textbook stuff.

Things continue along much the same lines, with more terrific action pieces along the way (especially another six-minute cue, "Following Chen") - there's some dynamite material here.  Things end with a marvelous finale too, the romantic "Free to Go" in which the action theme is suddenly turned into a rousing string piece to wrap things up very nicely.  It's no doubt that the film is only an "ordinary" action thriller that the score has never got much attention, but it's actually one of Goldsmith's stronger efforts in the genre of the last decade or so and features many fine cues and some of his most dynamic and satisfying action music for one of these films since Basic Instinct.

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Tracks

1. Nuggets and Bullets (1:49)
2. Sinking Plane (4:20)
3. Heading for the Swamp (2:26)
4. Swamp Search (6:01)
5. Eyes on the City (2:17)
6. Airport Locker (1:54)
7. Following Chen (5:55)
8. The Front Gate (2:25)
9. Free to Go (2:37)