While composers coming out of Hans Zimmer's unique Media Ventures studio are frequently criticised for all sounding the same, this is a rather unfair assertion to make - not many of them impress me on any kind of consistent basis (save for Zimmer himself) but Media Ventures composers have obviously been well-trained to handle most kinds of movie (Klaus Badelt can move from The Pledge to The Time Machine, say, and John Powell from Chicken Run to The Bourne Identity).  Another case in point is Harry Gregson-Williams, who is most well-known for his scores for Dreamworks animations (often co-composed with Powell, but his recent Sinbad - a real favourite with fans - was a solo effort).  And now he has tackled Veronica Guerin, an unusual choice of project for both director Joel Schumacher and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.  It's about an Irish journalist - played by Cate Blanchett - who is murdered by a drugs gang she infiltrates.

Gregson-Williams's music takes a somewhat predictable road, but is none-the-worse for it.  I suppose it's like a toned-down version of Elliot Goldenthal's masterpiece Michael Collins - right down to having Sinead O'Connor sing a couple of original songs.  Lovely Irish lilts alternate with modern, laid-back electronica.  It's not the kind of music that reaches out and grabs you, but if you really pay attention to it then there are rewards to be had.  I wouldn't usually associate Gregson-Williams with particularly emotional music, but his approach here is admirably low-key and completely avoids any Hollywood schmaltz (something which I suspect could not be said about Schumacher's direction - though I know one shouldn't comment about these things before seeing the film!)

This is a score that is completely unspectacular, but makes for a very solid listen.  It shows impressive versatility for Gregson-Williams, doing this straight after Phone Booth and Sinbad, and I'm sure we'll be hearing good things from him in the future.  The album is on Hollywood Records and features unusually lengthy (and interesting) notes from the composer.

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