MovieScore Media releases Philippe Jakko's tense thriller score for Kaufman's Game. The film tells the story of Stanley, a young man who dream of becoming a champion boxer despite the fact his physical build makes him unsuitable for such heavy workload. When a stranger approaches him outside the gym with the offer of a specially produced steroid, Stanley gets drawn into the increasingly more violent operations of a powerful organization, while unwittingly entering into a series of tests designed to prove his mettle...

Philippe Jakko's (Allies) score for Kaufman's Game uses an unusual orchestral ensemble. He incorporates unconventional harmonies, atonal moments, glissandi, quarter tones; harmonics. Instruments include strings, horns, electronic synths, cristal baschet, vintage organ, programmings and a few parts for cello, played by soloist Eve Marie Caravassilis.

What's impressive about this score is that it could pretty much fit the mood for any genre movie from Horror, to Suspense, to Drama... Okay, not any genre - it would sound a bit weird in a Romantic Comedy... but you get my drift.

There are lots of interesting and engaging segments across these 20 tracks (1 hr, 04 min, 06 sec), with personal highlights including 'The Boxer' (which is eerie); ' Gunshot in the Street' (which slowly builds suspense and adds an unnerving quality to the score).

Oddly enough, it's not actually a soundtrack that I'd normally want to listen to for pleasure. Mainly because there's no real meaty themes to get behind, in the main. However, while the theme laden 'Kaufman' is the exception (and is arguably this album's standout highlight), each track is interesting in its own right.

9

Darren Rea