Archive
STRAW DOGS – Larry Groupé
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton
The original Straw Dogs, which was directed by Sam Peckinpah, hit unsuspecting cinema goers like a hammer in 1971, and was an incredibly controversial film in it’s time. The film tells the story of a mild mannered American academic David (originally played by Dustin Hoffman) and his pleasant English wife Amy (originally played by Susan George), who move to a rural part of England and immediately become the subject of increasingly intense harassment by the locals. Things come to a head after Amy is brutally raped by several local men who are ostensibly working on the house, and before long David finds himself having to defend his house, his family, and his life, from circumstances that are spiraling out of control. The original film’s controversy arose due to the fact that, during the rape sequence, it was left intentionally ambiguous as to whether the Amy character actually enjoyed being raped, and this possible misogynism left a nasty taste in the mouths of censors and cinema viewers at the time. This remake of the film is directed by Rod Lurie, stars James Marsden and Kate Bosworth in the lead roles, and relocates the action from rural England to the Deep South of Mississippi, a regular location for the cinematic depiction of shitty-shoed rednecks and their unsavory sexual proclivities. Read more…
RESURRECTING THE CHAMP – Larry Groupé
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton
A powerful sports drama directed by Rod Lurie, Resurrecting the Champ stars Josh Hartnett as up-and-coming sports writer Erik Kernan. One day, Erik steps in to saves a homeless man from being beaten up by a group of rowdy college kids, and unexpectedly discovered that the intended victim is not some random bum, but former boxing great Bob Satterfield (Samuel L. Jackson), once believed to have passed away but who had actually fallen on hard times. Intent on writing Satterfield’s story, and ‘rescuing’ the ex-champion from what he sees to be an ignominious fate, Erik and Bob strike up an unlikely friendship, the knock-on effect from which is an opportunity for Erik to reexamine his own life, and especially his relationship with his young son (Dakota Goyo) and his ex-wife (Kathryn Morris). Read more…
THE CONTENDER – Larry Groupé
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton
Established orchestrators often find it difficult to disassociate themselves and carve out a solo composing career for themselves, out of the shadow of the (usually) more famous composer they have assisted for many years. Over the years, Jerry Goldsmith, Alexander Courage and the late Arthur Morton have been perfect examples. In recent years, artists such as Nicholas Dodd, Tim Simonec, Thomas Pasatieri and Ken Kugler have remained firmly behind their employers, while others such as Mark McKenzie, Hummie Mann and most noticeably Don Davis have emerged as composing talents in their own right. Larry Groupé looks likely to join this latter group very shortly; finally appearing from out of composer/director John Ottman’s backroom and taking center stage on a project worthy of his talents. Read more…
DETERRENCE – Larry Groupé
Original Review by Jonathan Broxton
Despite being better known as a regular collaborator on John Ottman’s scores (he conducted and/or orchestrated Apt Pupil, The Cable Guy, Incognito, Snow White: A Tale Of Terror and The Usual Suspects), Larry Groupé is also a composer in his own right, and of considerable talent. Through his website, Larry is making several of his recent scores available for on-line purchase by collectors, one of the few composers who actively promote their own work in this way.
Deterrence, a political thriller starring Timothy Hutton and directed by Rod Lurie, is one of these new scores, and is certainly one which deserves to be heard by a wider audience. Read more…
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