[The News Bot]

Reviewed by Chris McEneany, 30th September 2009
With the excellent releases of Lonely Are The Brave and The Twilight Zone: The Movie from FSM recently, and Intrada’s One Little Indian a few months ago, and the forthcoming complete score for Escape From The Planet Of The Apes, this is certainly turning into quite a boom-time for the late composer’s work.

Rent-a-Cop's score is not what I would call classic Goldsmith, not by any stretch of the imagination. But it elevates the movie and provides it with pace, danger and character and takes on a life of its own. As an album, it serves as a terrific reminder of how immaculately versatile and accomplished the composer was in a field that many may have considered to have been either too young for him, or even out of his traditional league altogether. With the plethora of electronic scores that filled the cinemas during that period, Goldsmith’s always stood out from the crowd. He incorporated some bold and overt synth-sounds, just like his contemporaries, but, unlike them, he was able to wrap them around melodic themes that held true to character. Personally speaking, this release is a great addition to an ever-growing collection of freshly unearthed and expanded scores from a man who has straddled every conceivable genre and placed his own inimitable stamp upon all of them.

This one fits right in alongside Extreme Prejudice, Under Fire and his renowned, though unused score for Alien Nation. A mediocre movie but a terrific score from the maestro. Goldsmith, once again, finds the essence of the story and paints it with a voice that brings it to life. Intrada’s earlier release was shorn of much of the score’s action cues, but this complete presentation restores them and provides fans with the best ever edition of the soundtrack. Reynolds, though by now a bit long in the tooth, was still a believably tough guy, but he was completely upstaged by Remar’s relentless hit-man. Goldsmith sets up the dynamic of the cat-and-mouse game superbly and creates some great moments of suspense. With a memorable main title theme and an exquisite combination of synth and symph, Rent-a-Cop makes for a marvellous bridge between the likes of the more macho Extreme Prejudice and the rough 'n' tumble epic scope of Rambo III.

Well recommended for Goldsmith's fans.


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