Soundtrack Review: Vantage Point (2008)
This is a review of the Vantage Point score by Atli Örvarsson. Release date: February 26th 2008.
Before you go on, here’s a warning: If you hate Media Ventures (Remote Control Productions), Hans Zimmer or Steve Jablonsky, look away now. If you however think that they produce great action scores, and are not ashamed to admit that, read on. Atli Örvarsson might not be a name most people are not familiar with. I won’t hold it against you as I could not even find a Wikipedia page about this guy. What I do know is that he is from Iceland, and that in itself is quite a feat. Hans Zimmer said in an interview not long ago that if you are not from USA, you can forget scoring for the big movies, but that’s a positive side to Zimmer’s production company, it gives people like Atli Örvarsson a chance. He has previously scored for TV series such as NYPD Blue, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Dragnet and has worked closely with TV composing legend Mike Post. He has also collaborated with Hans Zimmer on The Holiday and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Just to make it clear, he is working with Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions. Here’s the track list of Vantage Point:
- Vantage Point Main Title
- Motorcade
- Enrique And Veronica
- Run Enrique Run
- Lewis And Anna
- President And Decoy
- The Chase Begins
- Serendipity
- Epilogue
- Tightening Circle
- Clockwork
- The President Is Safe
- Explosion Aftermath
- Suarez’ Plan
- Vantage Point End Title
The total playtime on this score is 41:20, which is pretty much the norm, a little on the short side perhaps. This is my first Atli Örvarsson score, and I have to say I am impressed. I can understand the criticism of Media Ventures, because a lot of the music who went to that “school” has a tendency to sound the same. It’s a fair criticism, but they do produce great action scores and this is no exception. From the moment you listen to it you get the feeling that this is a really well produced score from start to finish.
The main theme of Vantage is a nice one, and you immediately know what kind of score this is. You can hear a little Zimmer and Jablonsky in it, but also quite a bit of originality from Atli Örvarsson. The theme for this score has a nice action feel to it and the use of guitar is a great touch in between the electronic percussion and the strings. It then ventures a little bit into middle east, but keeps the score rooted in the action genre.
Like I said, it is a very well produced action score. The negative about this score is that you might have heard this a few times before. There is enough originality in there to keep you interested though, and I would argue that if you really know your music, you can hear originality in all Remote Control Productions scores. Vantage Point is certainly is a big step up from John Powell’s score to Jumper which I reviewed on Monday. Bottom line: I like it! Can’t wait for Atli Örvarsson next project which is Babylon A.D. Listen to Vantage Point below:
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[...] new movie Vantage Point has encouraged articles at YourMovieStuff.com and SoundtrackGeek… Different perspectives of the film. (Though the trailer looked interesting, it’s now [...]
Admittedly I am not one to pick up on nuances in soundtracks, especially in action movies. I can safely say that I recall VP’s score really helping build the anticipation and excitement whereas not even the score of Jumper could save that sinking ship of a movie. I need to start paying more attention to the music!
Reel Whore’s last blog post..More Than A Mouthful (02.22.08)
That’s what I like to hear! Yeah, for me the music is a character in the movie too, it’s a storytelling device and it really can make a lot of difference.
This is such an unoriginal score! Sorry, but I had to say this. 
this score = Spy Game + The Sentinel + Man on Fire + Déja Vu + crap
While the first 2 scores I mention are quite good, this one is just boring. Guitars like Man on Fire, hard electronics like Deja Vu, inspiration as usual (none that is), … I hadn’t much anticipation for this one anyway, but seeing this as a debut is just sad.
Vintage pointless actionscoring.
It certainly is unoriginal, like I mentioned in my review. Luckily unoriginal doesn’t mean it’s bad. Spy Game and Deja Vu are amazing scores, The Sentinel and Man on Fire is decent. Vantage Point is a well produced action score which makes a difference in the movie according to some reviews I’ve read.
Hehe I like that last one, good pun!
It is fast paced and it’s very interesting with the different viewpoints. Having great music for it helps of course 
I think it’s so funny how the guys that couldn’t write this stuff themselves are the first to critidize. The review was a fair one, and yes, of course it’s hard not to compare it to Mr. Zimmer himself, or Trevor Rabin, but it has a great mix of the spanish guitar, intense percussion, and slow strings. For a major film debut, I think this guy did a great job. Quit being hard on him just because you couldn’t do it yourself.
I loved this score. But I wish it could have been a little louder throughout the movie. I mean, I know that no director wants a movie to be ‘over-musiced’, but it seems that this one was a foot note in the movie. The movie was great. I loved the movie, and the score matched it perfectly.
Nathan: Well said!
VJ: I watched the movie after I listened to the score and I also wish it was more noticeable. The movie Hitman wasn’t a great one, but the score was very noticeable there and it actually made the movie a lot better.
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I am glad the score is good for this film, but the film itself looks awful.
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