Hart's War (Score)

Though it's set in a World War II German POW camp, Gregory Hoblit's adaptation of John Katzenbach's 1999 novel, Hart's War, shares little in common with previous genre staples like Stalag 17 and The Great Escape. As its battlegrounds are often internalized, its heroic concerns more personal and moral, Rachel Portman was called upon to impart a sense of darkly dramatic weight that also stands in stark contrast to the heroic martial music that characterized Elmer Bernstein's classic Great Escape score. And while her mournful solo trumpet theme fits the film's dramatic motifs perfectly, much of the remainder can seem like repetitive exercises in minor-key tension-building. As is sometimes the case, music that's evocative set against a film's images can be problematic when forced to stand on its own. Those captivated by the gentle, sprightly pastoralism of Portman's music for The Cider House Rules and Chocolat may find this one a bit too somber and limited in scope for their tastes. --Jerry McCulley