The Firm Soundtrack CD
The Firm.
1993, Paramount.
Dave Grusin.
MCA/GRP CD, 1993, GRM 20072
Rating: 
Based on a novel by John Grisham, The Firm, stars Tom Cruise as a successful, young and inexperienced lawyer who receives a job offer from a top firm only to discover it is rife with corruption. Grusin adopts his familiar jazz style but takes it in an interesting new direction with lively piano solos that capture the film’s energy. Cues such as ‘Main Title’, ‘Memphis Stomp’ and ‘The Plan’ are lively and affecting. ‘Mitch and Abby’ beautifully conveys the ebb and flow of the relationship between the two lead characters. The only real action cue on the album, ‘Mud Island Chase’ is a dark, complex piece, again on piano, that mirrors the action on screen as Mitch (Cruise) is pursued by would be killers. Grusin’s cues alternate with songs performed by Jimmy Buffett, Robben Ford and Lyle Lovett, who bring a mixture of MOR, country and combinations of both to the mix. Some of these tracks, such as M-O-N-E-Y by Lovett, which fits perfectly with the big bucks backbone of the film and ‘Never Mind’ by Nanci Griffith are crowd pleasers. Even ‘Start It Up’, performed by Robben Ford and the Blue Line, which sounds a little like something you might hear in a backwoods bar somewhere, is listenable. Still, there is a sense that had Grusin’s Academy Award and Grammy nominated score been given a more substantial role in the film, some of these tracks would have been shelved and Grusin’s work is just too good to be watered down by such lightweight fare.
The Firm Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. The Firm – Main Title (Dave Grusin)
2. Stars On The Water (Jimmy Buffett)
3. Mitch & Abby (Dave Grusin)
4. M-O-N-E-Y (Lyle Lovett)
5. Memphis Stomp (Dave Grusin)
6. Never Mind (Nanci Griffith)
7. Ray’s Blues (Dave Grusin)
8. Dance Class (Dave Grusin)
9. The Plan (Dave Grusin)
10. Blues: The Death Of Love & Trust (Dave Grusin)
11. Start It Up (Robbin Ford & The Blue Line)
12. Mud Island Chase (Dave Grusin)
13. How Could You Lose Me? – End Title (Dave Grusin)
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