Product Review

Although it received no awards, Jerry Goldsmith's music for this endearing football drama is his most-heard work after Patton. Goldsmith reteamed with the filmmakers of Hoosiers for this similar true-life account of a sports underdog, in this case pint-size Rudy Ruettiger, who dreamed of playing for Notre Dame. Goldsmith is at his best finding the rhythmic Middle America, and the "Tryouts" track illustrates Goldsmith's playful variations of a common movie theme. The fully orchestrated, grandstanding finale is a stirring piece of music that inspires in its own right. These building themes--with a motif of Western movie flair--have made this soundtrack well known, but not connected with the film. Numerous studios have used the score for coming-attraction trailers (including the seemingly passive Good Will Hunting). The full soundtrack is well worth having versus just hearing the oft-used bits. --Doug Thomas