The Cooler

Rating

Album: The Cooler
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Cooler, The
2)	Better Life Motel / Tables On Fire
3)	Candy
4)	You Leave Me No Choice
5)	Shangri-La
6)	Luck Be a Lady
7)	Amateurs
8)	Can I Steal a Little Love
9)	Look in My Eyes
10)	I'll String Along with You
11)	Heartbroken
12)	My Funny Valentine
13)	Almost Like Being in Love
14)	Leaving las Vegas

Performer Notes

Original score composed by Mark Isham.
Includes liner notes by Wayne Kramer.
Composer: Mark Isham.
Mark Isham's elegant score for first time director Wayne Kramer's The Cooler is an atmospheric tour de force that revels in the sensual, sadistic, energy of Las Vegas. His understanding of Sin City nostalgia is evident on the title track, a sweeping collage that incorporates the brass-kitsch of Bacharach, moody string sections reminiscent of early Scott Walker, and bursts of bawdy excess that radiate with showgirl finesse. The beautiful "Shangri-La" introduces a spooky, wistful trumpet motif that sneaks its way into other pieces like a marked card, and captures the loneliness and uncertainty inherent in William H. Macy's sympathetic performance as an unlucky better whom the casino inserts into tables of high-rollers to cool their good fortune. Cast members contribute their own versions of standards with mixed results. Paul Sorvino's version of "You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me" works in the context of the film, but as a singular listening experience falls awfully short of spectacular, and *NSYNC crooner Joey Fatone warbles tunelessly through "Can I Steal a Little Love" like a karaoke virgin. Legit lounge lizards like Diana Krall and Tierney Sutton gracefully work through songs they've been singing since childhood, while Vegas staples Bobby Caldwell, who does Sinatra better than Sinatra on "Luck Be a Lady," and Rebecca Kyler Downs come off like employees of Pulp Fiction's netherworld eatery Jack Rabbit Slims. These slices of gambler's paradise work more like aberrations within Isham's score -- they excite, inform, and occasionally interrupt -- but they're merely the bread that surrounds the delicious filling that makes The Cooler one of the best soundtracks of 2003. ~ James Christopher Monger

Fishpond works with suppliers all over the world to bring you a huge selection of products, really great prices, and delivery included on over 25 million products that we sell. We do our best every day to make Fishpond an awesome place for customers to shop and get what they want — all at the best prices online.

About Fishpond

You can earn a 5% commission by selling The Cooler on your website. It's easy to get started - we will give you example code. After you're set-up, your website can earn you money while you work, play or even sleep! You should start right now!

Are you the Author or Publisher of a book? Or the manufacturer of one of the millions of products that we sell. You can improve sales and grow your revenue by submitting additional information on this title. The better the information we have about a product, the more we will sell!

Submit Information