Like the film it accompanies, Marc Shaiman's The American President focuses more on romance than on politics, even if the two ultimately prove inextricable. Shaiman's soft-focus themes radiate warmth and affection, buoyed by a wry comic sensibility that keeps their saccharine level in check. Nevertheless, the music's emphasis is squarely on the first half of the romantic comedy equation, and its eloquence and sophistication deserve praise. That said, it's The American President's flag-waving main theme that proves most ...
Read More
Like the film it accompanies, Marc Shaiman's The American President focuses more on romance than on politics, even if the two ultimately prove inextricable. Shaiman's soft-focus themes radiate warmth and affection, buoyed by a wry comic sensibility that keeps their saccharine level in check. Nevertheless, the music's emphasis is squarely on the first half of the romantic comedy equation, and its eloquence and sophistication deserve praise. That said, it's The American President's flag-waving main theme that proves most memorable; it's a stirring, deeply patriotic composition with the gravitas necessary to resurface in trailers for Steven Spielberg's World War II epic Saving Private Ryan, and undoubtedly one of Shaiman's signature moments. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
Read Less