Music Review: Various Artists – ‘The GAMBIT – Original Soundtrack’

The GAMBIT – Original Soundtrack from Lakeshore Records is all about tempo. This recommended music soundtrack provides great energy to echo Cameron Diaz’s infectious charisma. This comedy crime caper follows an “art curator [who] decides to seek revenge on his abusive boss by conning him into buying a fake Monet, but his plan requires the help of an eccentric and unpredictable Texas rodeo queen.” Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Diaz, Tom Courtenay, and Stanley Tucci star, while Michael Hoffman directs the Joel and Ethan Coen screenplay from Sidney Carroll’s short story – this film is also a remake of the 1996 film (same title) starring Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine.

This relatively short music soundtrack mixes southwest songs with a classic caper score. Songs from Robby Armstrong, Peggy Lee, and Moe Brandy begin the approximately 37-minute soundtrack.

California native Armstrong kicks off the tone well with his hit single “Rodeo,” a rhythm-filled crowd pleaser with a fun, driving beat. It’s hard not to dance or at least tap your feet to this solid song while Armstrong’s clear voice make the lyrics very distinct and understandable. Third song “Birthday Happy” is equally appealing, while his “Smokin & Drinkin” provides a deeper experience due to the lyrics and backing vocals, but does not really take hold until the revealing bridge. Armstrong also has an acting cameo in the film.

The fourth song, “Once” by Peggy Lee, has an incredible flute part that complements her voice perfectly. Then the familiar unofficial state theme song “Deep in the Heart of Texas” features the original vocals of Moe Brandy recorded in 1941.

The original score music from Rolfe Kent (About Schmidt, Sideways, Up in the Air) kicks off with the “Gambit Overture” that nicely incorporates other songs, movements, and melodies from this soundtrack. Wolfe utilizes various instruments while blending music genres including jazz and swing. Listeners can instantly get a sense of scores from classic 1960s films, like the 1966 Gambit while receiving a vibrant emotional bath of melodies and instrumentation.

“Harry’s Fantasy Appraisal” and “Harry Exposes the Fake” feature great tempo changes at the end and “The Savoy _ Ming Vase” emulates those classic caper movie melodies like The Pink Panther. “PJ Gets Personal” packs in great emotion while revealing what’s happening without any visuals. “Harry Meets the Lion” is another highlight, while “Meanwhile” prompts listeners to dance, but it is so short that it interrupts the flow. An extended “Meanwhile” version would have been ideal.

Kent received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme for the hit Showtime series Dexter. In 2010, Kent was honored at the 2010 Vision Awards with Dan Rather, Steve Jobs, and Buzz Aldrin.  In 2012, Kent was awarded BMI’s Richard Kirk Award for outstanding achievement in film and television music.

The GAMBIT – Original Soundtrack will definitely get you moving in one way or another with a nice genre blend between country western and classic orchestral music. It’s available digitally and as a disc on demand. The one hour and 29-minute GAMBIT film is available on home video and video on demand.