The Informant! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

iTunes Review

Composer Marvin Hamlisch is probably best known for the music he wrote in the ‘70s for two films, The Sting and The Way We Were, and the Broadway musical A Chorus Line. In 2009, he scored The Informant!, a movie that humorously tells the tale of a corporate whistleblower with his own share of personal flaws. Even though the film is based on real-life events of the ‘90s, director Steven Soderbergh imbues it with a ‘70s vibe, a tone enhanced by Hamlisch’s music. The composer is masterful at writing both lush pieces that brim with sentiment, and light, perky tunes. The opening track, “The Informant,” features piano that could haunt a moody cocktail lounge, and nice use of trumpet and harmonica. “Meet Mark” is a happy, jazzy shuffle tickled by organ stabs and flute riffs. The Informant! deals with corporate espionage, so it’s no surprise that “Car Meeting,” with its brash horns and surf guitar, playfully references the music of James Bond film composer John Barry. The album closes with a jaunty piece for solo piano.