Soundtracks Reviews

The Express: The Ernie Davis Story – Soundtrack Review

By Sue Klasky Dec 1, 2008, 13:32 GMT

1. Prologue, 2. Jackie Robinson, 3. Elmira, 4. Lacrosse, 5. Training, 6. A Meeting, 7. A Good Man, 8. I\'m Staying In, 9. Cotton Bowl, 10. Don\'t Lose Yourselfs, 11. Ernie Davis, 12. Heisman, 13. Draft, 14. Rain, 15. I\'m An Optimist, 16. What Kind Of Bottle, 17. The Express. ...more

The Express: The Ernie Davis Story is based on the inspirational life of Syracuse University college football hero Ernie Davis who was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

It is also about his relationship with his college coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Though he was drafted by the National Football League, he was unable to play due to being diagnosed with leukemia in 1962, and died in 1963. Yet he became another hero to the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Among the cast are actors Rob Brown as Davis, Dennis Quaid as coach Schwartzwalder, and Charles S. Dutton as Willie "Pops" Davis. The film was directed by Gary Felder. Over the years, he has directed many episodes of TV shows including Life on Mars, October Road, and The Evidence.

Well-known trumpeter and recording artist Mark Isham composed the film score. Since 1983, he has composed music for films such as Never Cry Wolf, The Black Dahlia, The Cooler, A River Runs Through It, Reversal of Fortune, Fly Away, Blade and Nell.

His orchestral music for The Express is almost reverential and quiet in tone. Yet it is often dramatic and sweeping. There are some tracks that carry a musical theme through them, connecting the songs.

The cut I like the best is the action-oriented "Training." I like the drums that appear half-way through the track.

If you are a fan of Mark Isham's music, you will want to get this CD.