Rating: 3
The Specialist is a score in three pieces. One piece is based on nothing less than a classic theme, Did You Call Me?. It is every bit the equal of Body Heat — lithe, silky, seductive. Absolutely top notch Barry. It works terrifically both on screen, painting the dangerous sexuality forming between the film’s main characters, and on disc.
The second and third pieces (suspense and action) have their moments, such as The Parking Lot Bomb, an excellent cue, but falls flat at times. Some of the suspense work is monotonous, while the action music has a tendency to sound like very tired Bond.
The score holds up against the wider average of film music but disappoints when compared to the more gripping, fresher action and suspense music of so many other Barry’s scores. The album is worth it for Did You Call Me? alone, though.