Awards for Williams and Newman and CD REVIEW; Code Name: The Cleaner


Congratulations to John Williams, who received a nice birthday present, a pair of Grammys for Best Score Album for Memoirs of a Geisha and Best Instrumental Composition for "A Prayer For Peace" from Munich.

Randy Newman has also been honoured, winning in the Music in an Animated Feature Production category of the 34th Annual Annie Awards for his work on Cars.

Code Name: The Cleaner
Music by George S. Clinton
Varese Sarabande VSD 6785 (EU)
10 Tracks 42:24 mins

This vehicle for Cedric The Entertainer, finds him as an amnesiac who may or may not be an undercover operative. The film also stars NicolletteSheridan from desperate Housewives and Lucy Liu.
Clinton's score is largely based around a sneaky theme that moves along to a rhythmic techno undercurrent, with occasional whimsical woodwind embellishments. There are occasional bursts of action to keep one from totally nodding off through all this sneakiness and suspense, and some powerful Oriental drumming, with mysterious flute flourishes, possibly representing the Lucy Liu character.
The most enjoyable cue is "Dutch Dance," an accordion-lead oompah number, which finds itself competing with the techno rhythms as it proceeds to its climax. "Jake and Gina" is also notable for its cool walking groove.