In a move that’s not entirely odd or surprising considering he scored, “Step Brothers,” musician/composer extraordinaire Jon Brion has been chosen to score Adam McKay’s “The Other Guys” starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as bumbling B-list detectives hoping to take down a shady billionaire financier (Steve Coogan) while also trying to show up two superstar policeman (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson).
According to recent test screenings Brion’s name was listed as the composer, but its unknown if he enlisted any special musicians to assist again this time. For “Step Brothers” Brion — known for scoring the films of Michel Gondry, Paul Thomas Anderson, David O. Russell and Charlie Kaufman — tapped Wilco guitar-savant Nels Cline and Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier.
It may not be hugely discernible as a Brion score however. “The Step Brothers” music was extremely subtle and in the background, save in a few spots, and a a test screening reviewer says, “you can barely tell [it’s Brion] because it sounds like the soundtrack to any other action film.” Perhaps he’s just servicing the scenes – which is essentially what you’re supposed to do anyhow.
Brion’s last score is Charlie Kaufman’s “Synechdoche, New York,” and his composing oeuvre includes “Punch Drunk Love” and “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind,” the latter of which is generally recognized as one of the best scores of the past decade.
“The Other Guys” also stars Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Ray Stevenson, and Rob Riggle. Landing the film is a big coup for Mendes who named “Anchorman” her greatest film of all time when asked by the American Film Institute according to the Summer Issue of EW. “I quote it on a daily basis,” she said of the film noting that working with Ferrell and McKay is “my version of [working with] Scorsese.”
“The Other Guys” hits theaters August 6. Our biggest concern? “Step Brothers” was ludicrous and funny, but Rated R. “The Other Guys” only has PG-13 rating.
