Tuesday, C4, 2:05am
In Logan (2017), director James Mangold delivers a gritty, emotionally charged farewell to Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, marking the end of an era for the X-Men franchise. Set in a near-future dystopia, the film follows an older, world-weary Logan as he cares for a frail Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) while reluctantly safeguarding a young mutant, Laura (Dafne Keen), who shares his clawed DNA. If you're looking for your typical spandex-clad superhero film with bombastic action scenes and quippy one-liners, this isn't it. Instead, Logan is a stripped-down, almost Western-like meditation on aging, loss, and redemption, with a level of brutality and emotional depth that caught many fans off guard.
Now, let's talk music. The film’s composer, Marco Beltrami, had worked with Mangold before on The Wolverine, so he knew his way around the adamantium claws. But for Logan, Beltrami dials things down, crafting a sparse, haunting score that echoes the raw, bleak landscape of the film. Minimalist piano notes, ominous strings, and a restrained use of percussion work together to underscore Logan’s inner turmoil. It’s not a score that’s going to blow your speakers out – it’s a quiet, melancholic accompaniment that mirrors the slower, more thoughtful pace of the film. Beltrami’s use of silence is just as powerful as the music itself, giving weight to the film's many intense and somber moments. If anything, it makes the violence more personal and real.
For soundtrack collectors, Logan might not offer the most bombastic score in superhero history, but it’s one of the most affecting. The score is available in various formats, including a limited vinyl release, which pairs beautifully with the film's Western influences. While it didn’t win any major awards, the soundtrack adds a layer of introspection that complements Logan's last hurrah. It's a melancholic finale – not just for the character, but for a particular brand of superhero cinema. And let's face it, after the emotional rollercoaster Logan puts you through, you might want something quiet to listen to anyway.