The Score (2021) - A Movie Review

Some things come easy. Maybe not the ones you want.

The Score is a 2021 film. Two crooks bunker in a secluded cafe waiting for a big deal to fall through. While they are waiting, they evaluate their lives as they come together to orchestrate a daring heist.

My friend has recommended The Score to me several times so I thought I would check it out. The Score is a unique film that attempts something different but it could have undergone a stronger planning process. Taking place in a small setting, The Score is a captivating story, albeit a slow film.

Will Poulter, Naomi Atkie, and Johnny Flynn were an excellent trio of actors. The characters are guilty of something. In addition, they want to escape but for different reasons. The Score is a heavy dialogue story to which the actors did a great job emitting in their interactions and relationships.

Based on what I have seen him in, I didn’t think Poulter could pull off an ambitious film like this. Turns out, I was wrong. I was blown away by his impressive vocals and the connection to his character, Troy.

Since Naomi Atkie only sang 5% of her own vocals in her portrayal as Whitney Houston in the 2022 biopic, it was nice to finally hear Atkie sing in The Score. Atkie was terrific in the way she guided her character, being instinctive and staying on guard.

I enjoyed Poulter and Atkie’s interactions the most. Developing a blossoming relationship, the film is a full hour of listening to them be snarky and sarcastic.

Johnny Flynn is another wonderful actor who is versatile in any role he is given. Flynn's portrayal of Mike is equally captivating, capturing the enigmatic nature of his character through his musical abilities. Not only did he act, but he also wrote all the songs. He is a talented songwriter.

The first thing my friend told me about this movie is that it occupies a slow build up. Pay close attention to every detail and what this film is alluding to. Although there is not much action, the dialogue is a necessary setup of character information.

The inclusion of song numbers is what makes this film memorable. Music is in every scene of the film, growing more intense. Set up like a music video, the slow tunes and awkward placement of songs are necessary.

The musical sequences are seamlessly woven into the plot, providing a unique and refreshing approach to storytelling. The songs occupy a slow tempo which flows with the movie’s atmosphere. It makes it more intimidating because of the urgent situation.

Malachi Smyth accomplished the dynamic and the film’s technical work. Staging is an enormous part of this movie. Camera angles drive the tension of the scene. In the end, split-screen techniques were used to display different motions of actions. I wonder what this film would have been like if it was shot in black and white.

The setting plays an immense effect in the story. Taking place in a small cafe, the overall design represents a calming atmosphere, but fear and tension lingering in the air. The grounds of the cafe are also explored. I liked when Troy and Gloria swung on the swingsets.

Not all audiences will like The Score. I liked some aspects, preferably the performances and musical score but the ending was rushed. The title of the film has multiple meanings. Based on how you interpret it, The Score is a sweet romantic story. You need to check out The Score on Tubi. It’s something different.