The soundtrack is really off-putting isn't it. At first listen, it would seem as if James Newton Howard composed with the movie on mute (or maybe without seeing the movie at all). But when you take a closer look, the irony and what Lou is doing in his own mind is made more clear through the music. The music portrays Lou as a hero in those situations because that is how he is viewing himself at those moment. The distorted electric guitar, especially in final shot of the film, presents Lou as this rockstar that has really made it in "his" industry. Of course we as audience know what he has done to get to that point of success, but that's not what he's focused on at all. He is focused on the job at hand and the success he is experiencing. In his eyes, he is a rockstar and the hero. He has done his job well and made a name for himself and his company (Video News Productions). As for the darker tones in the soundtrack, they come at points when Lou feels he is in danger. We are supposed to feel that danger with him in those times. Lou doesn't often feel like he's in danger, but when he does, the soundtrack makes it very clear. All in all, the soundtrack is very ironic at times to us as an audience, but it's meant to put us in Lou's shoes to get his perspective of his life and his occupation. Is it creepy and uncomfortable? Absolutely. But it sure is affective.
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