Stephen Endelman

Actor Pierce Brosnan's production company is behind Evelyn, the "based-on-a-true-story" tale of a father in 1953 Ireland fighting for custody of his four children. Brosnan also stars, giving himself, as he puts it in his liner notes, "a chance to play emotional beats that I felt had been lacking from my work." (Guess the James Bond movies only give him a chance to play action beats.) For the low-key, heart-tugging film, Brosnan brought in composer Stephen Endelman, who contributes a score full of Irish folk music and calm orchestral cues. The soundtrack album is bookended with vocal tracks, starting with a newly written Van Morrison song with a venerable title ("Sitting on Top of the World") that is in his typical ballad style, but no less appealing for that, and ending with Norwegian singer Sissel's attractive "Angel Rays." Four tracks are actually played by the Irish group the Grogan Family, and two of those feature vocals by Brosnan, who, from the sound of it, is unlikely to branch out into a singing career anytime soon, but seems to enjoy his chance to play musical beats, too. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide