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Also intriguing to think that for all the criticism he (rightfully) launched at Sarah Palin in 2008, she must seem like child’s play compared to Trump.
A sweet film filled with many highlights, but also some 5-6 warts which has been the standard for Burton ever since after the marvelous BIG FISH. The warts include wooden acting (or possibly stale direction from Burton), a lack of energy in the first 2/3rds, a bit whimsical plot, some radical tone shifts (including an over-the-top finale) and — yes — the music. I’m a big fan of Margeson, especially after his stunning EDDIE THE EAGLE earlier this year, but except for a few Elfman-ian elements (celeste, female voices, organ), it’s far more conventional, relying on the ubiquitous ostinati and typical contemporary Hollywood action/suspense tropes. But loved the electronic celeste for the ‘loop’ areas. Maybe it works better on album, we’ll see.
On the plus side is a reliance on character interaction and less on CGI spectacle, a more subtle incorporation of Burton elements (like twisted figures, burlesque situations, play with dark and shadow, contrast between monochrome and stale everyday images etc.). Also some stunning static shots that I’ve never seen in Burton films before.
So variable in quality, but overall I would place it in the upper echelon of Burton’s output post-BIG FISH. And he has a super-brief cameo in it!
Not much; I threw mine in the trash bin after it was released commercially. What do you want to know?
I come from a slightly different angle than most of you.
My favourite Elfman sound these days is the textural stuff for smaller films (I can’t take 90% of his big, symphonic blockbuster scores), so in theory this should be right up my alley. However, I was not particularly impressed by the samples. They seemed to meander needlessly. But I’ll await final judgement untill I’ve heard the whole thing.
I’d be interested in those raw files, Dr. Giggles, if you would be willing to share (but perhaps we’re now bordering on illegal discussions).
As long as we’re talking ‘puppet’-related things, I wish he recorded THE FORTUNE TELLER at some point. I have the main theme, which is gorgeous, but that’s it.
Indeed.
From what I know, he only did the “Uncle Martin theme”, so the challenge is to pick out the cues that features this cue prominently.
I was just curious if he did any more beyond that, though.
Classic error in the article, though:
“Meanwhile, Elfman is as busy as ever scoring The Simpsons as well as the horror flick Before I Wake -…”
A CIVIL ACTION is OK, I think. And I actually like INSTINCT quite a bit, but then Anthony Hopkins is my second favourite actor of all time.
Ha! I LOVE TERMINATOR: SALVATION! Hugely underrated.
As for turds scored by Elfman, I would count FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, HOT TO TROT, FLUBBER and arguably BIG EYES and PLANET OF THE APES (although they DO have some redeeming features).
Well, I’d argue that NOVOCAINE was at least as “famous” (relatively speaking) as CABIN BOY, even if he did with Danny. Or the two episodes he did of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.
I’ll check out the featurette (sounds interesting!), but I’ll be damned if I watch the horrible film again.
Does anyone have an audio rip of this opening music that they could send me? That would be mightily appreciated.
I doubt that, but I would LOVE to see him go all-electronic again — like the Tangerine Dream-like main theme he wrote for WISDOM back in ’86.
I think that’s fairly common for any big composer of Elfman’s calibre. But yeah — I know what you mean. For example, I wish there was more “hooplah” surrounding his smaller, more intimate, textural, minimalist, pop-infused scores these days, as that’s my main attraction to him now (I don’t care much for his big blockbuster scores; it often comes off as noisy approximations of what he did much better 15 years ago and beyond).
Ha, ha…thanks for sharing! Is this from the Jeff Bond’s Elfman book in the Burton box? I don’t have that myself….
Either way, a cool glimpse into the past (late 60s or early 70s, I presume). Danny should have kept the hairstyle!
Mothersbaugh and Elfman are old friends from the PEE WEE’S PLAYHOUSE days, as far as I know, but I doubt they’d collaborate on this. In fact, I dont’ think either will be involved. It sounds like a rather silly and random idea to combine these two things.
