Another slow news week yields another fun-ish poll rather than something a little more interesting. Oh well.
In any case, with yesterday’s item about Danny Elfman taking up scoring duties on Joe Johnston’s “The Wolf Man” and some light Oscar discussion around the composer, I thought I’d ask for your favorites. It’s difficult to put the right list together, and inevitably, some of the Tim Burton stuff has to go to make room for things like “Dick Tracy” that really deserve to be on a list of 10 (well, nine plus an “other” option).
So have at it in the poll. What’s your favorite Danny Elfman score? Feel free to discuss his work below.
Comments
12 responses to “POLL: What’s your favorite Danny Elfman score?”
You forgot to add Edward Scissorhands on your poll. It is by far, his most memorable and enchanting work.
Reuben’s has already mentioned this, but: what, no Edward Scissorhands? That’s the best: beautiful, tragic, the main reason the movie works as well as it does, especially in sequences like Winona Ryder’s “ice dance”.
I omitted it at the last second. Something had to go. Maybe I’ll take off “Dick Tracy” and replace. I really do want “Edward” on there…
Easy… “Edward Scissorhands.”
I’m stunned that I’m the only one who’s cast a vote for Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, which is by far Elfman’s most inventive, daring and dynamic score. It strikes a wide range of tones from playful to ominous, even scary, and employs all sorts of radical instrumentations. Elfman’s score is largely responsible for the picture’s ability to jump between radically different tones and atmosphere from scene to scene.
I love most of his work, but Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is such a wild, untamed animal that I think it will always define Elfman for me and stand as his greatest achievement in film scoring.
I always liked what he did for Dick Tracy, but I voted for Beetlejuice.
“The Grand Finale” from “Edward Scissorhands” is absolutely glorious. Chill-inducing, especially when you have the imagery to accompany it.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Gorgeous.
Midnight run
I agree. Midnight Run is my favorite. All the others run together for me.
It may not be his best but the original score for “Forbidden Zone” will hold a special place in my heart especially since I’m a huge Oingo Boingo fan.
You forgot Midnight Run