Milk
Danny Elfman
" Gay rights suit Danny Elfman "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Milk, one of the more respected movies of 2008 (directed by Gus Van Sant) won 2 Oscars, while being nominated in various categories as well (including for best original score). Yet I somehow feel that Milk is a bit forgotten, if one simply reminds himself it was released during the same period Wanted aired as well. After all, Wanted was for many the score of the year of Danny Elfman! So is Milk worthy of this forgetfulness? No, on the contrary, it is one of Elfman's more approachable scores of the past few years.
Milk opens with a bunch of songs (including classic entries of David Bowie and Sylvester), but the real interest goes to Danny Elfman's charming score. Constructed in the same way as Hans Zimmer's Frost / Nixon, the score is a continuation of shorts tracks that bring something meaningful during the listen, yet lack the classic oomph which keeps them from hitting memorable status at the end of the score. Like so many of today's music, it is lovely on the years during it, not memorably recognizable after it.
The noble opening with "Harvey's Theme" is a surprising Williams eque piece, and the jazzy "Main Titles" feels nicely at home here. But the most interesting tracks are by far the lovely "The Kiss", the dancing delight of "Politics is Theater", the noble warm sound of "New Hope", the light suspenseful "Gay Rights Now" and "The Debates" (which remind me a lot of Zimmer's Frost / Nixon) or the Big Fish inspired tracks "Harvey's Last Day" and "Give 'Em Hope".
The most wonderful moment though comes at the end of "Postscript" when Elfman's sprightly music makes room for the most charming choral music Elfman has done in a couple of years. The hidden bonus tracks "Anita's Theme" continues this choral magic briefly while "Main Titles Sax Solo" brings us sleazy sax music.
I have an easier time enjoying myself during the listen of Milk than trying to remember specific tracks at the end of the entire score. Milk is one of the many examples of musical scores that stands for what filmmusic is today. Lovely and well written, but not classic so that you won't remember it that easy after a week. It nonetheless made the year of Elfman complete, and it secured him back in the saddle once again. Milk is definitely one of the more appreciated works of the year 2008, and any fan wanting a little Elfman magic will find this lightly example pleasantly hidden in a carton of Milk.
Songs: ***12
Score: ***12
Tracklisting
1. Queen Bitch: David Bowie (3.14)
2. Everyday People: Sly & The Family Stone (2.21)
3. Rock the Boat: Hues Corporation (3.18)
4. You Make me Feel (Mighty Real): Sylvester (6.34) Excellent track
5. Hello, Hello: Sopwith Camel (2.24)
6. Prelude No.7 in E flat: The Swingle Singers (2.39)
7. Harvey's Theme One (1.11)
8. Main Titles (3.06)
9. Harvey's Will (1.41)
10. The Castro (0.59)
11. The Kiss (0.45)
12. Politics is Theater (3.15) Excellent track
13. New Hope (1.46)
14. Harvey Wins (0.31)
15. Proposition 6 (1.25)
16. Repealed Rights (1.03)
17. Gay Rights Now! (2.20)
18. Dog Poo (0.25)
19. Vote Passes (0.53)
20. Briggs Pushing (0.44)
21. The Debates (2.48)
22. Weepy Donuts (0.52)
23. Harvey's Last Day (3.11)
24. Give 'Em Hope (4.42) Excellent track
25. Postscript (2.03) Excellent track
26. Harvey's Theme Two (1.00)
Bonus Tracks
27. Anita's Theme (0.52)
28. Main Titles Sax Solo (2.32)
Total Length: 59.03
Milk opens with a bunch of songs (including classic entries of David Bowie and Sylvester), but the real interest goes to Danny Elfman's charming score. Constructed in the same way as Hans Zimmer's Frost / Nixon, the score is a continuation of shorts tracks that bring something meaningful during the listen, yet lack the classic oomph which keeps them from hitting memorable status at the end of the score. Like so many of today's music, it is lovely on the years during it, not memorably recognizable after it.
The noble opening with "Harvey's Theme" is a surprising Williams eque piece, and the jazzy "Main Titles" feels nicely at home here. But the most interesting tracks are by far the lovely "The Kiss", the dancing delight of "Politics is Theater", the noble warm sound of "New Hope", the light suspenseful "Gay Rights Now" and "The Debates" (which remind me a lot of Zimmer's Frost / Nixon) or the Big Fish inspired tracks "Harvey's Last Day" and "Give 'Em Hope".
The most wonderful moment though comes at the end of "Postscript" when Elfman's sprightly music makes room for the most charming choral music Elfman has done in a couple of years. The hidden bonus tracks "Anita's Theme" continues this choral magic briefly while "Main Titles Sax Solo" brings us sleazy sax music.
I have an easier time enjoying myself during the listen of Milk than trying to remember specific tracks at the end of the entire score. Milk is one of the many examples of musical scores that stands for what filmmusic is today. Lovely and well written, but not classic so that you won't remember it that easy after a week. It nonetheless made the year of Elfman complete, and it secured him back in the saddle once again. Milk is definitely one of the more appreciated works of the year 2008, and any fan wanting a little Elfman magic will find this lightly example pleasantly hidden in a carton of Milk.
Songs: ***12
Score: ***12
Tracklisting
1. Queen Bitch: David Bowie (3.14)
2. Everyday People: Sly & The Family Stone (2.21)
3. Rock the Boat: Hues Corporation (3.18)
4. You Make me Feel (Mighty Real): Sylvester (6.34) Excellent track
5. Hello, Hello: Sopwith Camel (2.24)
6. Prelude No.7 in E flat: The Swingle Singers (2.39)
7. Harvey's Theme One (1.11)
8. Main Titles (3.06)
9. Harvey's Will (1.41)
10. The Castro (0.59)
11. The Kiss (0.45)
12. Politics is Theater (3.15) Excellent track
13. New Hope (1.46)
14. Harvey Wins (0.31)
15. Proposition 6 (1.25)
16. Repealed Rights (1.03)
17. Gay Rights Now! (2.20)
18. Dog Poo (0.25)
19. Vote Passes (0.53)
20. Briggs Pushing (0.44)
21. The Debates (2.48)
22. Weepy Donuts (0.52)
23. Harvey's Last Day (3.11)
24. Give 'Em Hope (4.42) Excellent track
25. Postscript (2.03) Excellent track
26. Harvey's Theme Two (1.00)
Bonus Tracks
27. Anita's Theme (0.52)
28. Main Titles Sax Solo (2.32)
Total Length: 59.03