Tim Burton’s film Big Fish is a wonderful movie, and composer Danny Elfman’s
Oscar-nominated score complements it beautifully. Elfman’s music is very understated in
the movie, and it wasn’t until I listened to the film’s soundtrack recently that I
realized how hauntingly beautiful his music is.
Elfman’s music is perfect
for Burton’s magical film about the larger-than-life character of Edward Bloom.
Mystical, whimsical, and eerie at times, the score takes you deep into the weird and
wondrous world of the character. The emotional “Sandra’s Theme” is one of the best
pieces of music on the soundtrack, and the jazzy number “Twice the Love” (the Siamese
twins’ song) closes out the CD with a bang.
The soundtrack is mostly
instrumental, with the exception of the first seven tracks. These tracks are an eclectic
mixed bag of music, featuring artists ranging from Pearl Jam to Buddy Holly to Elvis
Presley. The real gold on this particular CD, though, is Elfman’s
music.
Even if you haven’t seen the film (and you should; it’s wonderful),
if you enjoy quality instrumental music, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this
soundtrack.
(Note: Also, check out Kristin’s review of the film Big Fish.)