Danny Elfman was a busy man in 2008: in addition to his first ballet, he also wrote four film scores, each of a quality not seen since his double-punch of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.
After stellar efforts for Standard Operating Procedure, Wanted, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Elfman has capped off an extraordinary year with a lightweight but enjoyable score to Gus Van Sant’s Milk.
Themes and Characteristics of Milk's Score
Elfman’s main theme for Milk is a warm, uplifting and almost pastoral melody, richly and thoroughly drenched in Americana tones. It receives ample time in the score, notably in “Main Titles,” “New Hope” and numerous other cues, including several pieces which outright resemble concert arrangements.
The score is characterized by an extremely easygoing, gently rhythmic atmosphere. Lightly chopping strings, chimes (“The Castro”) and an occasional electronic sample keep the score moving forward, in a manner very similar to his earlier Standard Operating Procedure, although here the mood is more subtly whimsical than darkly dramatic (save for the intriguingly downcast “Repealed Rights,” which also adds acoustic guitar to the mix).
Elfman Trademarks in Milk Soundtrack
The score movies forward at points with a markedly determined stride, as in the more fiercely percussive “Gay Rights Now,” although the mood is periodically lightened with Elfman’s trademark high-range choir in such cues as “The Kiss,” “Postscript,” “Anita’s Theme” and the amusingly-titled “Dog Poo.”
Elfman also brings some attention to the period in which the film is set by adding a number of instances of edgy electronic guitar, as well as a few flighty saxophone solos (as in “Main Titles” and “Main Theme Sax Solo”), notable as a recent Elfman trademark (first significantly heard in the magnificent Serenada Schizophrana).
An amusing and mysterious Elfman trademark also appears in one of the track titles, "Weepy Donuts," a name which appears in every score Elfman writes for Gus Van Sant, as seen in To Die For, Good Will Hunting, and others.
Brief Runtime of Danny Elfman's Milk Music
Films by Gus Van Sant are known for unusual but extremely effective use of music, and Elfman’s score plays alongside many songs from the film’s era, effectively reducing its role in both film and album.
On CD, the score is limited to under 40 minutes of running time, spread across 22 tracks, meaning many of the cues fall under the one-minute mark. Although the flow and structure of the score does not greatly suffer, its resultant brevity is somewhat of a detriment.
Summary
The length of the score and the story it accompanies might have caused the score to fall under the radar of mist film music fans, except for the score’s nomination for the 2008 “Best Original Score” Oscar® award.
Elfman has composed better scores in 2008, and while Milk is indeed a superior drama score, the Oscar attention it has received is mainly by default, considering the film’s weighty and controversial subject matter, combined with its remarkable craftsmanship.
However, considering that Elfman is as overdue for awards recognition as any of the composer nominees for 2008, it would be satisfying to see him win an award for any of his recent compositions.
See also: Standard Operating Procedure Music, Wanted Soundtrack Review, Hellboy 2 Soundtrack Review
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