Review by Bluntinstrument
Charlotte's Web is about a pig, saved from runt
extermination by a little girl, who spends his year conversing with other
farmyard animals and making friends with a female spider who promises
that she will save him from becoming Christmas dinner. Fine for children,
the film does suffer somewhat from too brisk pacing in its first half,
sacrificing our sympathy with the child and even the pig, in order to
cut to his meeting with Charlotte the spider. Just as the film harks back
to Babe, Elfman's score does occasionally feel like a throwback
to Black Beauty and Big Fish (e.g. 9. 'The word spreads'),
but both are redeemed by the character and portrayal of the talent of
Charlotte. The rat's theme is enjoyably mean and dirty (see 6. 'Templeton'
clip), Elfman has fun scoring for solo woodwinds, Mickey Mousing the chap's
ground-level and underground behaviour. Charlotte's theme, though, all
triple metre and sweet-melancoly minor key, is the most memorable, instantly
associated with the spider from those first partial glimpses, and broadening
out into the magical cue when Charlotte first spins words in her web (7.
'The plan begins'). With added chorus, this is the Elfman magic bullet
moment that defines his talent and the film's pivotal concept, shifting
the emphasis firmly from the girl and her pig to the world of the kindly
female spider. Whether planned or not, the sheer emotional depth of the
theme at this point is so strong that the film never recovers balance,
and other characters suffer in consequence, but Elfman fans have what
they want: that glimpse into Edward Scissorhands territory, swooping
choir, lilting melancholy theme, orchestral crescendo. Bliss. Although
on film the score is at worst presentable and at best hugely enjoyable,
on CD it lacks momentum and shape, and is way too long for the themes
it supports. This reviewer is aware of his appreciation of scores-on-CD
that present quality over quantity and Charlotte's Web is one that
would have benefitted greatly from being creatively edited into a 15-20
minute suite. Even if it has to be succeeded by still more slushy pop
songs from female artists who cannot control the gap between chest voice
and falsetto.
Score rating: * * *
CD rating: * *
|