Five Favorite Films with Danny Elfman
The frequent Tim Burton collaborator also talks about his musical influences.
Composer Danny Elfman has scored dozens of movies in the last ten years, and received an Oscar nomination last year for his score for Milk. But he's probably most famous for his work on almost all of Tim Burton's films. This week's release of Alice in Wonderland marks the 12th time that Danny Elfman has scored a film that Tim Burton has directed, and Elfman was kind enough to sit down with RT (which he says is one of four sites he visits everyday) and share some of his favorite movies and some of his musical influences. We did ask him for five favorite films, but his reaction was, "What I wrote yesterday would be different than today. I have to put some ties, because there's no way I could do it otherwise."
Citizen Kane (1941, 100% Tomatometer) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962, 98% Tomatometer)
For pure spectacle I'd have to put somewhere a tie with Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia - two spectacles, two different directions, but they're both the best of great, grand moviemaking.
The Godfather (1972, 100% Tomatometer) and The Godfather, Part II (1974, 98% Tomatometer)
For pure narrative storytelling that's absolutely engaging, I'd have to say Godfather and Godfater 2. You know, there's just no way to top that.
The Shining (1980, 87% Tomatometer) and Dr. Strangelove (1964, 100% Tomatometer)
I'd have to put another like The Shining and Strangelove - Kubrick duo, because I just can't possibly choose those.
Rear Window (1954, 100% Tomatometer) and Psycho (1960, 98% Tomatometer)
I would have to then put Rear Window and Psycho as a Hitchcock duo - there's no way I could choose between those two. If, you know, it comes to a "Sophie's choice," I'd just have to go, "I'd take them both," because there's just no way I could make these choices.
Juliet of the Spirits (1965, 86% Tomatometer) and Casanova (1976, N/A)
I'll then end with another tie... a huge influence on me. Juliet of the Spirits and Casanova by Fellini. Just two favorite Fellini movies that I've always really loved. No one knows Casanova. I'll never forget one of my sad moments: I was with my ex-girlfriend years ago and the Academy was doing a special screening of Fellini's Casanova. We tried to get there early to make sure to get a good seat... There were six people there. It was as close to a musical as he's ever done. And Nino Rota's music is fabulous. And I'd be totally lying if I didn't say that those both, the scores, Nino Rota's scores, weren't a huge influence on me. And those are two sides of Nino Rota, not to mention The Godfather, so he pops up a lot [as an influence].
Next, Elfman talks about the music that influences his work, and what it's like to work with Tim Burton.
Dave J. on 03-3-2010 06:35 PM
Great choices, especially Rear Window!!!