Good Will Hunting - Black Beauty

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Year after year we heard a scream! "What? Danny Elfman not nominated?" Sometimes I even wondered what Danny Elfman had to do to bring the academy something they could award but '97 became the year to do it. With perhaps not his best choices. Men in Black remains even a mystery of why on earth that soundtrack but in Good Will Hunting I can sort of understand it, sort of. It is more emotional, a la Elfman of course and in a way there is this magical feel overall, but compared to the beautiful Edward Scissorhands, Sommersby or Black Beauty it doesn't compete even in the same league. So, it feels like sort of a kiss and make up attitude of the Academy Board, especially if you consider what a score follows behind it, Black Beauty is definitely one of the most enchanting scores Elfman has written and to top it all off, a suite from Scrooged (the same one as found on the first release of Music from a Darkened Theatre) is inserted into this special release. I didn't want Good Will Hunting actually but I saw two albums for sale, one had Black Beauty for 40$ and another had these two scores for 32$. In all fairness, you do the math, the extra of Scrooged only makes it more valuable.

So, what is worth remembering about this 24 minutes of Good Will Hunting? The Elfman sound we come to expect. Children's choirs, not beautiful but mystical and impressively stunning in its captivation during 'Main Titles'. The continuing score offers us minimum musically, there isn't much happening, some choral stuff, a bit of piano, and Elfman keeps fantasizing on his own individual road. Of course the Elfman of Sommersby had taken that other part of scoring and in a way this is what destroys Good Will Hunting's half beauty, the uncertain mood and sound of an Elfman, trying to find new ways of composing. The score does have a unique effect but its not an answer to the riddle. The best moments of score are more then likely the longer tracks, the first and the last two, but nothing of a magnitude to blow you out of the water, as other Elfman scores have done. In a way Good Will Hunting has all the characteristics of a Academy Award winning score, simply hear the short but inspiring music in 'The Kiss', a la Edward Scissorhands with choir and pure emotion. But the surprise is, they don't develop in that direction. It isn't the score you would normally associate with Academy success, and in a way I think a lot of people will be disappointed for that, and surely if they pay prices that concede the overall stock charge. Advice is always a question of taste, but take mine a bit seriously. See the film first upon purchasing your Good Will Hunting, nominee or not nominee.

Now lets look further. Being one of his best years, Danny Elfman has proven with Sommersby that he is capable of writing more then just dark films. Black Beauty is another example of that diversity, this time though somewhat darker, more classically influenced through the violin and sometimes even a bit energetic, but combined with the beautiful melodies of the violin, piano and orchestra it resembles the Danny Elfman we all love. Black Beauty will surprise many fans once again, the main theme picks up where Sommersby dared not to go, more classically with the input of the mentioned solo violin. It's not classical but it feels that way. But the main theme is still a piece of art, Danny really wrote an emotionally driven masterpiece and makes any person unease with some more twisted and brutal moments, like in 'Ginger Snaps' and 'Wild Ride / Dream'. But those are the only times that you feel yourself unease, other times we witness simply brilliant moments of pure art, especially in the begin and end. The insertion of many instruments like the piano, violin, Irish flutes at occasions and the orchestra lets it sometimes sound so complex, for instance in 'Gang on the Run', 'Jump for Joy' and 'Kicking up a Storm', this is nothing bad but it's typically Elfman to create that environment. But it also makes Black Beauty a score that doesn't sound or listens like something we have already heard. Danny Elfman fans will treasure this score and there is much reason for that. If Black Beauty didn't dazzle you after the first listen, don't panic, have patience and try it a couple of times more. Simply put the volume knob higher this time and listen to Elfman's twisted, difficult but perfect melodies, be dazzled by Black Beauty.

And to top of the bill, those dears inserted Scrooged 'The Suite', the winner of having the best entry start of an Elfman soundtrack along with Batman, at least I feel it that way. It is a good chance that you already contain this special eight minute suite, so don't think that this is unreleased material or something. However, this is pure Elfman in gothic dark mode and offers Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands meeting our friend with the bat suit. But as an Elfman collection it is a nice gift, at least for bringing something that equals the price I paid for it in the first place. This is a Danny Elfman collector's item that I recommend to the persons who are big fans of his style. Especially if you don't have these titles I welcome to purchase this special arranged album. There are two Danny Elfman's I love, the dark Elfman from Batman to the emotionally Elfman, with Sommersby and Black Beauty being perfect gifts of elegant style. Scrooged along with it and you find me in Elfman land, enjoying my ass off.

Good Will Hunting: ***
Black Beauty: ****
Scrooged: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

Good Will Hunting

1. Main Titles (3.31)

2. The Theorem (0.34)

3. Proving The Theorem (1.07)

4. Who Did This? (0.41)

5. Another Problem To Prove (2.26)

6. Teamwork (1.10)

7. Sean's Reflection (1.13)

8. Who Are You? (1.55)

9. Silent Session (0.49)

10. A Retainer, Please (0.57)

11. The Kiss (0.45)

12. Will's Reflection (3.53)

13. Will's Decision / Conclusion (3.48)

Total Length: 23.27

Black Beauty

14. Main Titles (2.28) Excellent Track

15. Baby Beauty (4.37)

16. Gang On The Run (2.14) Excellent Track

17. Mommy (0.53)

18. Jump For Joy (1.00)

19. Kicking Up A Storm (1.33) Excellent Track

20. The Dance / Bye Merrylegs (2.49)

21. Sick (3.15)

22. He's Back (Revival) (1.16)

23. Frolic (2.31)

24. Ginger Snaps (3.18)

25. Goodbye Joe (1.15)

26. Wild Ride / Dream (2.11)

27. Is It Joe? (1.18)

28. In The Country (2.35) Excellent Track

29. Poor Ginger! (3.46)

30. Bye Jerry / Hard Times (4.54) Excellent Track

31. Memories (1.28) Excellent Track

32. End Credits (1.36) Excellent Track

Total Length: 45.45

Scrooged

33. Scrooged (8.43)

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=== Link to Composer Site: Danny Elfman ===