Soundtrack Review: Danny Elfman – ‘Charlotte’s Web’

By Jeff Swindoll Feb 19, 2007, 15:55 GMT

Original score by Grammy-winning composer Danny Elfman. The soundtrack also includes the new song "Ordinary Miracle", performed by Sarah McLachlan and written by Grammy winners David Stewart and Glen Ballard. ...more

I must be one sick puppy, but for some reason when I imagine Danny Elfman sitting down to compose the score for Charlotte’s Web I imagine him munching on a big plate of bacon. 

Maybe it’s just me or maybe it’s the darkened theater that I imagine that Elfman resides in.  Whatever, he’s probably a vegetarian.  I suppose that most people know the story of E. B. White’s classic novel on how a spider saved a pig from being on that plate in Elfman’s studio by writing words in her web above his pig pen. 

They made it once before as an animated film, but now they’re going the live action route.  Such famous faces as Dakota Fanning and Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi (taking over for Paul Lynde as Templeton the rat), John Cleese, Robert Redford, Cedric the Entertainer, and a host of others provide voices for the farm animals.  Danny Elfman provides the whimsical music that our spider Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts) knits to. 

“Terrific,” “Radiant,” and “Humble” are but a few of the words that Charlotte spins to save our little piggy from becoming ham hocks.  You could also use those words to describe Elfman’s score. I found it had Elfman’s usual whimsical qualities. 

Those who love Elfman’s work will enjoy and also find a bit of “down on the farm” there as well.  Dakota Fanning performs a short lullaby and Sarah McLachlan sings “Ordinary Miracle,” but the rest is all Elfman’s compositions.  I enjoyed it and think that fans of the film will want to add it to their CD collections.

‘Charlotte’s Web’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the soundtrack database for more information and a complete track listing.