Garfield
Film released by 20th Century Fox, 2004
Score soundtrack: see Garfield 2
Music clip one, 0'30" (236Kb)
[The city, from ca.0:44'38"]
Music clip two, 0'31" (250Kb) [Crossing the street,
from ca.0:47'34"]
Music clip three, 0'36" (283Kb) [The chase, from
ca.1:04'18"]
BRIEF REVIEW
Film
In Peter Hewitt's fun but unsurprising belated CGI/live-action combo comic strip adaptation, fat, lazy Garfield the cat (voiced by a perfectly cast Bill Murray) is first challenged to rid himself of Oddie the dog, competitor for owner Jon's affections, and later feels obligated to rescue the pooch from the clutches of a self-centred television has-been.
Beck's is a skittish but friendly score that follows the well-loved modern Hollywood slapstick formula of slightly watered-down Carl Stalling Mickey-mousing, mixed with good-natured big orchestra fireworks. Other composers who successfully adapted to this style include Alan Silvestri (Who framed Roger Rabbit), Marc Shaiman (Addams Family) and Danny Elfman (The Simpsons theme). Beck adds to this some of the warmth showcased in Under the Tuscan sun, perhaps leaning over towards the slightly sappy at times (shimmering strings, clarinet, tambourine, etc.). While the film itself is subject to the usual raft of summer movie pop cash-ins (which dominate both the opening and the closing credits), Beck's score really was deserving of some form of a commercial release, and the sound clips presented here cannot do it justice.
CD: see Garfield 2
Webmaster's note: Perhaps a fuller feature will be made when the DVD is available to Bluntinstrument, since there are some clearly definable themes here lurking in the underscore below Murray's master class voiceover.
NB. Rupert Gregson-Williams was originally engaged to score
this film.
NB. For a laugh, visit the Garfield
Sucks webpage
NB. According to CB, Tim Boland was brought in by the music supervisor to cover
for some music items initially spotted for songs. The same situation occurred
later in Taxi
N.B. Also please note from the details below that orchestrator Andrew Kaiser
is credited for 'songs': Naranja, Kibbly Kat theme, Patty's theme
Full music credits