(Andrew Stanton, US 2008, 98 min., DCP)
With almost no dialogue for its first forty minutes, and only 862 total words of dialogue in the film, Wall-E depends nearly entirely on its score and soundscape. Thomas Newman’s score helps to develop the relationship between Wall-E, a trash-compacting droid abandoned on a desolate Earth, and EVE, an advanced probe droid sent to the planet to scan for signs of life. When they are threatened to be separated, it begins an interstellar adventure that may just return humanity to its home. Academy Award-winning sound designer Ben Burtt received his first lead role credit for his work on the vocalizations of the title character.