16 Days of Birthday, Day 13: Music in the Movies

If you were to look through my iPod at the moment, you would be sad to find that I do not have any Justin Bieber. Or any of that rap crap that I am forced to listen to in ICT (i.e. a song that only has the words 'everybody in the club getting tipsy'). Or any emo screamo or whatever the hell it is called. If you were to judge me through my iPod, I think you would find that I'm not a normal teenager. Nor am I one of those hipster kids who only listen to indie music. Instead, at least 75% of my iPod is filled with songs from the movies, mainly full soundtracks.

I pretty much listen to my iPod every night, usually while I'm blogging, because I pretty much hate silence. And with all this movie music on my musical device, it all ties in, doesn't it? There are quite a few songs which I always have to listen to every time they come around on shuffle. Because everyday I'm shufflin'. And here they are:

According to iTunes, my most played song on my iPod is 528491 by Hans Zimmer off the wonderful Inception soundtrack. Now, all of you people probably love the track Time (more on that soon), but 528491 has to be my favourite. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: put this on your iPod, stick in your headphones, turn this song on full blast and close your eyes...it is more epic than the movie itself. The song has so many layers and it always reminds me of Cillian Murphy's eyes - mainly because this song is used while the camera is looking straight at him.

I'm also a huge fan of the track Time, don't worry. This song is so amazingly beautiful and it just adds more epicness to an already epic ending. To be honest, Time was probably the soundtrack to my latter half of 2010. I used to listen to it like five times a day.

The Social Network's soundtrack, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, has quite a few songs on my most played list. The one that has been played the most is surprisingly track #14, Magnetic'. This is the one which is played during the first meeting between Sean, Mark, Eduardo and Christy Lee, even though in the movie it's given a bit more of an Asian vibe to fit with the sushi bar they're at. I don't know why I love this song so much...I think it is probably because it's so frustratingly fun, just like the character of Sean Parker.

There are so many other songs that I like from The Social Network, though. If I were to rank the songs on the album from best to worst, the list would go something like this:

1. Magnetic
2. In Motion
3. A Familiar Taste
4. Intriguing Possibilities
5. The Gentle Hum of Anxiety
6. Soft Trees Break the Fall
7. In the Hall of the Mountain King
8. Pieces Form the Whole
9. Painted Sun in Abstract
10. Penetration
11. Almost Home
12. Hand Covers Bruise
13. On We March
14. It Catches Up with You
15. Complications with an Optimistic Outcome
16. Eventually We Find Our Way
17. Hand Covers Bruise, Reprise
18. 3:14 Every Night
19. Carbon Prevails

Haven't listened to The Social Network soundtrack yet? You can do so on Youtube here. I reckon that this soundtrack is probably one of the best modern soundtracks out there...it's just so damn perfect for the movie!

The Black Swan soundtrack by Clint Mansell (inspired by the work of Tchaikovsky) is one which I bought pretty much straight after I watched the movie around Oscar time. While most of this score is basically Tchaikovsky's work, Mansell does some amazing things with it, such as playing the Swan Lake songs in a distorted manner and giving his own paranoid twist to them. Two of my particular favourites are:

Perfection - This song is probably my favourite because it is the exact music played from the time Nina kisses Thomas to the very end. And if you've seen the film, then you know the ending is pretty damn epic, but still very beautiful. In five minutes, this song seems to capture every emotion that little Nina could possibly be going through at that point. Which makes for an amazing, heart-stopping and pretty song which is the perfect end to an almost perfect film.

Opposites Attract - Okay, so this song is the one that is played during that sex scene between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. But it is also the song which is played in the trailer, which I heard a lot when I was at work, therefore my ears really warmed to the song. It's a pretty cool song which has this really weird strain of evil in it...very good, very good.

In Kick-Ass there were two very awesome John Murphy songs which were incidentally both in Danny Boyle movies.

The first is Kaneda's Death, Pt. 2 (Adagio in D Minor), which is from one of the most underrated movies ever, Sunshine. It can be seen in Kick-Ass when Hit-Girl is trying to save Big Daddy...what an epic moment. If any of you keep up with the trailers, then you'll probably recognise it from The Adjustment Bureau's trailer. This is one stirring song which always makes me feel like someone on the moon bouncing around. Don't judge me.

The second in In the House - In a Heartbeat, from the scene where Jim is trying to save himself and his friends. The song starts out all nice, but then it goes totally badass at the end making for the perfect track to go with any action sequence. Which is shown in Kick-Ass, too, as this song is used in a scene which nearly made me forgive Nicolas Cage for all of his past mistakes: the one where he is setting fire to the warehouse. So badass.

Another Clint Mansell song that I really like is Lux Aeterna from Requiem for a Dream. Of course, this song is pretty much a staple for any movie lover as it is now used everywhere. But who remembers it in Requiem? That traumatic piece of music backing an already traumatic scene. While I'd like to blame Darren Aronofsky for wrecking my life forever after watching that movie, I think it's all Mansell's fault. This song still terrifies me.

The Theme from Schindler's List is a particular favourite of mine, too. Well, obviously, since the movie just so happens to be one of my favourites and John Williams' score work couldn't have been more impeccable. With Itzhak Perlman playing the violin, Williams manages to put every shred of pain, sadness and the heroism from Oskar Schindler into this achingly beautiful piece of music. It always makes me feel like crying, usually because when I hear this song I always think of Oskar saying "I could have done more!"

And just for randomness, here are some songs which I like that just so happen to be in movies (but they're not from scores or anything like that):


Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap - from (500) Days of Summer


Black Sheep by Metric - from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World


Hero by Regina Spektor - from (500) Days of Summer


Letters from the Sky by Civil Twilight - from I Am Number Four (movie sucks, the song is amazing)


I'll Try Anything Once by The Strokes - from Somewhere


Where is My Mind? by The Pixies - from Fight Club


La Boquilla (Dixone Remix) by Bomba Estereo - from Limitless


Stand Up by The Prodigy - from Kick-Ass


Little Green Bag by George Baker Selection - from Reservoir Dogs


You've Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger by Beth Rowley - from An Education

What are some of your favourite pieces of music from the movies?

Desert Island CD - What would I take?

So there's currently this blogathon going on at Anomalous Material where one picks twelve songs from the movies and takes them to a desert island where they will be unsuspectedly trapped until they...I don't know, chop off their arm and get free (just thinking in 127 Hours survival terms, here). So here is my list. Beware, it is quite fresh, as that's all I seem to be listening to these days.

'Don't You Forget About Me' - Simple Minds
The Breakfast Club


'Where is My Mind?' - The Pixies
Fight Club


'Black Sheep' - Metric
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World


'Time' - Hans Zimmer
Inception


'In the House, In a Heartbeat' - John Murphy
28 Days Later...


'Kanada's Death, part 2 (Adagio in D Minor) - John Murphy
Sunshine


'Baby You're A Rich Man' - The Beatles
The Social Network


'Little Green Bag' - The George Baker Selection
Reservoir Dogs


'In Motion' - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
The Social Network


'Lux Aeterna' - Clint Mansell
Requiem for a Dream


'I'm All Out of Love' - Air Supply
Animal Kingdom


'Sweet Disposition' - The Temper Trap
(500) Days of Summer

Classic--Almost Famous

or: Almost There.

One word to sum it up: (it) Rocks!

To start off 2011 with a feature film, I decided to go for a classic that I hadn't seen before. So I grabbed my iTunes voucher and rented Almost Famous (I never knew you could rent movies on iTunes!), and I'm glad that I did. Given that it has such a marvellous ensemble cast and such an interesting story, I can see why everyone kinda went nuts for it back in the day. It always makes me happy to know now that Kate Hudson was once a great actress, instead of the tabloid freenzy everyone gives her credit for.

William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is in love with rock'n'roll, but often has to hide it from his protective and overbearing mother, Elaine (Frances McDormand). At just 15 years old, he is hired by Rolling Stone magazine to go and tour with and write about a band called Stillwater. During this journey he discovers the ins and outs of touring with such a band, and also manages to fall in love with the free-spirited Penny Lane (Kate Hudson).

I've seen-and loved-my fair share of coming-of-age films, but none seem to come close to Almost Famous. It has such a positive vibe to it that it's infectious. However, it's not all happiness in this movie. What lies beneath the movies message is something that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's all centred on someone who wants to break free who meets a set of people who seem to have broken free; but are also trapped in their world where optimism is never far away, though idealism is a far more realistic way to go. The way Cameron Crowe puts together this semi-autobiographical story is outstanding. He knows his characters and has a unique way of connecting them to the audience. He also knows a lot about what message he is trying to convey and effortlessly gives us an insight into the era where rock'n'roll ruled.

In 2001, Almost Famous an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (which it wholeheartedly deserved), a nomination for Best Editing and a couple of nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category for Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson. These two are great in the film. Frances McDormand is perfect as the overbearing mother who wants her children to immerse themselves in classic literature instead of the much easier rock'n'roll music. However, it really is Kate Hudson who steals the show with her emotional yet bouncy performance as Penny Lane, who is a free spirit with a dream of going to Morroco, after she is done with Stillwater. My advice: go back to films like these, Kate, because it's what you excel in. The rest of the ensemble cast, which includes Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Anna Paquin, Zooey Deschanel and Philip Seymour Hoffman, are all fantastic, and contribute to a really awesome, if slightly overlong, rock'n'roll film which is an enlightening classic of it's time.

THE VERDICT: Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous is a brilliant account of a great era, featuring wonderful performances which are as great as it's soundtrack.

9/10

DVD--Nowhere Boy

or: How John Lennon became John Lennon.

One word to sum it up: Insightful.

Usually, I wouldn't be interested in a biopic on John Lennon. I mean, we learnt a bit about The Beatles in Music class, but I wasn't really that interested. However, I thought Nowhere Boy looked like a good time, as it had been getting some rave reviews. And I guess the fact that Aaron Johnson was in the lead role and had been getting critical applause for it aided in my decision to watch it. John Lennon's story actually looked pretty interesting.

This is the story of a teenage John Lennon (Aaron Johnson), who has been living his life under his strict Aunt Mimi's (Kristin Scott Thomas) care. But Lennon wants to know where his real parents are, and ends up finding his free-wheeling mother Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), who introduces him to a world of fun and music, much to Aunt Mimi's dismay. Lennon starts up a band called The Quarrymen with a few of his friends, and catches the eye of Paul McCartney (Thomas Sangster), who joins the band on their journey to becoming The Beatles.

If you were expecting a real musical insight, then you will be sorely disappointed. However, this film is definitely quite interesting, whether it's about John Lennon or not. It's kind of a funny story, which I really didn't believe was true, let alone believe that it was the early life of one of the world's biggest icons. It sometimes comes across as a pretty standard British biopic, but it has so much elevating it from that kind of status. First is the remarkably artsy direction from first time director Sam Taylor-Wood (who, yes, happens to be 20-year-old Aaron Johnson's 43-year-old fiancee). Then comes the groundbreaking performances from a charming ensemble cast.

Aaron Johnson is perfectly cast as Lennon, and really makes the whole film worthwhile. He has studied every aspect of Lennon's character and is more believable than he should be, considering his two most recognized roles are that of a Sex-God in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and a nerd trying to fight crime in comic book movie Kick-Ass. Nowhere Boy proves that Johnson is much more than his teen-idol status allows him to be, and he will be the next big Oscar winner in the future. He is joined by two well-experienced actresses who give commanding performances. Kristin Scott Thomas is fierce and cold as Mimi and Anne-Marie Duff lights up the screen as Julia. Thomas Sangster, too, in his supporting role as Paul McCartney, makes the most of the opportunity and is well prepared to take on more roles worthy of his talents.

All in all, Nowhere Boy is run by amazing performances and great direction, which the story tends to take a backseat to.


THE VERDICT: Sometimes a little standard, but an inspired performance from Aaron Johnson makes the movie a little more than an insight on a star.

8/10

Bandslam

You always go with your gut feeling, right? Bandslam (2009) is one of those movies which I saw and didn't really have an opinion on, but then I saw that it was rated 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. That's like, just about as much as Avatar. Which made me feel sorta guilty, because I only rated it 60%, but while reading the critics consensus, I couldn't help but feel what they were saying was true...
Fed up with being bullied, Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) moves with his mother (Lisa Kudrow) to another town, and has no trouble fitting into his new school, thanks to super popular Charlotte (Aly Michalka). Charlotte notices that Will has an astounding knowledge of music, and decides to enlist his help to recreate her school band so they can go to 'Bandslam' and beat her ex-boyfriend. But Will has to decide between hanging out with Charlotte or msterious rebel Sa5m (Vanessa Hudgens).
Now, this film is really just an average teen watch. But surprisingly it does avoid all of the cliches, and adds something totally unique--a teenage life from a normal teenagers perspective. Also, the performances aren't so weak, with Vanessa Hudgens in top form, leaving behind High School Musical. Okay, so it won't go down in history as the greatest teen flick ever made, but it is one with substance-there I said it, it has substance-and alarming truths. Probably helped by a cameo from David Bowie.
6/10

Fame (1980)

80's movies have never really been a hit with me. They're all the same, especially the ones based on a teenagers life. Like Dirty Dancing (not particularly a special movie). So is Fame (1980) the exception? Well, it certainly isn't the rule.
Fame is a story about a few teenagers who go to an elite Performing Arts school in New York to follow their dream, whether it be acting, dancing or singing. As always, there are ups and downs and it's not all easy, and while these students are focusing hard at school they are also focusing on building their lives so they can become adults. Each person is blessed with talent, and put their all into the sector they have decided to study. All this with 5 classes a day and a hot lunch.
Unfortunately, Fame has suffered the remake treatment when that really isn't necessary. This version is fine, it completely makes the 80's look like not such a bad decade after all. The ensemble cast makes for easy viewing, with stand-out performances from Irene Cara, Maureen Teefy, Gene Anthony Ray and Paul McCrane. It's not clear whether these students reach Fame, but it's obvious that they're well on their way. Fame is a movie to treasure, just forget about the new version.
8/10

The Soloist

Robert Downey Jr. has to be one of my favourite actors at the moment. Did you see his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes? Hilarious! I never really pictured him to be in one of those true-story dramas where someone is helping out someone else in need, but The Soloist (2009), is exactly one of those films.
Steve Lopez (Downey Jr.) is a Los Angeles journalist who stumbles across a homeless musician, Nathaniel Anthony Ayres (Jamie Foxx). Lopez decides to write a column about his encounters with Nathaniel, all the while trying to help him build a life instead of living out on the streets. Nathaniel wants to stay out on the streets, saying that it is 'safe' out there, and generally ignores Steve's help. Can Nathaniel still make it to the top in the music world, doing what he loves? Or will he just keep his life, homeless and playing for the people just passing him by?
The Soloist is moderately heart-warming, but it is just really about Steve Lopez's selfishness which turns to selflessness. Jamie Foxx does surprise in his role, even touching on schizophrenia. Catherine Keener does provide a solid support role as Steve's ex-wife and boss. Joe Wright, the director of Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, makes a good effort at his first American film, but it is a shadow of how great Atonement was.
This film should have been great, but it is a good enough watch which will earn it's place in your heart for a little while.
8/10

15th November 2009

As you may know, I love fluffy romantic comedies, and un-surprisingly, I like Music & Lyrics (2007). Though I found it a little strange sometimes, I enjoyed watching Hugh Grant (who was like my first ever celebrity crush) and Drew Barrymore together in a film about, well, music and lyrics. What was surprising for me though was watching Haley Bennett, who I last saw in that terrible film The Haunting of Molly Hartley, as a pop-star Cora Corman, who has strange beliefs. This was a complete turn-around from Molly Hartley, and I'd love to see more of Haley Bennett, because I know that she is talented. However, the story is about fading 1980's icon Alex Fletcher (Grant), who is asked to write a love song for mega-star Cora Corman (Bennett), all in a matter of days. He stumbles upon Sophie (Barrymore), who is supposed to be watering his plants, but ends up writing the song with him. Romantic comedies being what they are, Alex and Sophie fall in love, but there are several obstacles in the way. Put it this way, if you like romantic comedies and don't mind movies being a little predictable, then this is for you. And if you like violent action-packed thrillers, then...you probably get the message, steer clear. It could never be the best movie ever, but it is enough entertainment for a rainy miserable day. It will brighten your day, as it did mine.
7/10