Desert Island mix CD

Over at Anomalous Materials, Castor has created a world where we've survived a plane crash and have only our favorite CD to listen to - and since we're movie buffs of course our mix comes from only movie soundtracks. All of the tracks I chose are both songs I like independently from the movie, and songs that evoke a sensation of the movie. And yes, I already know I like cheesy pop type music, feel free to comment and mock me, but know I'm well aware.

1. I’m a believer – Smash Mouth Shrek

2. You Make my Dreams Hall & Oates – 500 Days of Summer

3. Forrest Gump Suite – Alan Silvestri – Forrest Gump

4. Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel – Reservoir Dogs

5. Fly Away - Kossoy Sisters - O Brother Where art thou

6. Anyone at all – Carole King – You’ve got mail

7. You’ve got a friend in me – Randy Newman – Toy Story

8. Jump (for my love) – Pointer Sisters – Love, Actually
Sorry - you gotta go to this one yourself - here
9. Let my love open the door – Pete Townshend – Gross Point Blank (and Leon according to this video!)

10. I want you to want me – Letters to Cleo – 10 Things I hate about you

11. Beyond the Seas – Robbie Williams – Finding Nemo

12. Kokomo – Beach Boys (or the Muppets) - Cocktail

Movie Meme Day 12 - Best soundtrack/background music in a scene

I've always been a big fan of movie soundtracks.  I think it started because I like musicals so much, I became aware of the music used in movies.  Sometimes it's the new music created for a movie specifically and sometimes it's the way music is combined to augment the story.  I think my favorite soundtrack has to be from Forrest Gump.  Following the story of Forrest from his childhood through adult and fatherhood, the music helps keep us grounded in what is going on in the country at the same time Forrest is leading his own life.  It does a great job making you feel like the story is that of any person who just happens to keep getting involved with pivotal moments in American history.  The music starts with Elvis Presley and includes parts of the best of all the decades like Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, and Burt Bacharach.  Because they're American classics, the soundtrack stands on its own better than most movies. 

Musical Mondays! Pixar music

This week, instead of watching a single movie musical, I've been haunted by the music from older Pixar movies, so I thought I'd actually check out which ones were nominated for Academy awards, and whether every movie even had a song attached to it.  The ones below were nominated, but only "If I didn't have you" won, giving Randy Newman his first Oscar. I am planning to watch Finding Nemo today so I'll check out whether there's music to add from that.  Enjoy a musical interlude for Monday.  Which is your favorite?  (Tom, I'm looking at you for comment!)

"Down to Earth" from Wall*E, sung by Peter Gabriel.  Sadly a fairly forgettable song, from a wonderfully memorable movie. 



"Our Town" from Cars, sung by James Taylor


"If I didn't have you" from Monsters, Inc.  A terrific song, particularly when sung by John Goodman and Billy Crystal.  It plays over the end credits during the film.


"When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2.  When I looked this up, I didn't remember it at all.  It was an odd pairing for a children's movie if you ask me.
 

"You've Got a Friend" from the original Toy Story.  It plays over the introductory scene and is my absolute favorite song from a Pixar film. 

(500) Days of Summer: Review (some spoilers)

(500) Days of Summer has been out for quite a while, but as we leave summer behind I finally got a chance to see it on Labor day. It's a remarkable movie, not a love story, but still the story of a relationship and the course it takes. Joseph Gorden-Levitt (wonderful in The Lookout) plays Tom, a greeting card writer who is sure his true love is out there somewhere. He meets Summer (Zooey Deschanel) who doesn't believe in fate or true love, and just wants to be friends. Of course, they do fall into a deeper relationship of sorts and Tom thinks he's found the one. Unfortunately, Summer doesn't feel the same. We see some of their 500 days together and not. There are ups and downs and a wonderful dance scene (below) when Tom feels that initial burst of love. I think just as people can be referred to as a "Betty" or a "Veronica", someday you'll be able to say whether you were the "Tom" or the "Summer" after a relationship was over. Either you're the one who loved the most or you're the one who wanted to stay friends (obviously in relationships that work out, neither is the Tom OR Summer). It's a great movie that has a good soundtrack, excellent acting, and a great gimmick to tell the story in an order that makes their encounters make sense, but maybe not all the time. I just loved Joseph Gorden-Levitt's smile when he was happy and in love, and you can't beat his downtrodden facade when it all goes south ( his boss asks him to start channeling his grief into the "funeral and sympathy card department"). 4 of 5 stars/lambs

Michael Jackson will always surprise

I was watching one of the many tribute shows that have been put on TV airing some of Michael Jackson's videos. I've been a fan for many years, and so many of the videos are iconic, even beyond Thriller and it's rebirth through 13 Going on 30. I LOVE the video for Black or White when the people start singing and morphing from one to another. Then there was a video I'd never seen before for a controversial song, "They Don't Care About Us". I was going to post a link to it, but I'll just describe why I was moved by it. First, the video is shot in a favela (shantytown) in Rio de Janeiro with lots of local color and people playing drums. Also, Michael couldn't look better (second to his childhood looks, of course). The song was released in 1996 as part of HIStory and raised controversy with lyrics that can be perceived as anti-semitic, though Michael did change the lyrics for future releases and in the video you can't really discern where they fall due to clever sound mixing. I was just moved by how great this video was, and wanted to mention it, and that watching many of Michael Jackson's videos in a row is really a wonderful musical movie experience. They were shot with lots of theatricality and direction. Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson.

The Wrestler, Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen won the Golden Globe for his song, "The Wrestler" from the movie of the same name, that also appears on The Boss' new album, "Working on a Dream". This LA Times article describes how this travesty could have happened, but I still don't believe anyone who heard it wouldn't want it to win something. Hopefully the grammys will award him next year for the entire album.