Soundtrack of My Lyfe

There are certain movies that I hold near and dear to my heart – ones staring Jason Schwartzman, John Cusak, or Drew Barrymore, or ones directed by Wes Anderson (insert hipster joke here) or Michel Gondry. There are tons of great reasons to love or hate a particular film, but often times we simply focus on the actors, directors, plot, setting, or genre when we make our decision. Don't get me wrong, those are all crucial factors, but sometimes we end up overlooking one fundamental aspect of film, an aspect that truly adds to the experience and deeply affects how the movie resonates with the viewer; the soundtrack. Most movies just wouldn't be the same without their well-constructed and deliberate musical accompaniment. How else are we supposed to know when something bad is about to happen? Or when to laugh? Or when to cry? The music in a film is similar to a laugh track, except music more often than not is far less lame. In all seriousness, soundtracks add life to what would otherwise be an entertaining, yet somewhat underwhelming viewing experience.

I could list an array of movies and soundtracks that tickle my fancy – there are soo many great ones out there and I'm sure all you English majors have opinions on them as well – but for the sake of time, I'll narrow it down to a select few that tend to resonate most deeply within my cold, black heart.


Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Opening Scene

Not only is Eternal Sunshine an amazing movie (in sum: a couple uses a memory-erasing service to rid themselves of memories of the other), but it has an equally amazing soundtrack. The bulk of it was written by Jon Brion, a seriously talented and gifted man. The dude practically writes songs in his sleep. He's scored films including I Heart Huckabees and Punch Drunk Love. Check out everything you can by this man, and maybe even listen to the soundtrack before you watch the movie. Or just listen to the soundtrack if you're too stubborn to trust any movie starring Jim Carry with a serious role. You won't be disappointed.

 

A Love Story - Snow Frolic

Alright, laugh all you want. Sure, this film has been made of fun since...forever, but regardless, it's an undeniable classic. "Love means never having to say sorry," have you heard this quote before? It came from this 1970s film and has been repeated widely in pop culture ever since. A Love Story was pretty much the first chick flick ever created and I'm going to step right out there and say that I love it for that reason alone. Anyone who hates chick flicks clearly does not have a chick to watch it with. Back to the music. Francis Lai, the man behind the ivory, won an Academy Award for Best Original Soundtrack for this film. A well deserved award. Bravo! Encore! Pass the tissues, please.




Rushmore - In General

So I might be completely biased because as I mentioned before, I love both Jason Schwartzman (be on the look-out for another post about him and his band coconut records in the near future!) and Wes Anderson, but Rushmore has a killer soundtrack. This one's a little different than the two I just mentioned because it's more like the ultimate mix CD. A lot of the original music in this film was created by this really talented guy named Mark Mothersbaugh (haven't heard of him? oh yeah, I guess he was a part of this band). It's Grade A deliciousness. Below are some of the other featured tracks in the film. If you haven't heard of these artists, then you may need to go watch a documentary on the '60s, and while your at it, go buy a record player and some incense.

Chad and Jeremy - "A Summer Song"
The Kinks - "Nothing In the World Can Stop Me Worryin' Bout that Girl"
Faces - "Ooh, La La"
Cat Stevens - "Here Comes My Baby"
John Lennon - "Oh Yoko!"

I'll leave you with this lil clip from the film so you'll go watch it if you haven't already.

Skip to 0:44 if you are lazy.