music Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Discuss: Your Perfect Movie Music Mix-Tape
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Fandom », James Bond », Trailers and Clips »
You all remember the romantic rite of passage known as the mix-tape, right? Where you would try and convey how deep, charming, profound, and downright cool you were by compiling a group of songs for your intended? In the world of movies, filmmakers use songs all the time to create a mood, explain an emotional 'state of mind', or even to fill in what they don't have time to explain. As it turns out, so do we, and that's where the art of the mix-tape comes in. But this isn't just about music, and Cinematical is a film site after all, so I thought it would be fun to put together a little mix tape of songs I've come to love thanks to hearing them in the movies.
Now before we start, I should warn you that my mix tape isn't just a collection of run-of-the-mill love songs, because as I keep telling everyone, I'm not a run-of-the-mill girl. Instead, I've put together a 'celluloid compilation', that if given to me would guarantee that I fell head over heels into film geek love.
After the jump; some movie songs that would woo me right off of my feet (in no particular order)...
Scenes We Love: The Monster Club
Filed under: Comedy », Horror », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Fandom », Trailers and Clips », Scenes We Love »
Now that it's October, my mind has turned to all things Halloween-y, and I've been digging back through the vaults to find all the spooky movies that I've loved over the years, which brings me to The Monster Club. Despite having pretty permissive parental units when it came to my movie viewing habits (boobs and swearing, A-OK) horror movies were a different matter altogether. Whether that was to protect my sensitive little developing mind or just so they didn't have to be awakened by claims of monsters under the bed, I'll never know. But as a little one, The Monster Club was the perfect Halloween viewing: a little funny, a little scary, but overall pretty kid friendly -- at least to this kid anyway.
The film was a tribute to the work of British horror author R. Chetwynd-Hayes and starred Vincent Price (as a chatty vampire) and John Carradine (as Hayes). The film was comprised of three tales of a vampire family, a movie director who stumbles across a ghoul while scouting locations, and something called a 'shadmock' -- trust me, it's complicated. Sure, the stories were great and all, but my favorite thing about this whole film were the musical numbers that acted as framing devices for each story, and today for Scenes We Love, I have to go with The Stripper, performed by Night -- like I said, my parents were pretty easygoing when it came to 'sexy time'. What I love about this scene is that what could have just been an excuse to throw some nudity into the film goes for something that every horror fan could enjoy -- and I know I'm not the only one (although if you have a weak stomach, you might not want to click on that link) who thought this scene was a great visual gag.
After the jump; a stripper who truly takes it all off, and New Wave bloodsuckers...
Scenes (Songs) We Love: Basic Instinct
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Fandom », Trailers and Clips », Scenes We Love »
I bet you never thought in a million years that you would see the words Scenes We Love and Basic Instinct in the same headline, did you? But here we are, so before you swear off this feature for ever more, keep in mind that this particular edition of Scenes We Love is going to be for the music (because, frankly, if we're talking about quality filmmaking we need to look elsewhere). Basic Instinct is a guilty pleasure of mine and there is plenty of cheese to choose from. You've got the laughable sex, ridiculous plot and dialog, and really, when did you ever think you would see Michael Douglas try and get down ... in a V-neck no less?
Now for most audiences, we were supposed to be titillated and shocked by the sight of Sharon Stone getting it on with Roxy (played by Leilani Sarelle), and even though it was pretty risqué at the time, it's almost quaint if you think about it now. But I wasn't that shocked or titillated by what I was watching, so I was left listening to that kick-ass song: Blue, by Latour.
I've been known to have a bit of an obsessive personality when it comes to tracking down a song used in a movie, and music is a big part of my life ... really, I can't help myself. So, for a long time, Blue was my 'White Whale', and even Napster (remember, this was the 90's) couldn't help me out. That is until one night in a Quebec City nightclub when I'd had a few too many cocktails and that tune began to pump out of the sound system. So I ran (OK...stumbled) to the DJ booth, and begged him to tell me what he was playing, and he handed me a mix tape. So thanks to that kindly Francophone, this track has been in my nostalgia play list ever since.
After the jump: Girl-on-girl action, 90's style...
Watch This: Pearl Jam's 'The Fixer' Video, Directed by Cameron Crowe
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Fandom », Trailers and Clips »
If ever there was a director who truly loved rock and roll it's Cameron Crowe. The man started his illustrious career as a rock journalist and as a film maker, and he also made one of the greatest rock movies of all time, Almost Famous. Grunge legends Pearl Jam and Crowe go way back; the band appeared in his film Singles, and Crowe helped put together Pearl Jam's Single Video Theory back in 2000. Now, Crowe has made music videos in the past, but this has to be the perfect combination of band and director because nobody respects rock and roll more than Crowe ... and nobody takes it more seriously than Pearl Jam.
Back in May, the band showed up at Seattle's Showbox for a surprise concert with Crowe behind the camera shooting a commercial for a deal between the band and the discount retailer, Target -- and yes, you just read that right. I guess everyone involved was happy enough with the footage -- so happy that it became the basis for the music video for their new song, "The Fixer", included on their upcoming album Backspacer, which will debut via iTunes and Target on September 20.
Pearl Jam had infamously refused to make music videos back in 1992, and other than an animated creation for Do the Evolution (courtesy of Todd McFarlane) they have stuck to their word. I have to admit, as much as I admired their principles, I kind of missed seeing the band in action. Maybe I've been out of the Pearl Jam loop for a while, but dang if this isn't a happening little track and a pretty cool looking video -- and the coffee-drinking, flannel wearing gal who still lives somewhere inside me couldn't be happier.
After the jump: Pearl Jam's The Fixer...
Scenes We Love: Dave Chappelle's Block Party
Filed under: Comedy », Documentary », Music & Musicals », Fandom », Trailers and Clips », Scenes We Love »
I'm not exactly what you would call a sentimental kind of person, and I tend to get a little 'gaggy' when it comes to the so-called touchy-feely things in life. But if there is one thing that makes me feel like a big old softy, it would be Dave Chappelle's Block Party. Now this is what I call a call a 'feel good movie' with everyone from the lady behind the counter at a liquor store to a *
The 2005 documentary was written and hosted by Chappelle with Michel Gondry behind the camera, and even if you aren't the biggest fan of soul and hip-hop music, you can't deny that you can practically feel the joy that seeps through every frame. The musical line-up included artists like Mos Def, The Roots, Common, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. Chappelle even pulled off the impossible by getting The Fugees to perform onstage together for the first time in seven years.
*Correction: the marching band Chappelle brings along is the celebrated College band, The Central State University Marching Band.
Is Alia Shawkat Joining 'The Runaways'?
Filed under: Drama », Music & Musicals », Casting », RumorMonger »
It looks like things are getting more interesting each day when it comes to the music biopic The Runaways -- and I'm not talking about Joan Jett making Kristen Stewart cry. No, instead, there is news that Alia Shawkat (who will forever be known as Maeby Fünke) is joining the cast as famed bassist and 'Bangle' Micki Steele ... or at the very least an approximation of Steele. Latino Review is reporting that Shawkat has joined the cast as an 18-year-old bass player named Robin (aka Steele), and judging by the photo above, you have to admit that Shawkat would be a great choice to play the sexy bassist. I mean, just look at those lips.
Rather than get into a long and convoluted explanation about the awesomeness that is Steele, here is a little primer: Steele was one of the first members of The Runaways when they were touring the club circuit in L.A. and was considered the 'feminine' one in a group of bad girls. By 1976 she had left the band after the addition of Lita Ford (played in the film by Scout Taylor-Compton) and Cherie Currie (played by Dakota Fanning). Steele would go on to join another famous girl band, The Bangles, and create music history by teaching the world about 'Manic Mondays'.
There has been no word on why Steele isn't going to be named in the film; possibly because the film makers didn't secure the rights to use her image, or maybe her split from The Runaways wasn't an amicable one. My guess is that the character of Robin will be based on Steele, but also be an amalgam of some of the other band members that won't be featured prominently in the film.
The Runaways is still filming on location in L.A., but will arrive in theaters in 2010.
List This: The Worst Movie Songs of All Time
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Fandom », Lists », Trailers and Clips »
Movie music has certainly changed over the years. What was once the domain of an orchestra and studio musicians is long gone, and now the top-40 soundtrack reigns supreme. Sometimes it works, like in the case of Martin Scorsese's use of pop music, and sometimes it really doesn't -- and that's where today's list comes in. SPIN has compiled what they say are the worst movie songs of all time, so make sure your earplugs are handy because we're about to look back at the Top 10 Worst Movie Songs, Ever!
So let's get right to the list, shall we? Grabbing the top spot for the worst of all time was P. Diddy and Jimmy Page's Kashmir update for Godzilla, Come With Me. But if you thought that song was bad, wait till you get a load of the other nominees, including Vanilla Ice's Ninja Rap, Limp Bizkit's Take a Look Around from Mission Impossible II, and Nickelback's Spider-Man song, Hero. Judging by SPIN's list it seems like 'geek' movies took most of the hits -- although how Evanescence's theme for Daredevil escaped I'll never know. But rather than complain about what wasn't included in SPIN's list, I've decided to make my very own list of great and not-so-great movie songs.
After the jump: My Top 10 Favorite (and most hated) songs from the movies...
Is Daft Punk Scoring 'Tron 2'?
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Disney », RumorMonger », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
If there was ever a marriage made in heaven it would be Tron and Daft Punk, seriously, it's like peanut butter and jelly. But, before anyone gets too excited, it is best if you remember that this is just a rumor at this point...an awesome rumor, but a rumor nonetheless. So even though it may not be the most reliable source, Upcoming Film Scores has announced that the French electronica duo have signed to write and perform the score for the follow-up to the sci-fi classic. So it would seem that Tron 2 is finally kicking into high gear, now that we finally have more to go on than a few rumored cameos, and various casting announcements. Yesterday, Elisabeth managed to score some plot points from AICN as well as news of yet another title change for the sequel, and I have to tell you; I am right there with Elisabeth when I say that anything would be better than TR2N.
Daft Punk has taken a shot at film scores before, having provided most of the music for an Interstella 5555 anime, and they even directed a film before. Although the film was the nonsensical Electroma, and it didn't feature any of their music, so maybe that one is a wash. But if you are familiar with Daft Punk, then you already know that the guys have a fetish for all things robotic and sci-fi, not to mention that their score just might drag Tron out of the 80's and into the 21st Century.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed on this one, so stay tuned to Cinematical for the official word.
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First Listen: Nick Cave's Score for 'The Road'
Filed under: Drama », The Weinstein Co. », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
Normally when I find out that a feature film is being made from one of my favorite novels, I immediately prepare myself for disappointment. But, when it comes to The Road, I don't know what to tell you -- for once I'm convinced everything is going to work out just fine. Although that's probably the first time that particular sentence was used in conjunction with anything having to do with Cormac McCarthy's novel. BBC4's arts show Today recently profiled the project, and the highlight of the report was the first audio clip of Nick Cave's original score. It's only a short clip, but from what you can hear it's the perfect musical accompaniment to the tale of a father (Viggo Mortensen) and son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) traveling through an apocalyptic wasteland. So even though most of us probably never pay that much attention to the orchestral score to most of the films we watch, you can't ignore a bad one. For me, one of the most distracting things about a film is a bad score -- some of my more hated examples include The Perfect Storm and The Last Samurai. I know there are plenty of reasons why a film might fail to connect with audiences, and I also know that this film is already going to be a hard sell. But, as a former Goth who wore way too much eyeliner while listening to Mr Cave's Murder Ballads on repeat, I have every faith that if there is anyone that can pick the perfect mood music for a downer, it's him.
The Road has yet to find a solid release date, but will hopefully arrive in theaters this fall.
Affleck Making Joaquin Phoenix Rapper Documentary?
Filed under: Documentary », Music & Musicals », Deals »
I think most of us were a little shocked when Joaquin Phoenix made the announcement that he was going to quit acting and focus on his music career -- and luckily for us, now we're going to get to follow the long strange journey of Phoenix's crack at the Billboard 100. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Casey Affleck will be directing a documentary about the former actor's stab at a music career. Affleck is married to Joaquin's sister Summer, so it makes sense that if Phoenix was going to agree to a documentary, it would be with someone close to him behind the camera.Now here's the really weird part: when I heard Phoenix was going to move into the music business, I just assumed that it would be in some kind of rock or country style (I mean, the guy did play Johnny Cash). But, it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong, because according to THR, Phoenix is trying to be a rapper -- and yes, you just read that: Phoenix will be making an album with Sean 'Diddy' Combs (maybe he's bartering acting tips for producing services) and will be making his first public appearance at a Las Vegas club this weekend, which will be the kick-off for Affleck's shoot.
So while there is a big part of me that wants to see Phoenix succeed in his new career, I can't help but wonder if this will be The Return of Bruno all over again, but with a hip-hop beat. I guess if nothing else we are going to get one heck of an interesting documentary out of the deal.
Do you think Phoenix has what it takes to become a successful hip-hop artist? Or, is this a sign that the notoriously eccentric actor has good and truly gone around the bend. Sound off below....
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