Soundtrack

Daydream Nation is a Canadian drama that was released in 2010. It stars Kat Dennings and was written and directed by Michael Goldbach. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews.

I saw the film first on Netflix, in 2012, and it quickly became a favorite movie of mine.

Daydream Nation (2010)
Written and directed by Michael Goldbach
Movie of the Day

“People will tell you nothing matters, the whole world’s about to end soon anyway. Those people are looking at life the wrong way. I mean, things don’t need to last forever to be perfect.” – Caroline

A quirky town shadowed with a darkness that is reminiscent of a Stephen King novel “town”, or maybe a darker Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls), or a little lighter/a little less weird Twin Peaks. The town boasts a white-suited serial killer legend and an industrial fire that endlessly burns. Caroline (Kat Dennings), the sarcastic, well-read, whipsmart protagonist has just moved to this town and informs us at the start that this is the year where everything happened.

Caroline played brilliantly by Kat Dennings (sarcastic, well-read and whipsmart is so Kat Dennings jam) is bored, lonely and more than a little lost when she decides to shake things up in her life. She instigates an affair with her young-ish, attractive-ish English teacher (why is it always the English teacher? Played by Josh Lucas), while the resident “misfit boy” (Reece Thompson) in town pines away for her, and tries clumsily to win her heart.

I know, I know, the summary does come off as a bit contrived, and perhaps it is, but the writing, dialogue, and execution is refreshingly realistic, well-written and witty. The teacher/student affair has been done ad-nauseum (including it always being an English teacher), but in this case, we see the teacher’s side of things, what issues are going on with him that fuel an inappropriate relationship, and how both sides of the dysfunction really play out. The “lost boy”, too, is more than he seems, as is his family, especially his single-mom, who teeters on the line of a desperately lonely woman and an aggressively protective mother. Andie MacDowell is fantastic and heartbreaking, as is her “lost boy” son, Thurston, played by Reece Thompson. When Caroline genuinely falls for Thurston, it is not a moment of predictability, it is a real moment of “YES” because you see why it happens, and as a viewer, you are feeling it, too.

The last act of the movie has the most “happenings” (Caroline is right, this is the year when everything happens), and at times is slightly dizzying. It works, though, as the chaos, like everything else in the movie, is believable, and you feel like you are running through it all with the characters. The ending had me teary-eyed and wanting, desperately wanting, for the story to continue; to me, that is the best kind of ending.

Other Kat Dennings films I love: Defendor, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Thor and Charlie Bartlett.

Musically speaking (and with me, the music matters), Daydream Nation has a great soundtrack (something else I have always loved about indie movies). The soundtrack includes songs from some of my favorite artists, Emily Haines, Stars, Devendra Banhart, and Sebadoh.

“Telethon” by Emily Haines and the Soft Skeletons

Chasing Amy is a rom-com dramedy indie gem written and directed by Kevin Smith. It was released in 1997 and is the third film in Smith’s View Askewniverse series. The movie stars Joey Lauren Adams (who the movie is partly inspired by), Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, and of course Jason Mewes (Jay) and Kevin Smith (Silent Bob).

The film won two awards at the 1998 Independent Spirit Awards (Best Screenplay for Smith and Best Supporting Actor for Lee). (from Wikipedia)

Chasing Amy (1997)
Written and Directed by Kevin Smith
Movie of the Day

“Since most of these people are cheering for the home team, I’m going to root for the visitors. I’m a big visitors fan. Especially the kind that make coffee in the morning before they leave!” – Alyssa Jones

I’ve always loved Alyssa (the film’s “Amy”), her spirit, her fluidity, her sense of self, her persona, her humor, and her heart. When I first saw Chasing Amy in the ’90s I remember wishing I could be like her, seeing her as brave and bold in ways, and about things, that I was shy and insecure about.

I feel closer to her now, and was once in a relationship much like the one she is in with Holden, and have had to defend my past before, too – I think she’s such an important female character (is she the first bisexual female film character?) – cheers to Kevin Smith for writing her, and for Joey Lauren Adams portrayal (and part inspiration) of her.

Alyssa is on my list of fictional characters I relate to the most. Not that I share all her experiences (some, but not all), but her way of living and loving, her take on things, and her reactions, I feel completely. This is, and always will be, my favorite Kevin Smith film, one that makes me laugh, cry and feel (a lot).

There is something about this scene, the vulnerability in it, and that moment where you know that what is being opened up will change everything. It could have been terribly cheesy, but it is not, not even at all. To me it is believable, relatable, and painful in that way that when I first saw it I watched it through my fingers, with my hands covering my eyes, dreading what the outcome would be.

I think there is this universal feeling to it. That feeling of falling into an impossible situation, and having it burn you so deeply that you feel there is no way you can keep your feelings inside any longer, and that risk, that utter and complete risk, of telling someone you are in love with them in the face of rejection.

Beyond this scene, there are so many other things I love about Chasing Amy. Alyssa is one of those characters that I relate to on an under the skin level, one of a few that I feel in a visceral way. I love how complex they wrote her friendship with Holden, and her own self-actualized journey, and reality. I love the friendship between Holden and Banky, as well, and the wit and pop culture peppered into a very real love story.

Like most of Kevin Smith’s films, the movie is hilarious, but also heartfelt. He has a knack for making you laugh until you fall over, and also FEEL in big capital letters.

Some movie soundtracks transcend the film they are part of. Though Some Kind of Wonderful is one of my favorite John Hughes’ movies, it’s not among the universally agreed upon “best John Hughes”, not like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 16 Candles, and even Pretty In Pink are. For some reason, Some Kind of Wonderful gets forgotten. Maybe its because it came later, or it could be its lack of Molly Ringwald or any of the so-called Brat Pack. Whatever the reason, it tends to get overlooked.

Some Kind of Wonderful – Music From the Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987)
Soundtrack Saturdays

The soundtrack might be overlooked, too. It’s hard for me to say, as it’s always been one of my favorite movie soundtracks. It would even be on my list of quintessential albums. The soundtrack to Some Kind of Wonderful is utterly unforgettable, to me. Tied closely with Pretty In Pink, as the best Hughes’ movie soundtracks of all-time.

Released on MCA Records in 1985, the Some Kind of Wonderful soundtrack features songs by Pete Shelley, Flesh For Lulu, Stephen Duffy, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and The March Violets, among others. The soundtrack is full of lesser-known, “alternative” (before the term became a “genre”) bands and artists that have this unmistakable cool-factor. This helped keep the compilation fresh sounding (still is) and not crammed full of stereotypical ’80’s hits that many of us have had our ears over-filled with.

Every song on the soundtrack fit perfectly into the moments and scenes they accompanied in the movie, from the attention-grabbing opening track to the nightclub scene, the kissing lesson/first kiss scene, the climactic party, and finally, the unusual and beautiful cover of the Elvis classic, “I Can’t Help Falling In Love” which starts up at the ending of the final scene, and then plays in full over the closing credits. Every song appears to have been chosen with meticulous precision, acting as part of the scene itself, if not as a supporting character.

The end – Some Kind of Wonderful

The songs on this soundtrack remind me of the “Imports” section in my favorite record stores during my teen and twenty-something years. The bins where I discovered bands and artists that weren’t getting airplay on even the edgiest radio stations of the time. I loved mining for these albums, uncovering new favorites that I would devour, and share with other music obsessive friends of mine. This soundtrack is full of just those kinds of bands and artists.

Furniture’s melancholic “Brilliant Mind” and Flesh For Lulu’s pop-culture laden “I Go Crazy” were my first-listen favorites, when I first bought the album. These were tracks I immediately started including on mixtapes made for myself and others.

I remember thinking it was refreshing to hear a Stephen Duffy song other than “Kiss Me”, and to have other people start finding out who Pete Shelley was. Oh, and The March Violets’ version of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss Amanda Jones” and Lick The Tins rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” quickly became part of my endless collection of best-loved cover songs.

Do you have any favorites from the soundtrack?

Top 5 Some Kind Of Wonderful Songs

1.”Brilliant Mind” by Furniture, featuring David Jacob

2. “Do Anything” by Pete Shelley

3. “I Go Crazy” by Flesh For Lulu

4. “She Loves Me” by Stephen Duffy

5. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Lick The Tins

Happy 21st Birthday to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, the epic TV Series created by Joss Whedon. In celebration of Buffy Summers and the “Scooby Gang” Soundtrack Saturdays is taking a moment to appreciate the TV Soundtrack, Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Album. The Soundtrack Album is full of 90’s goodness, featuring Songs by Nerf Herder, Guided By Voices, Garbage, Bif Naked, K’s Choice, The Sundays, and others.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album (1999)
Soundtrack Saturdays

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album was the first Soundtrack Album released from the TV Series. The Album was released in 1999, and includes Music featured in the first four seasons of the TV Series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

I had this on CD, and played it often, lifting some of my Favorite Tracks to add to Mixes I made. My Favorite from the Album was K’s Choice, a band I discovered because of the Series. There were other Artists I discovered from this Soundtrack compilation, including Rasputina, Bif Naked, Kim Ferron, and Four Star Mary.

The Series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was a Favorite of mine. A Must-See while it was on-air. I’m always a fan of a Strong Female Lead, and Buffy was definitely that. There were other strong, badass characters in it, as well. Willow, Faith, Drusilla, Cordelia, Anya, Tara, Joyce, and Dawn…to name a few. The Series even started with a twist on the “blonde victim” trope, when the “blonde” (Darla, another strong female character) turned out to be the villain and not the victim. The Series tackled many themes and issues and broke boundaries in many ways. It also celebrated friendship that became a “chosen family” in a way that is sometimes rare on TV and is something that always appeals to me in a big way. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will always be on my list of all-time Favorite TV.

And the Music, it complemented the Series without overtaking it. The 90’s started a trend in Television (especially in what might be labeled “Teen Television”) where the Music often overwhelmed the scenes. Some of this was due to the popularity of Soundtrack Albums, as well as the partnering up and cross-promotions of Musical artists, something that continues today. This wasn’t the case with “Buffy” though. The Songs used, whether as Soundtrack or played live at The Bronze, never upstaged the story or action.

Speaking of The Bronze, the Series had its own Music Venue, something a few other shows have had as well, but never quite to the level of The Bronze, in my opinion. Though I may have questioned this cool, underground club being in the small town of Sunnydale, I suspended my disbelief because a) Sunnydale is located atop the Hellmouth, and what “Hellmouth” wouldn’t have a way cool club, and b) because I loved it too much to question it. I mean, wouldn’t you like to go and visit The Bronze this Saturday night?

Though there are two Songs I wished had been included, “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star and “Full of Grace” by Sarah McLachlan, I still have so much love for this TV Soundtrack.

Do you remember Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album? Did you have a copy? What were your Favorites on it?

Here are my Top 5 Favorites:

Top 5 Songs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album

1. “Virgin State of Mind” by K’s Choice

2. “Temptation Waits” by Garbage

3. “Wild Horses” by The Sundays

4. “Lucky” by Bif Naked

5. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme” by Nerf Herder

 

Back to the 90’s for another Soundtrack Saturdays Feature. This time let’s focus in on Romeo + Juliet, a Film from 1996 that actually had two Soundtrack releases because there was too much great Music for one Album to hold. Today, though, it is the first release we are going to focus on – William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet Music From the Motion Picture.

Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack (1996)
Soundtrack Saturdays

Baz  Luhrmann is known for his use of Music in his Films. It is a personal signature that makes his Movies some of my Favorites. I love when Music is used well in Film, and in the case of Romeo + Juliet, the Music becomes part of the plot. It almost plays like a character within itself.

The Artists and Bands included on the Soundtrack are a mix of 90’s Icons and Indie Acts that were little known at the time. Stina Nordenstam is one Artist that comes immediately to mind, a Singer who I discovered because of the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack. I remember, too, that it was one of my first introductions to Garbage, one that helped lead me to be a Fan of the band, and of Shirley Manson. Gavin Friday, Kym Mazelle, and Des’ree were big stand-outs to me, too.

The Soundtrack was a hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and going triple-platinum in U.S. sales. It was especially successful in Australia (home of Baz Luhrmann) where it became the second-highest selling album in 1997, going five times platinum in sales. A number of hits came off of the Soundtrack, too, including “Lovefool” by The Cardigans, “Kissing You” (love theme from Romeo + Juliet) by Des’ree, and a cover of “Young Hearts Run Free” by Kym Mazelle. Quindon Tarver’s choral rendition of Rozalla’s “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)” was later used in Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen” Single. (from Wikipedia)

What was your Favorite Track off of the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack? Here’s mine:

Top 5 Songs from the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack

1. “#1 Crush” by Garbage

2. “Talk Show Host” by Radiohead

3. “Little Star” by Stina Nordenstam

4. “Kissing You (Love Theme from Romeo + Juliet)” by Des’ree

5. “Kissing You” (Instrumental) by Craig Armstrong (Bonus Track on 10th Anniversary Release)

 

Let’s head back to the 90’s, to Generation Xers, Slackers, 70’s nostalgia, post-college crisis, friends, lovers, and other complications. To the world of doily dresses, jobs at the gap, pay-phones, gas cards, and god-damn Troy Dyer. Reality Bites came into my life at the most appropriate of times, like the Hughes/Ringwald Movies of the 80’s, Reality Bites happened right when being in my twenties was my reality, and I recognized a lot of myself in Laney, and a lot of my friends, and clumsy relationships in Vickie, Sammy, and Troy. It was both wonderful, and terrible, to be in my twenties in 1994. Writer Helen Childress and Director Ben Stiller, they got it. And the Music, it was the kind that favorite Soundtracks are made of.

Reality Bites (1994)
Soundtracks Saturdays

The Soundtrack to Reality Bites started around the time when RCA Records met with Music supervisor Karyn Rachtman and Ben Stiller three weeks into the Movies filing to discuss ideas for the Soundtrack Album. They finalized a deal and the label opened its roster to Stiller who picked only one band, Me Phi Me.

The Soundtrack was aggressively marketed and five of the Album’s Tracks were on heavy MTV and Radio rotation. Crowded House’s “Locked Out” had its Video edited to include footage from Reality Bites. Also, Ben Stiller directed a Video for Juliana Hatfield Three’s Song, “Spin the Bottle”, which featured Film clips, as well.

The Reality Bites Soundtrack sold 1.2 million units and reached #13 on the Billboard 200. It also earned a #1 Single with Lisa Loeb’s Stay (I Missed You).

Reality Bites Soundtrack includes songs by World Party, Squeeze, The Knack (My Sharona featured prominently in one scene from the film), Juliana Hatfield, Social Distortion, and two contributions from Crowded House (Locked Out and Something So Strong, the latter not included on the soundtrack album) in addition to the runaway hit Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb, which earned Loeb the distinction of being the first artist to top the Hot 100 before being signed to any record label.

My Top 5 Reality Bites Songs

1. “Spin the Bottle” by The Juliana Hatfield Three

2. “When You Come Back To Me” by World Party

3. “All I Want is You” by U2

4. “Tempted” by Squeeze

5. “Bed of Roses” by The Indians

List your favorite television and film theme songs :: MusicListography
courtesy of Music Listography : Your Life In (Play)Lists

Films:

(will continue next week with television)

1. Almost Famous

Tiny Dancer :: Elton John

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime :: Beck

3. Lost In Translation

Just Like Honey :: The Jesus & Mary Chain

4. Wild at Heart

Wicked Game :: Chris Isaak

5. Modern Girls

But Not Tonight :: Depeche Mode

6. Reality Bites

All I Want Is You :: U2

7. Pulp Fiction

Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon :: Urge Overkill

8. Take This Waltz

Video Killed the Radio Star :: The Buggles

9. The Breakfast Club

Don’t You (Forget About Me) :: Simple Minds

10. Until the End of the World

Until the End of the World :: U2

11. Donnie Darko

Mad World :: Gary Jules

12. Trainspotting

Lust for Life :: Iggy Pop

13. Velvet Goldmine

Ballad of Maxwell Demon :: Shudder To Think

14. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Last Words :: The Real Tuesday Weld

15. 9 1/2 Weeks

Slave to Love :: Bryan Ferry

16. Daydream Nation

Telethon :: Emily Haines & The Soft Skelton

17. Fight Club

Where is My Mind? :: Pixies

18. Mulholland Drive

LLorando (Crying) :: Rebekah Del Rio

19. Grosse Pointe Blank

Under Pressure :: Grosse Pointe Blank

20. Foxfire

Into Dust :: Mazzy Star

21. Garden State

Let Go :: Frou Frou

22. Natural Born Killers

Sweet Jane :: Cowboy Junkies

23. Dancer in the Dark

I’ve Seen it All :: Bjork & Thom Yorke

24. Begin Again

Like a Fool :: Keira Knightley

25. Say Anything

In Your Eyes :: Peter Gabriel

26. Pump Up the Volume

Everybody Knows :: Leonard Cohen

27. Valley Girl

I Melt with You :: Modern English

28. On the Edge

Seven Day Mile :: The Frames

29. Once

Falling Slowly :: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

30. Rocky Horror Picture Show

Time Warp :: Cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show

About a Boy (2002)
Written by Nick Hornby (book) & Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Directed by Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz

“Once you open your door to one person anyone can come in.”  Will

Movies adapted from books are a tricky thing, and most often not something I end up enjoying. This is especially true when its an adaptation of a book I love. I go in with so much hope, and typically leave completely disappointed. About a Boy, and honestly, all adaptations of Nick Hornby’s books), seem to be the exception.

Though there are a few minor details I wish they’d done more like the book (mostly just wishing the character of Ellie was more flushed out), overall I loved who they cast, how they paced the film, and how it brought one of my favorite books to life.

Even some of the smallest details, like Marcus and his mother closing their eyes tight while singing “Killing Me Softly”are captured perfectly in this. And the dynamics between Will and Marcus, Marcus and his mom, Will and Marcus’ mom, and later, Will and Rachel, are complex and in-color, and in many ways just how I pictured them while reading (and in some ways more/different than I pictured, in a good way).

Music done well in movies means so much to me. The soundtrack to “About a Boy” is mostly filled with Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough) songs and they fit just so perfectly that now whenever I hear any songs by Badly Drawn Boy it is About a Boy I think of.

There is something about his voice, the tinge of melancholy, the jadedness, and the sprinklings of hope, that all just fit. It feels like post-modern folk tales set to song that weave in and out of the plot, and move the story along, sometimes informing the emotion in a scene.

I can’t think of a better choice for the music.

A Minor Incident :: Badly Drawn Boy

Fiona. Though the story really is about Will and Marcus, as the title to both the book and the film suggest, as well as the plotting, the interactions and scenes, it is Fiona that I want to mention here. There are not a lot of representation of depression on-screen, and especially not in a way that doesn’t simplify it, or make it easily fixed, or tied up in the end. Fiona is one of those rare times when a character is shown in more than one dimension, and that one of the facets of her is depression. It isn’t solved, it isn’t given an easy “reason” to be there, it isn’t pretty or fixed at the end, but it isn’t all she is either.

The film doesn’t soften the impact depression has on others, either. You see the pain and fear it inflicts on Marcus, and what the consequences are. And Fiona, you see her struggle in such a real way, to be okay in herself, to be honest, to be a good mother, and to deal with her depression not always in a way that plays well on camera. I truly applaud the depiction of Fiona (and Toni Collete is just fantastic as Fiona – but then again, she is always fantastic.)

As for Will and Marcus, they are, of course, part of what I love about the movie. The awkwardness of both of them, the way they trip over themselves, albeit in different ways, and what they learn from each other is wonderful to watch. Every time I watch the film (or re-read the book, actually) I change my mind a bit on who helps the other more. I think in the end though, they both help each other to grow, to feel a part of something, to be less alone, and to embrace life and love in a new way.

Stealing Beauty: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1996)
Monday Soundtracks :: Top 5 Songs

Another movie soundtrack that I wore out playing in the 90’s is the soundtrack to the Bernardo Bertolucci movie, Stealing Beauty. It is trip hop goodness mixed up with some classics by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, together the blend is dreamy beautiful.

I miss my CD I had of this, and really need to get another copy soon.

There isn’t a bad song on this. I love them all.

Top 5 songs from Stealing Beauty: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:

1. I’ll Be Seeing You :: Billie Holiday

2. 2 Wicky :: Hooverphonic

3. Glory Box :: Portishead

4. Alice :: Cocteau Twins

5. I Need Love :: Sam Phillips

Clueless: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1995)
Monday Soundtracks :: Top 5 Songs

Although I did enjoy “Clueless”, the movie, it was the soundtrack that I really loved. It held court in my mid-90’s car’s CD player for weeks on end, and then would be back for more a few weeks later. The soundtrack is such a great collection of indie/alt bands, 90’s hip hop, punk and some keen cover songs, too. Breaking it down to Top 5 was tough, but I did my best…though I’d really rather just listen to the whole album…from start-to-finish.

Top 5 songs from Clueless: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:

1. Fake Plastic Trees (acoustic)

2. Alright :: Supergrass

3. Need You Around :: Smoking Popes

4. Change :: The Lightning Seeds

5. The Ghost In You (live) :: Counting Crows