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Five AWESOME Movie Soundtracks!!

From time to time, movie music really pisses me off.  First, there’s the “Best Original Song” award at the Oscars.  How many times have they given that statuette to a song that just rolls during the closing credits?  Bunch of crap.  A “best original song” should be directly linked to the plot and characters in the film.  Which is why “Lose Yourself” by Eminem is the ULTIMATE “Best Original Song” ever. 

But this is a post about movie soundtracks.  And let me first get out of the way why I HATE soundtracks that are really more like “Music INSPIRED by blah blah blah”.  In that vein, Madonna’s I’M BREATHLESS is really not a movie soundtrack – even though three of the songs are actually featured in DICK TRACY.  And the soundtrack from THE THING CALLED LOVE – more crap.  Most of the songs on that soundtrack were not featured in the film; and, actually, all the GREAT music from that film is what’s performed by the stars:  River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney, and Sandra Bullock. 

And I digress yet again.  For me, an AWESOME movie soundtrack is one you actually want to buy and listen to again, and again, and again.  It can feature instrumental music or lyrical songs.  It can feature music actually written FOR the movie (like a musical or rock-opera) or music that APPEARS in the movie.  And when it all comes together as a magical collaboration of plot, character, and emotion…THAT’S a great movie soundtrack.

1.        PURPLE RAIN – Prince (1984)

Seriously, how can you not love this soundtrack?  Well, I guess if you don’t like Prince, then you wouldn’t like PURPLE RAIN.  But then I would say you are a fool and can’t really appreciate popular music for what it CAN be and SHOULD be.

What’s really cool about PURPLE RAIN is that the songs help to tell the story.  It all starts with LET’S GO CRAZY, and you get a sense for who “The Kid” is and what he’s all about.  You learn a bit about his band, and how Wendy and Lisa get frustrated by Kid’s ego and selfishness.  By the time you get to DARLING NIKKI, you understand the conflict between Kid and his female bandmates.  And when Kid and his band finally perform PURPLE RAIN, which is actually Wendy and Lisa’s song, you see a performer who has turned a corner (personally and professionally) and is ready to move forward.  I WOULD DIE 4 U and BABY I’M A STAR are icing on the cake – and are actually my favorite performances of the film. 

2.       HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH – John Cameron Mitchell (2001)

A true “rock opera”, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a 2001 American musical-comedy-drama based on the stage musical of the same name about a fictional rock band fronted by an East German transgender singer.  The film was adapted and directed by John Cameron Mitchell; the music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask.  I"m not going to dive into the plot, but I'm just going to say the songs are some of the most poetic and "real" stories about love, life, and human relationships that I can think of.  They will make you laugh, cry, and sing out loud.  All will make you think.  And if you dig Michael Pitt at all (MURDER BY NUMBERS, BOARDWALK EMPIRE), you really need to check out this film, too.  He sings!!  

3.       A CLOCKWORK ORANGE – Walter Carlos (1971)

I have bought and sold a lot of CD’s over the years – this is one I still own from my earliest CD purchases.  Meaning I have never sold it only to buy it again.  Known more for being a misogynistic and violent film as opposed to having really kick ass music, if you love Beethoven then you already know about A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and its soundtrack.  The Ninth Symphony is the star, and it’s featured both as a “classical” performance and electronica as well.  All I can really say is….you’ll never think of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN the same way again.

4.       SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER – The Bee Gees/Various (1977)

Disco may be dead, but this is one classic soundtrack that will live forever.  It’s the only disco album to have won a Grammy for “Album of the Year”, it sold more than 15 million copies, and is ranked number 131 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.  What’s not to like?  Seriously, even if you can’t stand disco, you need to experience this soundtrack.  Talk about music defining an era – this soundtrack did all that and more. 

5.       STAR WARS – John Williams (1977)

I can’t think of another film SCORE out there that resonates for me as much as the soundtrack from STAR WARS (1977).  My Aunt Judy got me this LP (yes, that’s the vinyl record) for Christmas and I played that thing to death.  I even owned the 45 single, too.  The “B” side was the song from the Mos Eisley Spaceport scene…CANTINA BAND.  This soundtrack won John Williams (the composer) the most awards of his career, including an Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and three awards at the 1978 Grammy Awards.  If you are a Gen X’er, chances are you had access to this film score/soundtrack in your house somewhere. 

Even if you’ve seen these movies, check out the soundtracks separately.  You will NOT be sorry J.

Stig's Education - V2

As a favor to one of my former RA’s, Stig Strombeck, I’m posting Volume 2 of my favorite movies by genre.  Last time we tackled drama, comedy, horror, film noir, and action.  Today we narrow the focus just a tad and I offer up three more genres to review:

1.       Favorite Sports Film – BULL DURHAM (1988, Ron Shelton, Director)

Growing up in Chicago, baseball was my favorite sport.  I was a Cubs fan through and through (still am, most of the time).  And baseball continued to be my favorite sport throughout college.  So when this movie came out in the summer of 1988, I knew I’d be going.  Strangely enough, the first time I saw this movie, I didn’t like it.  I thought it was too long and had too many plot shifts that didn’t make sense to me (I’ve since learned that Ron Shelton, by definition, sometimes has problems actually ending his films).  But now that I’m an older, wiser person, I can appreciate why this movie is as special as it is.  It gets to the heart and soul of what it means to be a baseball player, and how you can really love (and hate) the game.  It dabbles in baseball superstitions, mentorship, and how winning can change a person.  And then there’s the romance between Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins….and the eventual romance between Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner.  This is one of the mostly highly quotable movies OF….ALL…TIME. 

2.       Favorite Musical – WEST SIDE STORY (1961, Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, Directors)

I think this is my favorite movie musical because my father loved it so much.  My dad LOVED on-screen dancing.  And this movie, in true wide-screen, has some of the most amazing dance sequences out there.  Loosely based on ROMEO AND JULIET, two rival New York gangs fight it out for turf; meanwhile, a fella from the white gang falls in love with a lady from the Puerto Rican gang.  Bad words are said.  A couple people die.  Love doesn’t conquer all…but it gives us hope.  Although, sadly, I still have to tell myself it’s okay that Natalie Wood and Tony Beymer aren’t doing their own singing.  Oh well.  Nothing’s perfect.

3.       Favorite Foreign Language Film –

This category is a tough one for me – see, for something to be considered a “favorite” in my eyes, it means you have to be able to watch it over and over again and never having the film “die” in your view.  And I’ll be honest with you – I don’t think there’s a single foreign film out there that I’ve watched more than once.  The reason being – they are subtitled!  And you sort of have to “read” them.  And this isn’t a bad thing – I would prefer to view a subtitled film in its native language than to view a film that has been dubbed in English.  Having said all that, there are MANY foreign language films over the years that I’ve greatly enjoyed. 

                AMORES PERROS (2000, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

                Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN (2001, Alfonso Cuaron)

                THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007, Julian Schnabel)

                NO MAN’S LAND (2001, Danis Tanovic)

And I could list so many more.  So what I would like to highlight in this section are two directors that produce films in languages OTHER than English – and I’m highlighting them because I’ve actually seen most of their films:

Pedro Almovodar – VOLVER (2006), TALK TO HER (2002), TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! (1990), BAD EDUCATION (2004) – what I appreciate most about Pedro is that he’s not afraid to make women tough and smart; and he’s as good (if not better) as a writer than he is as a director.  And he gave Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas their start.  Can’t take that away J

Chan-wook Park – THIRST (2009), SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGENANCE (2002), OLDBOY (2003) – this man makes some seriously dark and disturbing movies…that I truly enjoy, although I should probably have my head examined for it.  Many of his films focus on “pain and fear” – and there’s something to be said for a director who can evoke such interesting dynamics between characters. 

So that should get us through another week.  Stay tuned, Stig!  I have WAY more to share with you!!

Ladypipes' Favorites (for Stig Strombeck)

I love movies.  I always have.  My family was "that family" that had an 800 pound Beta Max VCR back in the late 70's.  My father would sit right by the television to record movies that were on regular, prime time television - before cable TV.  No remote control, you had to actually press the pause button at the commercials.  Those Beta Max-recorded movies started it all.  That's how I learned to love the horror film, the standard Hollywood movie-musical, and classic war films.  

Then there was my best friend in grade school, Linda Zirnite.  Her brother loved movies, too.  It was Linda's house where I first watched classic "film student" films like THE GODFATHER, THE EXORCIST, and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (much to the chagrin of my stepmother).  

Since then, I trouble my family and friends with lots of useless trivia about movies, STRONG personal opinions about why this movie was awesome and this one sucked, and movie quotes and quips (although, this is a Mayer Family Trait, I can't take full credit for why I do this).  I've used movie clips and scenes to train student leaders and professional staff.  I theater jump (much to the chagrin of my best friend Molly Conroy-Ungerecht, who encouraged me to start this blog), save ticket stubs, and keep strange lists in my head...like "The Fighter" is my third-favorite Christian Bale movie.  

So, for whoever will take the time to read this, I am here to introduce "Ladypipes Loves Movies", my movie blog about whatever might roll into my small head from this day to the next.  Seems that summer is the perfect time to start of these, since The Summer Movie Season is one of my favorite times of the year.  Yes, I have been known to have Summer Movie Clubs at work...and have scheduled summer movies into residence life professional training.  Because I have no shame.  

Today's blog is dedicated to Stig Strombeck, a former student of mine at Chico State.  I had always promised Stig that I would give him a list of "essentials" in the true Turner Classic Movies format...films that he should absolutely see in order to get a firm understanding of the whole body of cinema.  And since I'm full of opinions, that list will take the form of Ladypipes' Favorites.  Here are five genres, and my favorite movies in each:

1.  Favorite Drama - THE LION IN WINTER (1968, Anthony Harvey, Director)
This is quite possibly my favorite movie EVER.  Don't rent the remake - just check out this original, directed by Anthony Harvey and starring the incomparable Peter O'Toole as King Henry II; the truly amazing Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Acquataine; and the VERY young Anthony Hopkins as Richard the Lionhearted.  This film, based on a play, is the story of the marriage between Henry II and Eleanor of Acquataine and their three sons - all of whom "expect" to be named heir to the throne.  Henry desires the youngest son, John; while Eleanor prefers the eldest, Richard.  What results is a bunch of back stabbing, sneaking around, and trickery.  And some of my favorite movie lines EVER!  Katherine Hepburn received an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Eleanor.  

2.  Favorite Comedy - THE ODD COUPLE (1968, Gene Saks, Director)
Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon are one of the classic on-screen comedy couples of all time.  And this movie, based on the Neil Simon play of the same name, will send you into a tizzy of giggles and laugh-out-loud fits.  Walter Matthau plays Oscar Madison, a divorced sports writer who lives in a total pigsty.  Jack Lemmon is his best friend, Felix Unger, who is about to get divorced from his wife.  The two move in together and hilarity ensues as Felix tries to put his life back together and Oscar just tries to deal with his VERY different new roommate.  The best scene is at the diner when Felix's ears clog up and he desperately tries to clear them.  I can't even begin to describe it, because I'm laughing out loud right now just thinking about it.  This is a super film to use with Residence Life professionals in talking about roommate conflicts :)

3.  Favorite Film Noir - DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944, Billy Wilder, Director)
From the overly dramatic voice-over by star Fred MacMurray...to the smart and sassy dialogue between the male and female leads...to the double and triple crossing in this insurance scheme film noir, you won't find a better written or directed piece of 40's cinema.  This is a movie I can watch over and over and over again and find something new every time.  There's adultery, sex, murder, and mystery.  And a few surprises, too.  What John Seitz was able to do with camera and lighting is wonderful.  Makes you really appreciate what they were able to do back in the day with no real special effects.  

4.  Favorite Horror - THE EXORCIST (1973, William Friedkin, Director)
There WILL be a blog dedicated to this very movie someday.  Suffice to say that this movie still scares the holy crap out of me, and I'm quite sure it always will.  Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller and the amazing Max von Sydow, this film is based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, telling the story of a movie star's daughter who is possessed by a demon.  When science can't explain all Regan MacNeil's strange behavior, her mother turns to a catholic priest to save the day.  You can't imagine how frightening a child can really be until you see this movie.  While there are some scenes that are arguably over-sensationalized, the truly scary stuff takes place in between the crucifix stabbing, head turning, and projectile vomit that the film is known for.  It still makes you wonder and ask yourself, could this REALLY ever happen?  Because you REALLY aren't for sure....

5.  Favorite Action - SPEED (1994, Jan de Bont, Director)
As long as Keanu Reeves can stick to movies like this, then all is well in the world.  This movie about a terrorist who has planted a bomb on a bus to get money makes you really challenge your ability to suspend disbelief.  There are stunts in this movie that are completely unbelievable and yet you still cheer out loud when they take place.  I have seen this movie more than a dozen times I'm quite sure...and I still grip the edge of the sofa cushions when they jump that damn bus.  This is the film that made Sandra Bullock a star (even though she was better in THE THING ABOUT LOVE, released one year earlier).

So - there you have it.  Five genres, five films.  And I'm already thinking about what genres to take on next.  Don't worry, Stig - I have MANY more movies for you to put in your Netflix queue!

Until next time...
--Ladypipes :)