First off, the coolest thing in the world is this, Luca’s first day riding. Would probably work better if his feet reached the ground, but he loved it and threw a mild tantrum when we finally put the bike away for the night. 
That was last night. This is me today:
As you can see, Luca is much cooler than his snot faced dad who does not apparently know how to clean himself up too well after a great ride on the round valley trails in Park City. I was a bit frozen after the hail and rain storm that kicked in, got back to the car and tossed the mud spattered bike into the car, stripping off all wet clothes in the middle of a parking lot not caring who was checking out my pale white ass. Like I said, Luca is way cooler. Back to the film!
The team met a few nights ago in what was supposed to be a fun night to have some beers (Saison Brett my pick for beer of the night) and not talk business…. and what do you do when you get film producers, actors, editors, music coordinators and a beer drinking director, to sit and talk? You end up talking film, it just happens. At one point in the evening I commented to our editor about the adage that a film is made three times: When it’s written, when it’s shot and when it’s edited. He replied, or quipped, back to our music coordinator, “Actually it’s four times, when the music is added.” And he’s right.
Matt went on to comment how, during a film studies class, as the TA, he had presented the class with a famous scene from JAWS, only replacing the classic “Jaws” refrain with another more friendly, peaceful tune…TOTALLY DIFFERENT MOVIE!!!
So I am quickly thinking of films with music that made the scene… and I don’t know what rules to follow here… seems wrong to use musicals at all, and franchise scores, like the theme from Bond films do not sound fit either…although that tune evokes an emotional response regardless, like the theme from ROCKY. I’m talking the music helped make the scene (and again, acknowledging that this is a quick opinion list, I’m sure I’m forgetting 3,000 better matches:
JAWS we already talked about. A classic, the theme and imagery has played through the heads of almost anyone playing in the surf. So some new choices:
BREAKING AWAY — “Mama! Mama! The Italians are coming!” as Mendelssohn’s Italien symphony builds into the most famous scene in a bike movie… What a scene, almost perfect, until you clue into the gears he is actually using at 55 mph! For those looking forward to PELOTON, pay attention for our homage to this scene!
THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY — Vangelis (He and Zimmer seem to know what they are doing)…Signourney Weaver has never looked so sexy, don’t care how many Aliens she blasts in other films, watching her walk through the rain, contemplating her love for a man, the consequence of a message deciphered…steamy, steamy, steamy … sultry your name is Signourney and Vangelis turned up the heat for you. (And if you watch the whole fantastic movie, enjoying Linda Hunt’s award winning performance, you get to hear the tune again in an equally sexy scene driving through the night)
THE NATURAL – when Roy Hobbs hits it out of the park and the fanfare starts, well, it’s not just the music, the editing is amazing, all the reaction shots, his bleeding gut, the broken bat after the thunder, priceless.
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION — In an altogether fantastic film, Andy playing Le Nozze di Figaro is stunning. One of the great visuals of The Power of Music, the two voices interpreted by Red (Morgan Freeman) as we see on the prisoner’s faces, for a minute, their temporary escape into something beautiful. (and it’s Morgan Freeman’s voice, who cares what he says, it’s beautiful)
TRUE ROMANCE — OK, this is an odd choice as people are shouting, what about the Doors The End in APOCALYPSE NOW (Yes, awesome), SAY ANYTHING, In Your Eyes with Lloyd Dobbler holding the Boombox, Yes, but disqualified on some principle, the entire soundtrack to THE GRADUATE? Yes, Simon and Garfunkel are truly brilliant. But TRUE ROMANCE, on my favorite just enjoyable movies, is a fairytale, maybe even a Dicken’s fairytale: Listen to Hans Zimmers absolutely beautiful and haunting theme to the film (I want something like that for PELOTON please!!), a fairytale like quality contrasted to the harsh images of Detroit in the winter and Arquette’s narrative…. just enjoy the hilarious ride thanks to Tony Scott and written by Tarantino) and accept it’s a tale:
OK — I’ll even include this great scene (apologize for the subtitles) but I’ve always theorized this is the cornerstone for the film, that if you believe them in this scene, the rest of the movie makes sense — and I don’t think it works without the music!
Now I am giving you some of the goofy love scene stuff in the film, but True Romance has gunfights, sicilian interviews, brutal fight scenes upon which others are modeled, the best cocaine in your face car scene moment ever and a scene stealing Brad Pitt huffing on a honey bear bong…. what’s not to love?
And I don’t want to repeat movies from previous posts, but can you imagine some sports movies without the music? I can hear the music as Rocky runs up the stairs, that great crescendo; running on the beach in CHARIOTS OF FIRE with Vangelis (again!), the theme from HOOSIERS. Would the power of a burned Sam Shepherd walking across the desert dragging his parachute work as well without the chuck yeager theme building up? No. Lots of great examples.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE — Will the Ninth symphony ever be the same… oh yes, because it’s what finally explains a woman’s love in IMMORTAL BELOVED!!
PHILADELPHIA — the bosses Streets of Philadelphia. I won’t even comment. It’s too good.
And because I saw them recently, THE THIN RED LINE, Hans Zimmer again, but its the Melanesian choir that is unforgettable.
Anyway, there are lots more, I know.
Right now I’m back to working the script, wanting it to be the best possible. Still looking for another 100K… anyone know where to look??!!
Auditions were great fun to see people’s choices and interpretations, loved it and looking forward to call backs. I want to rewrite the film and have a leading part for everyone. Apparently that’s not in the budget however.
Will keep you updated and in the meantime the Giro dItalia is on, but check out today’s Amgen Tour of California! Local boy, a man who wore the yellow jersey, a man who wants to protect your junk, professionally (www.dz-nuts.com), Dave Zabriskie, Congratulations!!!
