How can it be February since I last posted? I don't know how that happened and I am sorry if you've missed me.
Reporting back from my previous post, I watched Gladiator again on the strength of the soundtrack and no, I still don't like it. So there's that.
Let's continue.
Daniel Day Lewis announced his retirement from acting recently. For me, his finest moment will always be Last of the Mohicans. This music is beautiful and as with all good soundtracks it makes you 'see' the film. This is my favourite:
Desperado.
Oh lord, how I love this and the soundtrack. All of it. And this opening is perfection.
Dances with Wolves.
This makes me cry. This is another film I shamelessly love.
John Barry at his finest in my opinion.
In other news, I had my oven cleaned today by a company called Greased Lightning. Yes, I know.
I was recently at a meeting in Rome where the partner wanted The Godfather theme played at every break. An interesting choice I think we can all agree. Anyway, it got me thinking about my favourite movie themes. By this, I mean soundtracks, not songs written for movies like The Time Of My Life or My Heart Will Go On.
Let's hit it! Hans Zimmer is a genius and I absolutely adore his score for Thelma and Louise. Listening to this makes me think of the desert. I love it when it plays at the beginning of the film and the camera pans over the famous road to Monument Valley. I also love it at the end when they drive into the godamned Grand Canyon!
I am not a big fan of Gladiator. However, when we weren't playing The Godfather theme at the aforementioned meeting, we were playing this. Look, we were in Rome, ok? And I had forgotten how good it is. So good, it made me wonder if I should rewatch the film. Maybe I'd like it better now. That's the power of a great soundtrack.
I have always adored the South American Getaway music from Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. All the music in this is wonderful because of Burt Bacharach but this is a masterpiece.
I make no apologies for my Titanic love. I bought the soundtrack at the time and still listen to it. I will never forget going to the cinema to see this and this music played and I thought, "I am going to love this film." How right I was. I love the heart of this film and the music plays a massive part of that. It's very moving. This is one of my favourite pieces. RIP James Horner.
There is no 80s kid alive who doesn't love ET and the soundtrack when they fly on the bikes. I well up just thinking about it. It makes me think nothing bad can happen. John Williams is derivative but who cares when it's this good?
At this point, others would include Star Wars. Regular readers will know I am not a Star Wars nerd. I like it well enough but I don't lose my mind about it. Yes, the soundtrack is good but this is my list so go create your own and include Star Wars. OK?
Moving on to Gone With The Wind. The whole soundtrack is a work of utter genius. You can listen to it all on YouTube and I just spent 20 minutes listening to my favourite scenes and grinning like a fool. I have to include the opening credits here. Listening to them makes me want to watch the whole film. Good work Max Steiner.
OK, that's enough for now. I'll be back with part two. Let me know in the comments what soundtracks you love.
Inspired by just watching the Carly Simon video for Let The River Run. I am now watching Africa by Toto which is not, to my knowledge, featured in an 80s film but god, I love it. If you feel the same way, read this.
Anyway, to my list. Oh, this is so hard. SO HARD. How can I pick just ten? Let me dive in and see how I get on.
Now, strictly speaking I am cheating from the start because this isn't really a song and it has no video to go with it. But I love this more than life itself and it's from one of my favourite movies ever (not just the 80s) and therefore I am having it. The love theme from St Elmo's Fire.
Footloose! Kenny Loggins is the king of the 80s soundtrack. This is the very definition of a 'they don't make 'em like they used to' song. It's impossible to sit still to and it really does make me want to kick off my Sunday shoes. Added bonus of Kevin Bacon dancing of course.
It would be too easy to pick What A Feeling from Flashdance and yes, I do love it. However, Maniac by Michael Sembello is also a classic.
Fame! I want to live forever. This was huge. I still love watching the video. Dancing is a big thing for me.
If you want cheese, this video delivers in spades. Carly mingling with the characters from Working Girl. It's deeply odd but what an anthem.
I could include the entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack. While I love Time of My Life, this montage is when they fall in love and I can watch it over and over again.
I could also include the whole Pretty Woman soundtrack. One of the greatest soundtracks of our time. Go West! Roxette! I've always adored this little love song though.
I can't find any video that went with Crocodile Dundee and this song. Mental As Anything - Live It Up. Best band name ever. This is perfect pop.
I hate Simple Minds but to not include this would be all kinds of wrong. And it's the one thing they did right.
The finest rom com ever made give me my final choice. Nobody else gave me a thrill, with all your faults I love you still. Another great soundtrack.
No Top Gun songs? No room. Although the theme from Top Gun would be on my list on a different day and a different mood. Also Oh Yeah by Yello. What have I missed? Tell me your choices.
Well hello there my friends. Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I entered a world in which I was trying to obtain a US visa and what with that and a trip to Spain, my life has been a little busy. I needed a visa because I am moving to New York City for six months. Much excitement as I am a little bit in love with New York. OK, I am a lot in love with New York, more specifically Manhattan. Show me someone who doesn't skip with excitement at the smell of a pretzel stand and I'll show you a fool.
In one short week I shall be flying west and as with all major life events, I plan to theme it with an appropriate playlist. I thought I'd share my initial thoughts on this with you.
First up, my all-time favourite Randy Crawford and Streetlife. This song pretty much hums in my head as I power walk around Manhattan. I think it's the introduction that makes it so appealing.
I am an 80s kid so there is always a place for Fame. I love the old cab and cassette player in this. Baby look at me...
Oh Madonna, I will always love you for Into The Groove. I am planning a tribute visit to Battery Park. Goddammit, I still want to be her in this video.
Rapture by Blondie. I don't actually think any playlist is complete without this. Added bonus - it has a very Manhattan vibe. Also, if I can't be Madonna, can I be Debbie please?
It Had To Be You. From one of the best New York films ever made. Sing it Harry.
Only Barbra is allowed to sing this. Apologies for the subtitles! 2.13 gets me every time.
Across 110th Street. I adore this song. Another great opening.
And possibly my favourite New York song from Billy Joel. I love the lyrics to this, so evocative.
Christopher Cross gave us this masterpiece. Well, Burt Bacharach did of course. Maybe now I will understand what it means to be caught between the moon and New York City?
I could do this all night so it's time to close this one out with the bible of songs for us working girls. Sing it Carly! I'll try and avoid having a Melanie Griffith hair do while I am there but no promises...
Where has this film been all my life? Is there anything more perfect than Cher and Christine Aguilera together singing, dancing and a small-town girl makes good storyline? I think not.
Burlesque has been out for three whole years and yet it has taken me until now to watch it. I wanted to see it when it was released but never quite got round to it. My sister insisted I should watch it and we all know she is always right. Last night, thanks to Netflix, I settled down to view and within two minutes I was hooked. It's so cheesy, it's the very definition of a Bad Movie We Love and if you've not seen it then I'm afraid I must insist that you make it a priority.
The cast is epic. It has Stanley Tucci. I love Stanley Tucci, he's never bad and there's something very attractive about him. Peter Gallagher makes an appearance. Kristen Bell. For goodness sake, James Brolin! All this and Cher too. Really, we are spoilt. Plus it has this hot dude:
Last spotted by me in The OC, boy he is looking good.
The storyline is paper thin but it doesn't matter. All you need to know is that Christina belts out song after song, Cher does her make up for her and there's loads of dancing. It's a gay man's dream of a film which makes it something I automatically have affinity with. Christina is pretty good in it since she's no actress but her hair is utterly bizarre. At one point they make a point of saying she will wear a wig for the stage which makes her look 100% better yet she still has this weird Barbie-like hair the rest of the time. I'd go so far as to say it's almost a distraction.
Good:
Weird:
My one complaint is there is not enough Cher singing. Nonetheless, it's a masterpiece of cheesy film making and I highly recommend it.
Back in time we go to the early 80s when Sheena was a big star. Ahhhh, such innocent times. The Scottish lass who made it big on The Big Time. Whenever I think of Sheena, I think of my nan disapprovingly saying that she'd ruined herself with all that make-up and she looked much better with a natural pretty face! Grandmothers are on this earth to make such comments.
What to make of Sheena? Did you know she'd been married four times? That is was watching The Way We Were that made her want to be a singer? She was huge in America of course and the fact is, she could actually, properly sing.
This video is hilarious, she looks strangely contemporary in it with her turquoise jumpsuit.
Sheena did two songs for the About Last Night album (one of my favourite albums, obviously) and both are songs I still listen to. It formed a montage in the film and wouldn't you know, here it is. Bonus Rob Lowe in this post.
Natural Love. Another montage scene but I can't find it on YouTube. I could describe it scene by scene but I will spare you. Suffice to say, it's the song they move in together to. And a giant bear is involved. It's very bouncy - the song, not the bear.
You haven't really made it until you've done a Bond theme. It's not a total classic but it's still pretty good. Very slinky.
However, her highpoint for me will always be U Got The Look. Your body's heck a slammin'. Only Prince could write such a lyric. This is when she sexed up. Of course Prince doesn't allow his songs on YouTube so I can't show you a proper version of it but hey, we all know it right? It's a brilliant song.
I am a bit disappointed to see what she looks like now. Housewife of New Jersey springs to mind. Sheena, go and find your Prince again.
When this film came out in 1990, yes 23 years ago, I loved it. I went to see it twice at the cinema, bought the soundtrack and basically wanted to be a Sioux. I've not seen it for years but it was on TV so I recorded it and watched it again. Despite what you may think of Kevin Costner, this is an amazing achievement. I watched it with TeenBoy who had never seen it before.
It is long. Really long. But it doesn't feel long at three hours. Yet again, I was drawn into it all. Two Socks the wolf! Stands With A Fist! Wind In His Hair! Kicking Bird! Smiles A Lot!A big debate was had about our Sioux names, no strong conclusion was made on mine but TeenBoy is Tickles Fish. The scenery is spectacular and the buffalo scene is still impressive. All was going well until TeenBoy said, Kevin Costner now looks like he should be in Bon Jovi.
Ruined. Ruined I tell you! I couldn't stop laughing and it's true, he does morph into Bon Jovi in an alarming fashion. This is a brilliant film and now I want to watch Last of the Mohicans where I have absolutely no complaints about Daniel Day Lewis's resemblance to a hair band member at all.
It's a very sad film and although it's roughly drawn with cliches - Sioux are all good and noble people, white men are evil - it's done in a way that you don't really care. And we have enough westerns with the white men being heroes anyway.
I still want to be a Sioux as it turns out, and live in a teepee and sit around a campfire. I wouldn't be so hot on the fighting and lack of running hot water though so just as well.
Can you believe this film is 20 years old? It will come as no surprise that I was somewhat obsessed with this. I can't think of a more romantic action film. When Cora asks Hawkeye what he is looking at and he replies 'I'm looking at you miss.' It's swoonsome, trust me. Take a look:
That smile he gives her at the end. Oh Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. I can forgive him for dumping his girlfriend by fax, becoming a cobbler briefly and being well, a bit odd, because never has he been finer than in this. He's so intense. I could watch him striding about the screen all day long. Of course the other great moment is when he tells Cora to STAY ALIVE! He will find her, no matter what. My god, why has nobody ever said to me next to a thundering waterfall?
The rest of the film is rather good too, I've not seen it for ages but writing about it has made me want to watch it again. It also has an excellent soundtrack that of course I have, I am listening to it as I type and I still love it. It's all rather marvellous really and perfect for a rainy Sunday night.
Terminator 2 is one of the best action films ever made. If you are sniffy about it, then watch it again and come back and tell me why. And I want a full critique with references.
It's a masterpiece of suspense with a kick-ass heroine in Linda Hamilton (whatever happened to her? She was so good in this), Arnie at his finest and the most menacing villain (in T1000). Just thinking about how he melts and gets through those bars gives me sweaty palms of fear. The soundtrack is wonderful, it gets your heart thumping. Everyone is great in this but it's Linda's film and she should have won an Oscar.
Although the special effects in this were amazing, the film wasn't all about the effects. And I know I sound 101, but really, is it that hard to write a good action script these days? This film has heart with John Connor making a connection with The Terminator. My favourite line is "Come with me if you want to live." and my favourite scene is the motorcycle chase near the beginning because it's so nail-biting. Cameron knows how to do this stuff like no other director. You can watch the trailer here which is still a really excellent trailer by the way. I might have to go and watch it again since I can as 29 August 1997 passed without event and we weren't overrun by crazy machines set to destroy us. Phew.
You may have noticed I've been absent recently. I've been working very hard delivering a project at work and even working weekends. WEEKENDS. Weekends are for watching rom coms, not taking 3am calls. I kid you not. I am feeling frazzled and a little delicate and I feel what I need is an afternoon of watching feel-good comfort films and this is top of my list.
I adore this film. Made when Meg Ryan was still sweet and likeable, with Tom Hanks at his absolute best and with a fabulous soundtrack, this film is the very definition of comfort viewing. It's designed to watch while snuggling under a blanket with cashmere socks on and a pot of tea at one's side.
Reasons I love this film:
1) Meg Ryan's hair. Seriously. Her hair rocks this film.
2) Rosie O'Donnell as the best friend. She gets some great lines: "You don't want to be in love, you want to be in love in a movie!"
3) All the allergies poor Walter has, it's very cleverly done.
4) The whole subtext of An Affair to Remember
5) The rush to get up the Empire State Building - *sob*
6) The lovely retro soundtrack
7) The two kids. Now I don't like most American kids in movies but these two are really good and very funny.
8) It has Niles from Frasier in it
9) Rita Wilson describing An Affair to Remember and crying as she does it.
10) The line about tiramisu.
This film was made in 1993 yet it feels so delightfully old fashioned. At the risk of sounding ancient, they simply don't make old fashioned rom coms anymore. Now they have stupid toilet jokes and tacky sex scenes in them (see Bridesmaids) and so my little old-fashioned, tea drinking, cashmere-sock wearing side is grateful for this gem.
Elvis never fails to lift my spirits. This isn't going to be a post about the wonders of Elvis as I am too tired to do him justice tonight. Instead let's just admire one of his finest moments ever. One of the best songs that only Elvis can sing.
This song defines Vegas for me, when I went a few years ago, we stayed at The Bellagio and went to admire the famous dancing fountains. I can't tell you how excited I was, I've wanted to see these fountains for a long time. They do a little routine to various different songs, we got there for a performance and what burst out? Viva Las Vegas! I thought I was going to expire with happiness.
This is also one of Elvis's better movies. I love this scene:
Ann Margaret looks so amazing in this, I love her outfit. I want a day off work to watch Elvis films now!
It's extraordinary I've not talked about Bond songs yet. I actually can't quite believe I haven't. Anyway, to a classic and one that is most definitely in my top five Bond songs of all time, Diamonds are Forever. I prefer this to Goldfinger and that's saying something as I love Goldfinger.
Diamonds are Forever is epic. From the opening twinkling, the way Shirley sings forever in that opening line to the lyrics "they won't leave in the night, I've no fear they might desert me... touch it stroke it and undress it!" The whole song is so cinematic and evocative, it's impossible to just sit and listen to this, you need to sort of sashay round the room. Preferably in a long, tight evening gown.
Shirley is such a performer, I adore the way she sings live. Check it out and her expressions.
It's been a long week and rather stressful, what better way to unwind than with this little gem? I mentioned in my Burt Bacharach post how much I liked this song. Actually I adore it, it's so cheesy and it makes me want to drive around in a cab at 2am in Manhattan. I think a song more than delivers if it puts you in that mood.
Pour yourself a G&T, kick back and enjoy. Happy Friday.
There may be rioting in London but that's not what I refer to, oh no. I read this morning that Dirty Dancing is being remade and will be directed by Kenny Ortega, the man who brought us High School Musical. This is so completely unnecessary, do they really think they can improve on the first one? I don't mind Dirty Dancing 2 (in fact, I kind of like it what with the Cuba setting and all) but it wasn't a remake.
I weep for the future, I despair for mankind. I need to watch the original again and cleanse my mind of the horrors that a remake will inflict upon us. As if anyone could ever top the mighty Swayze. I am sighing deeply.
My Eagles post reminded me of Desperado with Antonio Banderas, a film that I was obsessed with in the 90s because of Antonio. I must have seen this film at least a dozen times and I never tire of it. It's a stupid film but it's looks beautiful - all those terracotta shades of Mexico and it has Antonio in it and I really don't think he's ever been better.
It's very violent but in a cartoon-like way. It has a huge amount of shooting which gets a bit tedious but it also has a wonderful opening, I adore this song.
The whole soundtrack is fantastic. Salma Hayek has never been hotter but really this film is all about Antonio. Ahhhh, Antonio. If only he hadn't insisted on marrying Melanie who I am convinced has ruined his career.
It's time for every teenager's favourite tragic story, Romeo and Juliet, or as Baz would have it, Romeo + Juliet. Ampersands are simply not hip.
This is a cool film with the lovers perfectly cast. Leonardo is at the top of his game here and looks so good. Yes, he is very pretty but he has a depth and intelligence to him. Claire Danes is also excellent.
Made back when Baz was good. Well, I say that, he gave us this and Strictly Ballroom and I thought he was fantastic. Little did I know that was it. Then came one of my most hated films ever; Moulin Rouge. I can't even talk about it I loathe it so much. Maybe another time.
Back to Romeo + Juliet which is a good film. It's cleverly done, I love the Rio setting, it's sexy and it has a wonderful supporting cast. Pete Postlethwaite anyone? Paul Rudd? I love Paul Rudd. We may have a post about Paul Rudd soon. It also has the perfect movie soundtrack with Lovefool being my favourite. Whatever happened to The Cardigans? It has one of the few Radiohead songs I like on it too. Although I love the scene where they meet by the fish tank, I could do without Des'ree's warbling but nonetheless it's a winner.
Some films come along and hit you right between the eyes and change our perception of film. Pulp Fiction was one of those films for me. I remember going to the cinema to see this having little idea of what it was about and being blown away. I am a real wimp when it comes to violence in movies and although you don't see much actual violence in this, the threat is always there and there are still some scenes I find hard to watch. But no matter, I still watch it again and again.
It's a film that seems to burn on to your retinas and stay there. Every scene is lovingly lit and the cast are dressed iconically. None more so than Uma Thurman as Mia who made us all want to wear white shirt and black trousers and look as cool as her. We wish.
I loved John Travolta since Grease and it always used to annoy me that the 80s weren't good for him. He made some terrible choices (never, ever watch The Experts) and was relegated to Look Who's Talking. It never felt right. But god bless Tarantino who knew there were people like me who were dying to see him make a good film again. He is so fabulous in this - this is the film when everyone said 'oh, he's a good actor' and yet again I sat smiling smugly on the sidelines.
Bruce Willis is also a revelation in this, the first film in which I found him rather fanciable. It has some of the best dialogue committed to celluloid and a great soundtrack. It's in my top 10 films. My favourite scene is, of course, the dance scene. Nothing could be more perfect. I can watch it endlessly.
What a feeling! Flashdance is the very definition of a Bad Movie We Love. It's soooooo bad but yet so deliciously good. I am reminded of it because I am currently watching Chicago Code with Jennifer Beals. Who'd have thought she'd have a career with legs but god bless her, she's actually pretty good.
Back to Flashdance. A movie about a beautiful welder who wants to be a dancer. And that folks is all you need to know. She welds by day, she dances racily by night (along with her friends) and she dreams of getting into a proper classy dance school and living her dream. Along the way she sleeps with her boss, memorably takes ber bra off under her top and has a bit of angst.
I've seen this film many times but I can't think of any scene apart from the bra scene, the dinner scene and the final dance scene. Everything else all blurs into one dance and music fest. It truly is a film of style over substance.
Geri Halliwell should be punished severely for her It's Raining Men video (and don't even get me started on her covering that song either). The original dance scene in Flashdance is fabulous and here it is - I can't believe the judges are smoking. Sing it Irene!
When Harry Met Sally is quite simply the best Woody Allen film Woody Allen didn't make. I adore it. I can probably quote every line in it. My all-time favourite line in this and in fact, in any movie is: "You made a woman miaow?" Here it is:
Fantastic! This is a film where everybody is at the top of their game. Meg Ryan is yet to be annoying (although it didn't take long), Billy Crystal is always wonderful but I love him in this, Bruno Kirby (RIP) is great and Carrie Fisher is, well, who doesn't love Carrie Fisher? "Someone is staring at you in personal growth!"
Nora Ephron wrote the script. Rob Reiner directed it and Harry Connick sung his way through it. Perfection. Also, has New York ever looked better on screen? I never tire of watching it although I do think the orgasm scene is the least interesting scene in the film.
One of my favourite scenes is this one. Sally - thinks she's low maintenance but is really high maintenance as we can see here. Enjoy!
It's Easter Sunday. I am not a religious person however I bow at the altar of popular culture. I bring you Jesus Christ Superstar, one of the finest musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the wonderful Tim Rice. When I was a youngster, Easter Sunday was often spent at my mum's cousin's family who lived in Kent. It may have only happened once but I distinctly remember watching JCS and being stunned and amazed at its genius. Did a film sum up the 70s as beautifully as this one? The costumes are amazing. And I loved the bus with the kids in Coca Cola t-shirts.
Here are my favourite songs.
King Herod's Song:
Hosanna:
I Don't Know How To Love Him:
Everything's Alright:
I could listen to these songs all day long. Say what you like about Andrew Lloyd Webber but he knows how to write a catchy tune. For me, it's all about the finale. Check out the white fringing! And the wigs! Fantastic.
