Dr. Strangelove or Why I was late for work today
We play the guessing game at work when someone knows the artist responsible for a rather obscure song playing over the muzak. The songs are usually before my time so I don’t contribute much, but sometimes I play my own version of the game by asking in what movie does this song play. I don’t know the names of the band or song but I remember it from Donnie Darko when DD is getting off the bus and the camera rotates ninety degrees. I remember it from Pleasantville when the rebellious kids discover Elvis (I did know it was Elvis). I even remember it from one of the many dance sequences in Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
Yesterday a song came on and without consciously doing so I sang part of the chorus loud enough for everyone to hear me. One of the old timers, the one with the most knowing ears, asked me how if he had never heard the song before, did I know the words. I told him it was from the movie Rushmore. He said why am I not surprised he’s referencing a movie.
Just looking up the Rushmore soundtrack now, I see that the song is called Concrete & Clay by Unit 4 + 2, who I’ve never heard of before, but I’ve listened to the soundtrack and seen the movie so many times it will forever be seared into my brain. This leads me to the point I’m trying to get at—my primary exposure to music at this un-hip point in my life comes from movies, and more accurately, movie trailers. In trailers the studios have two minutes or so to hook you. This short period of time is crammed with hopefully intriguing images and songs that compel you to seek out the artist.
I love watching movie trailers. Their purpose is to build excitement and anticipation for a film, and sometimes they even turn out to be better than the main event. Below are some that I have repeatedly watched and will give you an idea of what I’m talking about.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Since I already mentioned a Wes Anderson movie I’ll start with this, a trailer I probably watched a hundred times before the movie came out and although I didn’t like it as much as his other films I did discover David Bowie’s Hunky Dory, an album that, other than the first couple Weezer albums, I’ve listened to from beginning to end more than any other.
A Home at the End of the World
I’ve never seen this movie but I remember watching the trailer multiple times just for the scene where they’re singing Look Out Cleveland by The Band, who I had known before but only from their more well known songs.
Garden State
How many people were introduced to all the hip music out there when Zach Braff came out with a soundtrack that maybe eclipsed the movie. This is kind of dangerous territory because I don’t have the proper cred to talk about The Shins and co. but the trailer was amazing with the great visuals along with The Postal Service (this version of the song is not on the soundtrack) and Travis.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
This trailer does a lot of things. It makes me laugh, it makes me sad, and it frightens me. I’ve never seen the movie but I have listened to his music and never would have heard of him if not for this.
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man
I had never heard of Leonard Cohen but loved the song Everybody Knows. And Antony freaks me out but if you watch the whole performance it’s pretty ahh…well watch it.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
One of my favorite films and one of my favorite trailers filled with rapid cuts of Michel Gondry’s completely original style to the tune of Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra.
The Science of Sleep
Another one of Michel Gondry’s films with music from The Strokes and Death Cab for Cutie.
The Aviator
I would watch this trailer over and over again just for when PM’s Love Theme kicks in just after the two minute mark.
Everything Is Illuminated
This is one of the funniest trailers because foreign people who can’t speak English too good are hilarity. The first half does a good job of setting up the general plot and providing laughs, while the second half starts with Devotchka’s How it Ends, which spreads over the quirky and uncoventional visuals and the suddenly less predictable plot that leaves you wondering where the story leads and to what depth.
I Heart Huckabees
Wow, this movie spawned some great youtube clips of director David O. Russell, but before those I was watching this trailer and even quoting it with friends. Jon Brion has done the music for a couple of the films on this list and he has also worked with PT Anderson on a few occasions. His soundtracks are badass.
Once
This trailer could be a music video, starting slowly and gaining momentum as the actual preview for the film plays out. They only show it briefly in the trailer but I really liked the part when the Guy and Girl sit down in the music store and he plays the song for her.
A Scanner Darkly
Based on the Philip K. Dick novel, the movie uses animation (rotoscoping) and the electronic sounds of M83 (at least in the trailer). Look at it. It’s cool and eery.
Across the Universe
When you hear most Beatles songs don’t you just want to bust out into a painful/happy/psychedelic/mind fuck musical number?
Southland Tales
Some people say this movie sucks and doesn’t make sense, but I say it is “challenging,” maybe because I really liked Donnie Darko and I’ve heard that if you read the three prequel chapters that were released as a graphic novel things are more clear. In any case the trailer doesn’t have to make sense and I had never heard of Elbow before.
Pineapple Express
Sometimes I wonder how they pick songs for trailers, and this is an example of an unconventional choice that just fits so well. Maybe they chose it (Paper Planes by M.I.A.) because of the gunshots.
Slumdog Millionaire
A Bollywood-type film set against the despair of Mumbai, Slumdog Millionaire at least looks like a fun, exciting ride in the trailer. Danny Boyle always has awesome visuals and the Ting Tings provide some energy.
These trailers lead me to this final one for the new David Fincher movie. One would expect I was late for work because I was out celebrating Davidson Basketball’s victory over West Virginia on ESPN, but this was not the case. While I was jazzed about the Wildcats pulling out a tough victory in the Jimmy V Classic, a game in which Andrew Lovedale was solid throughout and after a terrible first three quarters of the game, Stephen Curry stepped up and outscored WV in the last few minutes, I calmed down shortly after the game ended, did some laundry, and sat down to watch The Daily Show. During one of the commercials this trailer came on, a 30 second spot that ended before I even knew what was going on. Earlier versions of the trailer were filled with nice, soothing classical music, fitting for what may be an epic. But here was this short TV spot that just changed all of that. The music was so contradictory–loud and raw. I found the trailer online and stayed up watching it repeatedly. I found out that the song was by Arcade Fire, a band I’ve heard of but had never heard their music. It turns out the song seems to be perfect for the movie, describing what I assume will be the major interference between Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s characters experiencing a traditional relationship.
The spot followed me into my dreams. In my dream I was at a wedding and I pulled aside a friend to tell him about the preview and how it had kept me up all night.
I guess this is bordering on unnecessary obsession, but there is something about the perfect fusion of image and song that makes both unforgettable and inseparable to me. C’mon, check it out and halfway through when it explodes tell me you are not ready to bust down walls.
With a preview like this, the movie has to be one of the best of all time.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
David Fincher is great, but will the movie meet my absurd expectations? We’ll find out come Christmas.
JG
And this is just for fun
Check out apple.com/trailers for a wide selection of upcoming releases.
