Play it again, Sam...

Don't you hate it when someone shows up in your outfit

In the words of James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, "Daft Punk is playing in my house" - frequently, and the French electro masters are soon to exceed the boundaries of my humble abode and hit cinemas worldwide, with the impending release of "Tron: Legacy". An event in film history that's had sci-fi nerds salivating in anticipation for years, music junkies everywhere are jumping on board with the prospect of an electrifying score by these masters of their craft (not to be confused with MSTRKRFT). Exciting times.

This got me to thinking about the role of music in film: scores, soundtracks and what they bring to the motion picture. And how better to discuss this but with examples of course!

Imagine this

This startlingly obvious one is the big cahoona that'll have you tutting, eye-rolling and muttering, "godsake Carlin, some originality PLEASE!" but it could not be omitted. The "Forrest Gump" soundtrack is an anthology of American music. The 2-disc, 34 song soundtrack acts as a perfect accompaniment to this heart-warming tale of simpleton success; pinpointing exact eras and changes in time. For many, a single song can define a generation - this film goes one better and uses various songs and genres to colour a whole truck-load of definitive moments in history.
Neat.

Spike Jonze's live-action film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's tale, "Where The Wild Things Are", is not just a visual treat, but a magical music must. With a score from Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O and the Kids, it encapsulates the innocence and excitement of Max's manic imaginery adventure, emphasising the poignant and emotive moments, of which there are a great many.




To be brutally honest I didn't think "500 Days of Summer" really lived up to the "indie breakout hit" status it was meant to have: I didn't feel sorry for the protagonist and I found his pathetic wallowing most irritating - she blatantly wasn't feeling it from the start, take a hint man. That said, the soundtrack probably increased the films like-ability ten-fold. The Smiths, Doves, Simon & Garfunkel to name but a few all feature, and of course an uplifting injection of Hall &Oates - shame it accompanied the biggest cringe-fest of a dance sequence known to man. Still though, this is a prime example of a soundtrack not just adding to a film, but actually improving it.

Poor musical taste can kill a relationship. DEAD.

Lastly I feel compelled to mention Tarantino's epic merging of genres in "Reservoir Dogs" and, laterally, "Pulp Fiction". These soundtracks fuse American rock n roll, pop, surf and soul, adding to the brash and punchy story-telling style unique to Tarantino. "Little Green Bag", "Stuck in the Middle With You", "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon": the list is endless and all carry the same powerful resonance. When you hear them you think of drug overdose, bloody mutilation and gimps - and I am entirely ok with that.

M&S Winter Campaign: 2010

BEST OF THE REST:

- Empire Records (for 90s grunge angst: The Cranberries, Jimi Hendrix, Better Than Ezra, AC/DC...)

- Almost Famous (intro to the 70s rock scene in a nice accessable package: Lynard Skynard, Led Zepplin, The Who, Elton John...)

- Good Will Hunting (non-Elliot Smith fans need not apply: Elliot Smith, Al Green, Elliot Smith...)

- Goodfellas (Brat Pack, the Stones and gangsters - what more could you possibly want?)

- The Wedding Singer (for the 80s cheese lover in all of us: Elvis Costello, The Smiths, David Bowie, New Order...)