the soundtrack...
Why? Just why?
shareThe soundtrack is one of my favorite things about this movie and one of the main reasons I've watched it multiple times.
shareI agree! The soundtrack was fantastic! I thought it worked with the film brilliantly!
shareI also love the soundtrack. I disagree that Dunst's performance was poor. I liked everyone in this film, actually. While those of you who hate the music are entitled to your opinion, I feel the combination of classical and modern music highlighted the fact that Antoinette's character is laid back while Louis' character is traditional. I also felt the modern music did a particularly wonderful job of accenting the changes Antoinette goes through in the film.
share[deleted]
Same here, regarding the soundtrack. It was a stroke of genius not to give us another "Amadeus" (much as I adore that film), but a view of teen life and alienation in a highly materialistic world, the only solution to which seemed to be: PAR-TAY! Some of the best New Wave songs of the 80's just MADE this film something completely unique. I mean, does anyone else get sick of the anemic, recycled theme from "Downton Abbey" (which , by the way, is not "Period" either!)? Instead of three moping, anemic rich girls, we get the lushness and raucous party atmosphere that made the Queen infamous. And with much better costumes than the 80's!
In between New Order and the Cure's splendid "Plainsong" at the coronation, we get the lilting mandolin and guitar solos of Marie's more intimate Petit Trianon, with her lazing around amongst friends and lovers.
I wouldn't change ONE thing about the music except for Bow Wow Wow's freakish rendition of one of my fave tunes by Johnny Mercer, "Fools Rush In"...but even that fit somehow (I like to think Marie was just hungover and still thinking about Count Versen during that bit).
At least she didn't mix 80's shlock-pop with a serious attempt to recreate an era, as they did with "Dirty Dancing"!
Nothing is what it seems. Everything is a test. Rule #1: Don't...get...caught.
Agreed on the genius soundtrack. But who is better than her in that department anyway? I mean, there are other directors who are exceptional regarding soundtracks of their respective films (Wes Anderson, Tarantino, Scorsese...) but it's difficult to be better than her in that regard.
I wouldn't change ONE thing about the music except for Bow Wow Wow's freakish rendition of one of my fave tunes by Johnny Mercer, "Fools Rush In"...but even that fit somehow (I like to think Marie was just hungover and still thinking about Count Versen during that bit).
I don't know, I liked that version. It resonated very well to this situation where her heart must be beating very fast (she's falling in love) where she is so excited after meeting that guy at a party and constantly thinking about him on the way home. I also guess she was more cheerful than hungover. It was probably one of those nights where you cannot sleep because of constantly thinking about that person you just met at a party (I mean while everybody is sleeping in the carriage/couch she is constantly in motion and leaning against the window and holding her hand outside against the wind)... The song echoes that situation/scene so good.
Every song is perfectly chosen but I also especially liked the "I-don't-Like-it-Like-This" music choice or when Squarepusher is played after the party scene where she is newly waking up while the servants are cleaning the room or when you hear Aphex Twin when she enters Versailles or the "I-want-Candy" bit.
To my mind, the "weakest" choice of music (if you can say so) was the Strokes song. share
Interesting takes on some of the other excellent music in this film. And I'd have to agree that, despite some similar directors who use this technique, Sofia is the one who does it best. With Scorcese, for instance, I often like the songs he chooses (but too often recycling the same ones) and where he chooses to put them in a scene. It's pretty hit-or-miss as to how well it works.
Tarantino seems to put more thought in it and to mesh the music with the scene more appropriately. I loved his use of Rodriguez' de facto theme song from his Mariachi trilogy, Malaguena Salerosa, during the closing scene with Beatrix driving off in "Kill Bill, Vol.2". Perfection!
As for your take on "Fools Rush In", I agree with this part:
It was probably one of those nights where you cannot sleep because of constantly thinking about that person you just met at a party (I mean while everybody is sleeping in the carriage/couch she is constantly in motion and leaning against the window and holding her hand outside against the wind)... The song echoes that situation/scene so good.
It really does, and just before reading this, I had been watching "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." When John Cusack first arrives at the Christmas Party, the pianist, who knows that his mother's favorite Mercer song was "Fools Rush In", plays it, but in a very unique way, a sort of 1940's style "minuet". Then I realized that since Mercer was just the lyricist; then the actual melody could be anything that the musician desires!
Perhaps I simply had a problem (a common one for me) with Annabella Lwin's frequent flat notes as she hit the tougher parts. Their version of the melody really needed an operatic singer, I think. In my opinion, the only people who can pull off singing off-key are many of Motown's "girl groups", because it's intentional and many Bluegrass and Cajun singers. In those cases, I think it's the rustic quality of it and...well, that's the only explanation I have!
Back to the film, I was hypnotized by "Avril 14" (today!) and the sound of the pianoforte. You could actually hear the clacking of the keys hitting the catgut strings.
As for the other songs you mentioned, I don't have the soundtrack (just ordered it, though), so I'll head over to YouTube or watch the DVD to check them out and then reply.
Nothing is what it seems. Everything is a test. Rule #1: Don't...get...caught. share
"It was a stroke of genius not to give us another Amadeus..."
LMAO!!! I wonder how that would have worked? To see a film about the life and music of Mozart, without the music of...Mozart!
I loved the soundtrack in this. But that's probably ONLY because this is my kind of music. My era. New Order, Siouxsie, Cure, Bow Wow Wow...if Sofia had made this film and added, say a Bee Gees, Nirvana, Deicide, or Kanye inspired sound track, I'd be throwing up in my mouth a little bit...ok, a lot!
Everything I've ever told you has been a lie. Including that - George Spiggott
Right, I enjoyed it at least in part because I was an '80s postpunk guy myself. Which is one thing I find funny about people complaining that the soundtrack is "contemporary". Well, actually, most if not all of it was released at least twenty years before the film was.
--------
See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc