Dan T. Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Barry Levinson made the best use of a song in a movie with the ironic juxtaposition Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in "Good Morning Vietnam" playing over scenes of violence and death. Very powerful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1tl0RNuvQo Levinson is a master at using music in his movies. Diner is one of my favorite movies of all time, and his use of music as soundtrack for the era in it really really good. You can tell how much music means to him, because the characters discuss music as part of the dialogue throughout too.( The Daniel Stern Shrevie character with his record collection, who's a better singer to "make-out" to, Mathis or Sinatra, etc.) But NO discussion of use of music in movies would be complete without a nod to George Lucas, who pretty much singlehandedly created a renaissance in 50's rock and roll in the early 70's with the movie American Graffiti. The music was more than a soundtrack, it was what the characters were listening to as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 "Stuck in the Middle With You"- Torture scene in Reservoir Dogs. Pretty intense. Actually, Tarantino (imo) uses music better than anyone in movies, overall. Also, nod to The Doors movie- incredible use of music in that flick. It helps that the Doors kick ass though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 But NO discussion of use of music in movies would be complete without a nod to George Lucas, who pretty much singlehandedly created a renaissance in 50's rock and roll in the early 70's with the movie American Graffiti. The music was more than a soundtrack, it was what the characters were listening to as well. Wow, you're right. Before George Lucas, nobody liked 50's music. And nobody had ever had the idea of using 50's music in a movie that was set in the 50's. (Sorry for the sarcasm. I think that Lucas has produced some very good work, which I've thoroughly enjoyed. (Which is, after all, the purpose.) I just don't understand the worship I seem to see in people who seem to think that he invented science fiction, or the idea that spaceports would have bars in them, or using operatic themes in film music. Lucas made good movies. He didn't invent good movies.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 And actually- the idea of setting a sci fi movie (Star Wars) to a classical music score was pretty dam inspiring too for its time. I was watching the History Of Star Wars dvd not long ago and Lucas screened Star Wars to his director buddies (Spielberg, etc.)... none of them "got it" and predicted it would flop. However, upon seeing it in the movie theater, Spielberg said IMMEDIATELY that it was one of the greatest movies he'd ever seen and that it would be a smash success. The only difference was that Lucas had added John Williams' (masterful, imo) musical score to the theater version that Spielberg had just seen I might have to take back my Tarantino comment. Come to think of it, Lucas might be as good or better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidFan Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 "Stuck in the Middle With You"- Torture scene in Reservoir Dogs. Pretty intense.Actually, Tarantino (imo) uses music better than anyone in movies, overall. Also, nod to The Doors movie- incredible use of music in that flick. It helps that the Doors kick ass though He is great by my favorite is Cameron Crowe: Seen All Good People from Yes in Almost Famous...also Tiny Dancer Vanilla Sky had Salbury Hill Say Anything had In Your Eyes He makes the momentus scenes with his music chosen more classics: Fortunate Son in Forest Gump Any scene in The Big Chill whoever brought up Fandango is gold for bringing up such a great sleeper movie...all who haven't seen it SHOULD ASAP. Tracks of My Tears in Platoon with the new Chris was key Come Together in A Bronx Tale was a classic scene never to be forgotten many more,,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 There was an old series called Wiseguy. It was a mob show and at the end of the season Sonny finds out Vinny Terranova was a fed that betrayed him. They played Knights in White Satin, great clip. Gave Kevin Spacey his start too, as a great character named Mel Profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Wow, you're right. Before George Lucas, nobody liked 50's music. And nobody had ever had the idea of using 50's music in a movie that was set in the 50's. (Sorry for the sarcasm. I think that Lucas has produced some very good work, which I've thoroughly enjoyed. (Which is, after all, the purpose.) I just don't understand the worship I seem to see in people who seem to think that he invented science fiction, or the idea that spaceports would have bars in them, or using operatic themes in film music. Lucas made good movies. He didn't invent good movies.) I mentioned Lucas in spite of all the sci-fi crap he did after American Grafitti. And yes, that movie did spark a resurgence of interest in 1950s rock and roll. And yes, he was the first to use 1950s music in which the music is part of the movie and integral to the scenes, and not just background music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 There was an old series called Wiseguy. It was a mob show and at the end of the season Sonny finds out Vinny Terranova was a fed that betrayed him. They played Knights in White Satin, great clip. Gave Kevin Spacey his start too, as a great character named Mel Profit. Man I remember that series. That was a damned good show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufumonk Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Comfortably Numb from the Departed soundtrack in the Sopranos episode where Christopher dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Comfortably Numb from the Departed soundtrack in the Sopranos episode where Christopher dies. You mean form the 1979 Album The Wall by Pink Floyd? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufumonk Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 You mean form the 1979 Album The Wall by Pink Floyd? No. I mean the Live in Berlin version with Van Morrison and the Band from 1990. They used it in the soundtrack for the Departed and the scene I mentioned has Christopher slipping in a copy of the soundtrack while sky high on heroin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Did anybody see "That Thing You Do"? Tom Hanks produced it and had a small part as a record executive. It's about a band from Erie, PA in the early 60s that has a 1-hit song. The title song was written for the movie, and is a catchy little early-Beatlesque sounding song. The movie would not have worked if the song didn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Observing that we all seem to be staying away from mentioning any musicals at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Observing that we all seem to be staying away from mentioning any musicals at all. On that note, gotta love Rocky Horror! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 No. I mean the Live in Berlin version with Van Morrison and the Band from 1990. They used it in the soundtrack for the Departed and the scene I mentioned has Christopher slipping in a copy of the soundtrack while sky high on heroin. Owned :doh: Never occurred to me anyone would remake that song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECU-ALUM Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 "Miami Vice" did a a phenominal job of using music to enhance their show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 I thought they did pretty good on Miami Vice as well. From the intro To of course In the Air Tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufumonk Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Owned :doh:Never occurred to me anyone would remake that song. Roger Waters put the show on to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. He had a host of guest performers for the show (Van Morrison, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Bryan Adams, etc.....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 I have to include pretty much the entire Scrubs series. They almost always found the perfect use of music in their episodes. yes, Scrubs probably has the best. House is pretty good as well... mostly because of the beginning theme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obibyn23 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 No mention of John Williams and his score for the Star Wars Original Trilogy? John Williams score MADE Star Wars what it is. Best use of music in a film that I can think of. Edit: nm...I just saw post #29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjunkies Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Jim Rockford and his files duh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 How about The banana boat song from Beatlejuice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjunkies Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Click the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullnelson9999 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 "Somewhere over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole at the end of Finding Forrester. That always gets me. And I dont think there was ever a better movie trailer song than Paper Planes for Pineapple Express, although that song is now WAY overplayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartacus87 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns and Roses at the end of The Wrestler. For those that have seen it, it's pretty damn perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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