Film Music Review by Alexandra Lederman

Commentary on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Perhaps the next film I want to write about is completely biased, but who can blame me when remixing the fabulous David Bowie is done right?  The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) was directed  by Wes Anderson and written by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach.  The Sound Director position was filled by Randall Poster, who was in charge of coordinating the work of sound mixers, composers, editors; along with obtaining rights and supplying songs for the production.  He has also worked on Revolutionary Road (2008), The Darjeeling Limited (2007), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and Boys Don’t Cry (1999)- the list literally goes on.  Original compositions of the music is credited to Mark Mothersbaugh.  Who has worked on many films with  Randall Poster.  So I love all of the music that is showcased in Wes Anderson Films, but The Life Aquatic was awesome.  So I will begin praising Seu Jorge’s interpretation of the incredible David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars.  I absolutely love Bowie, and yes I would try to fight Iman for The Thin White Duke, I know you would too!  I also love the Portuguese language, it’s romantic and sexual- not that Bowie can become more romantic or sexual as he already is, but Seu Jorge was up for the challenge and succeeded.  I love listening to Sue Jorge’s The Life Aquatic- Studio Sessions when I am taking a bath.  The best part is that Seu performs his remix of Bowie on camera through out the film.  I particularly enjoy watching Sue strumming his guitar singing Bowie in sexy Portuguese as the pirates climb onboard the Belafont.

The film is also accompanied by ‘techno’ music composed by Mark Mothersbraugh.  I actually call this techno music, bubble music because it is not techno, but similar with its own flavor.  The music makes me feel like I am in the water, perhaps bubbly water, and that I am in a rush to be somewhere without worrying about the fact that it is urgent.  This music gives me the energy to partake in many tasks, without stressing me out.  I mean the Belafonte crew saved their captured government worker and fought the pirates with ease to this bubble, techno music.  Note to self- I should just play this music as my own background to keep me sane.

But the greatness of this music does not stop there, it does actually come to a close with the emotional and visually appealing ending of the film. What other way to exhibit the magnificent Jaguar shark to Sigur Ros’s “Staralfur”.  Now the performance of Sigur Ros resulted in alligator tears streaming down my face because of how beautiful their music is and their interacts with one another.  This final scene has this inspirational, winsome music while the audience watches Steve Zissou painfully remember his friend that he lost to the Jaguar shark, simultaneously gaining emotional and physical support from his friends, family, co-workers and enemies- each individually putting a hand on Steve’s shoulders.  As we know, I am not very emotional, but it is in this scene that I mutate into fountain of tears while experiencing the purest form of euphoria for Steve and his crew.

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou transports me into this land of diamond encrusted sea creatures and entangles my real-life emotions into the emotions of the wonderfully written characters.

Alexandra Lederman
Film Music Report Writer