Reviews
ROMEO + JULIET – Film Music Review by Alexandra Lederman
Santa Barbara, CA (filmmusicreport.com) May 27, 2009 — Film Music Review by Alexandra Lederman, writer for Film Music Report. Alexendra’s first review for Film Music Report discusses music score, background music and soundtrack from her favorite all-time film – Baz Lurhman’s “Romeo + Juliet”.
Alexandra Lederman Film Music Report Writer
by Alexandra Lederman
My all time favorite film, this means I can actually watch this film every single day and never grow tired of it, is Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Not only is this the most incredible remake of the one and only William Shakespeare’s ultimate love story, but the music completely ties Lurhmann’s vision of past to present. Lurhmann successfully recreated a contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet with the use of visuals, i.e. his cheeky engraving of guns and rifles with the words “dagger” and “sword”. But it is the music that completes the contemporary theme. The sound designer (the conceptual chief of designing and creating a film’s soundtrack) for Romeo + Juliet is Gareth Vanderhope. Gareth has also worked on The Quite American (2002), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Dark City (1998), and Never Tell Me Never (1998)- just to name a few.
The reason why Romeo + Juliet’s soundtrack has made a major impact on me is a result of the use of contemporary, indie/alternative/innovative music. I think that Vanderhope succeeded with his selection of music because he stayed true to the contemporary setting of the film. He used music by artists who were not very well known in 1996. The artists whose music was featured in the film are no longer unknown, and still make major impacts on the music industry and on music lovers.
The Soundtrack: (artist, song)
Garbage, “#1 Crush”
Everclear, “Local God”
Gavin Friday, “Angel”
One Inch Punch, “Pretty Piece of Flesh”
“Kissing You” (love theme from Romeo + Juliet)
Butthole Surfers, “Whatever (I had a Dream)”
The Cardigans, “Lovefool”
Kym Mazelle, “Young Hearts Run Free”<
Quidon Traver, “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)”
Mundy, “To You I Bestow”
Radiohead, “Talk Show Host”
Stina Nordenstam, “Little Star”
The Wannadies, “You and Me Song”
Craig Armstrong (composed by), “Introduction to Romeo”
Every single song is perfectly placed in terms of complementing the visuals of the film. The emotions and loss of self while watching Romeo + Juliet is something no other film has evoked from me. I forget that I am here in reality, instead I am fully transported into the films settings. I claim this film has the best soundtrack because when only listening the music, I once again lose myself in reality and fully transport back into the film, no need for visual stimulation.
Shakespeare is one of the most incredible writers known to man kind. But while reading the play I did not fall in love the way Juliet and Romeo did, I never felt pure hatred towards another man, or the deepest sorrow at the lose of a friend. Baz Lurhmann’s audio and visual interpretation of this classical play invoked pure love, blind disgust and extensive despair from my very non-emotional self.
Alexandra Lederman is a Film Music Writer/Editor for Film Music Report. Film Music Report is the official source of news and information from Music for Film and Television.
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THE WRESTLER – Film Music Review by DJ ?
DJ Questionmark Awards Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009 Aliens Choice Award to Mickey Rourke
http://liverootstv.com/ DJ ? honors Mickey Rourke on the red carpet during opening night coverage of Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2009 and reviews his performance in the Wrestler on Jan. 22 for Live Roots TV Channel 17 Santa Barbara. Shot live on Jan. 22, the opening night of the 2009 Santa Barbara Film Festival, DJ ? stands at the red carpet, poised and ready to present Mickey Rourke with the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009 Aliens Choice Awards. This year’s competition for the award was fierce, as DJ ? deliberated the choice, weighing many of the year’s great performances. Final selections were reduced down to two gifted performers: Penelope Cruz for dual performances in “Elegy” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, and Mickey Rourke for his gut-turning performance in “The Wrestler”.
After watching the Wrestler for the 14th time, DJ ? decided that it was Mickey Rourke who should receive the annual Santa Barbara Film Festival Aliens Choice Award. Rourke’s performance was riveting, and the soundtrack was insane. The movie opened with “Metal Health” by Quiet Riot, then ripped through metal classics including Guns N Roses, Cinderella, and Ratt; well, actually Mickey and co-star Melissa Tomei (as his milf-y stripper love interest), sang Ratt’s “Round and Round” with feeling! And we sang along, with feeling! DJ ?’s award ceremony took place at the Arlington theatre, home to many of the 11-day festivals events, which run from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1. The 24th Annual festival includes feature film showings, celebrity events with appearances by Hollywood A-listers. networking events and educational panels, as well as an assortment of secondary events for the local community, reminiscient of Caddy Day from the classic movie Caddyshack. Thousands of film fans and media professionals from around the world have descended upon Santa Barbara, as the red carpet was laid out at the Arlington Theatre, Lobero Theatre as well as other locations throughout town. Along with her highly coveted Aliens Choice honorary award by DJ ?, Penelope Cruz is honored as this years Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2009 Outstanding Performer of the Year. Also, Mickey Rourke will be receiving the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009 American Rivera Award.
DJ ?’s Aliens Choice award ceremony and the first day of the Santa Barbara Film Festival coincided with the Oscar nominations on Jan. 22, as announcements for the 81st Annual Academy Awards came out with much anticipation.DJ ? was not alone in his high opinion of Rourke. According to Todd McCarthy from Variety, The Wrester provides “A Galvanizing, humorous, deeply moving portrait that instantly takes its place among the great, iconic screen performances.” Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun Times says Mickey Rourke delivers “The performance of a lifetime. Mickey Rourke may win the oscar.” Peter Travers from Rolling Stones reviewed the Boss’s closing song with praise, “a superb title song by Bruce Springsteen”.Mickey Rourke has just won the Golden Globe Best Actor and Screen Actors Guild Award Best Actor. Along with the Aliens Choice Award, if he receives the Oscar Nod on Feb. 22, Mickey Rourke will be the first ever QUADFECTA award winner. Tickets for the 2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival can be purchased at the Lobero Box Office, or visit http://www.lobero.com/calendar/sbiff2009/ for more information on ticket purchases including: Mini-paks, Opening Night Gala, Kate Winslet Montecito Award, Penelope Cruz Outstanding Performer of the Year, Writers Panel, Directors Panel, Virtuosos Award, Clint Eastwood Modern Master Award, Mickey Rourke The American Rivera Award, and Womens panel.Lobero Theatre box office is located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa barbara CA 93101. First weekend and second weekend platinum passes are also available.
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FILM REVIEW – Penelope Cruz in Elegy by DJ ?
Film Music Report: DJ QuestionMark Reviews Penelope Cruz on Live Roots TV Santa Barbara Film Festival Special Edition
DJ QuestionMark Reviews Santa Barbara Film Festival Award Winner Penelope Cruz during Live Roots TV Santa Barbara Film Festival Special Edition. Live Roots TV airs every Friday at 5pm on Channel 17 Santa Barbara. DJ QuestionMark is the host of Live Roots TV, and originator of hoptronica, a form of music that blends hip hop, reggae, and acoustic groove. Film Music Report is the official news source of Music for Film and Television.
