Music is used in film all the time. The soundtrack or score for a film is a large part of what creates the emotion of the story. There are wonderful composers who write scores for films that are amazing and beautiful, working in the background and driving the images along. But there are moments in movies when a song take center stage, and here are six of those memorable moments used in six amazing films, all unique.
1. MORVERN CALLAR
One of my favorite movies, MORVERN CALLAR is a stellar character study, showcasing the amazing talent of Samantha Morton and making director Lynne Ramsay a director not to miss (unfortunately she has only made three features in over ten years). The soundtrack for MORVERN is spectacular and a driving force to the story. Morton's character spends the entire film grieving the loss of her lover, and spends a great deal of it listening to the mix tape he made for her before committing suicide.
This scene below is a great moment in music and film. Perfectly setting the scene for her deep loss, and the simplicity of her small town and unexciting daily life.
2. BLUE VELVET
David Lynch has a style, vision, and sound like no other. His use of music in film and television is always excellent. This scene is one of the most haunting I have ever seen. I remember the first time I watched BLUE VELVET and was mesmerized by the dark beauty of it. Of all the memorable scenes in it, this one stayed with me the most. It's so completely absurd and creepy and it makes a great song even greater.
David Lynch has a style, vision, and sound like no other. His use of music in film and television is always excellent. This scene is one of the most haunting I have ever seen. I remember the first time I watched BLUE VELVET and was mesmerized by the dark beauty of it. Of all the memorable scenes in it, this one stayed with me the most. It's so completely absurd and creepy and it makes a great song even greater.
3. ROMY AND MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
Such a funny movie! This is the story of two best friends, losers in high school and now trying to make it in the fashion world, who go back to their high school reunion. Both ladies want to prove how much more important they are now, so they make up a lie that they invented post-it-notes. It backfires and they become the jokes of the reunion, causing them to fight and split up, but only temporarily. In the end one of them gets a guy and he dances with both ladies, in this popular scene, to classic Cyndi Lauper. This is also one of the best dance moments in a movie ever!
Such a funny movie! This is the story of two best friends, losers in high school and now trying to make it in the fashion world, who go back to their high school reunion. Both ladies want to prove how much more important they are now, so they make up a lie that they invented post-it-notes. It backfires and they become the jokes of the reunion, causing them to fight and split up, but only temporarily. In the end one of them gets a guy and he dances with both ladies, in this popular scene, to classic Cyndi Lauper. This is also one of the best dance moments in a movie ever!
4. THE VIRGIN SUICIDES
Every Sofia Copolla movie has an awesome soundtrack. Copolla is a director who uses music to hold up her lucid and unconventional story-telling. MARIE ANTOINETTE has many moments where the songs elevate the story so much, and capture the punky vibe she wanted ANTOINETTE to have. But I have to go with this scene from VIRGIN SUICIDES both because I love Heart and because it is such a kick ass song to use to introduce a character. Back when I saw this movie I thought Josh Hartnett was the hottest thing ever, and this made quite an impression on me.
5. THE SEVENTH CONTINENT
Michael Hanake films are always a little tough. SEVENTH CONTINENT is his first feature film, and it is absolutely fascinating, but also very infuriating. This clip doesn't stand on it's own quite the way the others on this list do, because without the context it is pretty static. But once you have watched this film and understand what point this family is at, what they are in the act of doing, it is far from boring, and quite devastating. SPOILER: the drink the mother gives her daughter has sleeping pills in it, and the parents are soon to follow into endless sleep.
6. GROSSE POINT BLANK
Another great comedy about a high school reunion set to an 80's soundtrack, this scene uses two great songs to be the back drop of a murder and disposing of the body. One of the reasons the movie is so great is because the performances are good. I especially love the friendship of John Cusack and Jeremy Pivan. This is the scene where Pivan and Minnie Driver discover that Cusack, their old friend from high school, is a hit man, all while their former classmates dance to music in the gymnasium below. As for 80's songs, it doesn't get much better then 99 Red Balloons, so I do have a bit of a soft spot for it being used.
Every Sofia Copolla movie has an awesome soundtrack. Copolla is a director who uses music to hold up her lucid and unconventional story-telling. MARIE ANTOINETTE has many moments where the songs elevate the story so much, and capture the punky vibe she wanted ANTOINETTE to have. But I have to go with this scene from VIRGIN SUICIDES both because I love Heart and because it is such a kick ass song to use to introduce a character. Back when I saw this movie I thought Josh Hartnett was the hottest thing ever, and this made quite an impression on me.
5. THE SEVENTH CONTINENT
Michael Hanake films are always a little tough. SEVENTH CONTINENT is his first feature film, and it is absolutely fascinating, but also very infuriating. This clip doesn't stand on it's own quite the way the others on this list do, because without the context it is pretty static. But once you have watched this film and understand what point this family is at, what they are in the act of doing, it is far from boring, and quite devastating. SPOILER: the drink the mother gives her daughter has sleeping pills in it, and the parents are soon to follow into endless sleep.
6. GROSSE POINT BLANK
Another great comedy about a high school reunion set to an 80's soundtrack, this scene uses two great songs to be the back drop of a murder and disposing of the body. One of the reasons the movie is so great is because the performances are good. I especially love the friendship of John Cusack and Jeremy Pivan. This is the scene where Pivan and Minnie Driver discover that Cusack, their old friend from high school, is a hit man, all while their former classmates dance to music in the gymnasium below. As for 80's songs, it doesn't get much better then 99 Red Balloons, so I do have a bit of a soft spot for it being used.
