Friday, March 14, 2014

Top 15 Music Moments in Wes Anderson Films

Few directors are as specific in their music choices as Wes Anderson. His penchant for playing indie, classic and obscure rock tracks over his films have made for some of contemporary cinema’s most memorable moments. There are many scenes to choose from here, so do feel free to share yours as well!

15. “Street Fighting Man” 
by The Rolling Stones from Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson has been known to dive into the exceptional depths of The Rolling Stones’ B-side catalogue, but here he opted for a hit, giving some amusing momentum to scene in which the Fox family digs frantically to avoid being captured.

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14. “Strangers” 
by The Kinks from The Darjeeling Limited

The Brothers Whitman are invited to attend the funeral of a boy they tried to save, and The Kinks’ track croons over the soundtrack, solidifying the melancholia.

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13. “2000 Man” 
by The Rolling Stones from Bottle Rocket

After botching a factory heist by locking themselves out of the getaway van, Dignan (Owen Wilson) and Anthony (Luke Wilson) argue who should go back and help their accomplice, Applejack, who is stuck inside the factory. Dignan stays to help, the cops arrive, and the Stones’ “2000 Man” blares away as Dignan flees. A great song that enunciates Dignan’s silly lust for crime.

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12. “A Quick One While He’s Away”
by The Who from Rushmore

As Herman Blume (Bill Murray) notices bees buzzing around his hotel room, he pauses, smiles, and The Who kick in to let us know that This. Means. War.

 “You are forgiven, you are forgiiiiiiiiven.”

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11. “Where Do You Go to My Lovely” 
by Peter Sarstedt from Hotel Chevalier & The Darjeeling Limited

We first hear Sarstedt’s pleasant track in Hotel Chevalier, the perfect short film that precedes The Darjeeling Limited. Jack (Jason Schwartzman) gets word that his ex (Natalie Portman) is stopping by, so he washes up and begins to play this song just as his ex arrives. And then, humorously, he does the same exact thing later in Darjeeling to impress a lovely train stewardess. Humor through music, something Anderson executes so well.


10. “Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl” 
by The Kinks from Rushmore

Really, is there a better song to help makes sense of Herman Blume’s uniquely pathetic plight?

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9. “Everyone” 
by Van Morrison from The Royal Tenenbaums

I can’t imagine The Royal Tenenbaums ending with any other song. “Everyone” is big, but not cumbersome; it’s fitting, but not too spot on. A perfect way to end a perfect film.

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8. “Making Time” 
by The Creation from Rushmore

Just as Brian Cox bellows, “He’s one of the worst student’s we’ve got,” the opening bars of “Making Time” blast on, and we’re introduced to the overachieving world of Max Fischer. One of my all-time favorite character introductions.

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7. “Staralfur” 
by Sigur Rós from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

I’m far from The Life Aquatic’s biggest fan, but the spotting of the Jaguar Shark remains one of Anderson’s most effective screen moments. This is thanks much in part to Sigur Rós’ beautiful “Staralfur,” reminding all of us that Sigur Rós really do make everything better.

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6. “Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard” 
Paul Simon from The Royal Tenenbaums

 “I’m talkin’ about puttin’ a brick through the other guy’s windshield. I’m talkin’ about takin’ it out and choppin’ it up.”

What better song could accompany such a line? “Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard” is the soundtrack to one of my favorite sequences in The Royal Tenenbaums. Royal and his grandsons, takin’ it out and choppin’ it up. That’s damn right.

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5. “Play with Fire” 
by The Rolling Stones from The Darjeeling Limited

“Play with Fire” begins as the Whitman family shares a silent moment of reflection. But then Anderson does something interesting and shows us every major character from the film by tracking down a long train corridor. Each one of their rooms is set in a way we’d expect: Francis’ assistant is on a plane, Jack’s ex is in a hotel, Peter’s pregnant wife is in the hospital, yet they are all obviously on the train. It’s a surreal method to cap off a handful of narratives at once, executed in a way only Anderson could get away with.

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4. “Ruby Tuesday” 
by The Rolling Stones from The Royal Tenenbaums

After Richie (Luke Wilson) has tried to kill himself, his adopted sister, Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) visits him in a small tent, and asks if he’ll try to hurt himself again. He impassively replies with “I doubt it,” and she starts to break down. “Ruby Tuesday” gently kicks in, and we watch one of Anderson’s most moving scenes unfold.

“I think we’re just gonna have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that.” Swoon.

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3. “This Time Tomorrow” 
by The Kinks from The Darjeeling Limited

The scene in which Peter Whitman (Adrien Brody) outruns a frantic Bill Murray to make it onto the Darjeeling Limited is one of my favorite uses of Wes Anderson’s signature slow motion shot. And with The Kinks helping to punctuate the moment, it really couldn’t play out any better.

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2. “These Days” 
by Nico from The Royal Tenenbaums

Of course, the very finest use of slow motion from Wes Anderson’s career is Margot Tenenbaum getting off a bus and walking to greet her brother, Ritchie. Words can’t describe the true magic of this moment, but the lyrics to Nico’s “These Days” surely do help.

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1. “Needle in the Hay” 
by Elliot Smith from The Royal Tenenbaums

It’s my favorite scene of Wes Anderson’s career. An honest, unflinching look at depression getting the better of someone. The way the film suddenly takes on a deeply cold look could play as obvious, and the way Ritchie quotes a Louis Malle film seconds before slitting his wrists could play as trite. But Anderson knows what he’s doing here, and there isn’t a false step to be found. I’ve always considered Elliot Smith’s “Needle in the Hay” a dangerous song. Maybe that’s because of this scene, or maybe it’s because two years after the release of The Royal Tenenbaums, Smith himself died from stab wounds (which were, presumably, self-inflicted). The bravest, most dangerous film moment Wes Anderson has attempted.

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26 comments:

  1. As I was reading through this, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why "Everyone" at the end of The Royal Tenenbaums wasn't in the top spot. There are no Wes Anderson film moments that get me to smile faster than that one--it really is the perfect musical accompaniment for the ending. Ah, but you do have the best moment and the best musical moment from that film (and probably Anderson's career) at the top. Nicely done.

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    1. Thanks man. You know, in my research for this post, I couldn't find anyone else who listed "Everyone" as a great Wes Anderson music moment. I was stunned, because it's such a perfect way for that film to end. But still, nothing tops "Needle in the Hay." Wow.

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  2. Gotta love Wes Anderson and his choice of music. I rarely remember the songs themselves but Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard somehow stuck with me, as well as Ooh La La from Rushmore. Oh, and the French song from Moonrise Kingdom.

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    1. "Le Temps de l'Amour" by Francoise Hardy. That would be my number 1 choice actually but great list overall!

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    2. Thanks chicks (with accents)! "Le Temps de l'Amour" offers a great moment in Moonrise. Really solid pick there. I love "Ooh La La" as well.

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  3. That is great as I'm in total agreement with your list. My favorite soundtrack of all of Wes Anderson's films is The Darjeeling Limited not just for its use of Indian score music but also the songs by the Kinks from Lola Versus Powerman and the Money Go Round which is probably my favorite Kinks album so far. My 2nd favorite is Seu Jorge's Life Aquatic Studio Sessions as I just love his interpretation of those David Bowie songs.

    I think one of Wes Anderson's gifts is finding great music to use in film with the help of his music supervisor who deserves credit for making his film so enjoyable and introduce the world to great music.

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    1. Nice, glad you liked the list. My favorite soundtrack as whole would definitely be Darjeeling as well. His music supervisor is simply ace. Such consistently splendid work.

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  4. I've only seen Life Aquatic once and want to re-watch it before I see Grand Budapest Hotel because I found myself having no connection whatsoever with it. But one moment stood out and that is the Staralfur which I think might be the most powerful moment of any of Wes Anderson's films. Although I can't complain about Needle in the Hay being #1, that scene got me into Elliot Smith in a big way.

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    1. That is honestly the only worthy moment of Life Aquatic for me. I do not like that film at all, but Sigur Ros makes that scene.

      As for Elliot Smith... wow, what a way to go. Such a tortured spirit.

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  5. "I can’t imagine The Royal Tenenbaums ending with any other song. " That's how I feel about essentially every song Anderson includes in a film. It may or may not be what you'd think of for that particular scene or moment but then you hear it and can never imagine hearing anything else in its place ever again.

    Just to get in on the action, I'll offer "Rock n Roll Suicide" in The Life Aquatic which I think just blends perfectly with that moment of Eleanor leaving before the voyage.

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    1. Yeah man, he really does know how to marry music to film. Jeez, I honestly don't remember that song from Life Aquatic. But I suppose I don't really remember much from that film at all.

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  6. Great list! I love number 12 - that'd probably be my number 3 if I wrote such a list - but definitely agreed on the first two. In particular, number 1 is just so painfully emotional (and I'd always thought until very recently that the song had been included after Smith's death, so it's even more tragic to learn that this connotation was accidental). "Needle in the Hay" has what is probably the single saddest line in any song (in my opinion) - "You oughta be proud that I'm getting good marks."

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    1. Thanks! It's a hauntingly powerful song, "Needle in the Hay." Used to utter perfection in that scene. Isn't that revenge scene from Rushmore just priceless?

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  7. My favourite is no doubt the Judy Is A Punk sequence in Tenebaums when Margot's sex past is revealed. Some great choices here, Alex. Needle in the Hay is a classic and the quintessential Wes Anderson music sequence.

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    1. Ah man I really wanted to sneak "Judy is a Punk" in here because I adore that sequence. Just couldn't manage to do it.

      Thanks so much for the comment, Teddy! It's great to hear from you!

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  8. Kudos to you for keeping this list to fifteen - even the Anderson playlist on my iPod clocks in at 25 tracks!

    Most of my favorites have already been mentioned - "Temps de L'Amour", Seu Jorge's contribution to Life Aquatic, and "Ooh La La". However, I'm surprised to see that I'm the first to bring up all of those warm old Hank Williams tunes that pepper MOONRISE KINGDOM. Gotta love that sort of nostalgia!

    Pardon me, I'm off to queue up "Cold Cold Heart" on my iPod...

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    1. Ha, thanks man! A tough list to keep low, for sure.You definitely gotta love ol' Hank making a showing in Moonrise. That's a great call there.

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  9. Great stuff man! This reminded me that I need to rewatch The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited. Seriously, it's been years.

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    1. Thanks Josh! GREAT music in both of those flicks. Much of the reason why I love revisiting them.

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  10. I'd forgotten about some of these great examples! The ones that stood out to me right away were Ruby Tuesday and A Quick One While He's Away, but your #1 pick is such a stunning moment. This makes me want to go back and watch a bunch of the movies right now.

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    1. That is such a stunning moment, isn't it? Very haunting and real. Thanks so much for reading, Dan! Glad you liked the picks.

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  11. All great picks. "Where Do You Go To My Lovely" is great. I like the french song at the end of Darjeeling. Gives the ending such a fun, positive, adventurous quality. "Les Champs-Elysees" I think. "Ooh La La" at the end of Rushmore is obvious but awesome. That "Needle In The Hay" scene is so great. Just featured it for FSF.

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    1. I still want to write you up a FSF! Just gotta think about what scene to carve out, but I'll let you know soon.

      I do love that final song in Darjeeling. Very appropriate for the film.

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    2. Anytime, man! FSF is callin for ya!

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  12. When I saw the title of this list, I knew #1 had to be "Needle in the Hay". That's just one of the most perfect scenes in any film.

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    1. Hell yeah man. Nothing else was going to top that for me.

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