The music of Tarantino

A while back Miksteip - a radio-program in Norway - had a Quentin Tarantino-special. In other words, they devoted their entire 2-hour program to the music used in Tarantino´s movies.

Needless to say, the program was just about as badass as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. In this post I´d like to share some of my favorite songs from the movies of the influential director/auteur, many of them featured in the Tarantino-special on "Miksteip".



The fact that Tarantino has always put a lot of effort into choosing the right music for his movies is no secret, as shown by the following quote:

When I´m writing a script, one of the first things I do is find the music I´m going to play for the opening sequence. I can´t go forward until I figure out how I´m going to start - what the opening mood music will be - Quentin Tarantino

So, what better place to start then at the beginning? In his directorial debut Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino proves that the aforementioned quote rings true. He really does give it a lot of thought, and in the end that gives us a very memorable opening sequence in both Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Although the opening of Pulp Fiction is a great one, the song used in Reservoir Dogs is a better song if you remove the filmic context of it. And although it´s hard not to link song and film moment, I´ll only include songs that I also consider strong in it´s own right.

Little Green Bag - The George Baker Selection

Reservoir Dogs

Stuck in the Middle With You - Stealers Wheel

Reservoir Dogs

Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield

Pulp Fiction

Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack

Jackie Brown

The Delfonics - La La Means I Love You

Jackie Brown

(Although not on the soundtrack, this song can be heard as Jackie Brown puts on a record at her house. The song she puts on at first is on the soundtrack, but it is definitely not a coincidence that Quentin Tarantino lets the record run to play this one as well...)

Bang Bang - Nancy Sinatra

Kill Bill Vol. 1

Don´t Let Me Be Misunderstood - Santa Esmeralda

Kill Bill Vol. 1

Down in Mexico - The Coasters

Death Proof

Cat People (Putting Out the Fire) - David Bowie

Inglorious Basterds

Freedom - Anthony Hamilton & Elayna Boynton

Django Unchained

Ancora Qui - Elisa

Django Unchained

Who Did That To You? - John Legend

Django Unchained

Too Old To Die Young - Brother Dege

Django Unchained

Small part - Great scene

There are a couple of times when a minor part in a movie just sticks with you. Sometimes they are minor roles played by big stars. Unusual characters for a certain actor/actress. It could also be just a characters reactions/actions to what happens around him in a scene, or the emotions a certain scene evokes in you as a viewer. Or it can be a hilarious moment that caught you off guard. It can be anything, really.

Here are a few great scenes with minor characters from movies that stick out:

Floyd in True Romance - Played by Brad Pitt

True Romance is one of my favorite movies, and a lot of it is down to the brilliant characters, and the equally amazing casting of the movie. Brad Pitt is a diverse actor (12 Monkeys, Fight Club, Burn After Reading, Legends of the Fall, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and in True Romance he definitely makes the most of the little screen-time he is given. As Dick´s roommate, Brad Pitt nails the character of a drugged out lazy-ass. His timing is perfect, and his answers are... well, correct.

L´aveugle in Amélie - Played by Jean Darie

Jean Darie plays "the blind man", and is given a wonderful gift by Amélie (played by Audrey Tautou) who does her best to give him sight through her words, if only for a brief moment. As she guides him through the busy street, she tells him about the sights and smells that surrounds them. Wonderful scene in a beautiful movie. Although the character of Amélie is obviously a huge one, the character of the blind man is a minor in the film. 

Bill Murray in Zombieland - Bill Murray

Bill Murray plays himself in one of the best scenes in Zombieland (one of the best scenes in a comedy the last 10 years, probably). Bill Murray is a one of those guys who you just gotta love. Not only is he funny, but he seems like one of the coolest guys on the planet. He probably is. They could not have found a better guy for this cameo. Ever. Woody Harrelson´s reaction is also golden.

Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction - Played by Christopher Walken

Well, speaking of cool cats... Christopher Walken can do anything, can´t he? In his short scene in Pulp Fiction he manages to deliver a couple of lines that no one else could have done like him. It´s probably the favorite scene for a lot of Walken-impressionists.. both good and bad.

Drexl Spivey in True Romance - Played by Gary Oldman

"I know exactly where your white ass is coming from....". Those words uttered by Gary Oldman. As Drexl Spivey, Gary Oldman shows us another side of his immense talent. And a good portion of humor. It´s as if his character was originally set to be played by Samuel L. Jackson. Only it wasn´t. 

Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross - Played by Alec Baldwin

Considering the talent that is in the room in this scene, it´s amazing to see Alec Baldwin shine so bright as he does in this scene. Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alan Arkin... The character Alec Baldwin portrays wasn´t in the original play, but was included for the movie. And the speech Baldwin delivers in this scene is brilliant. Baldwin does it perfectly, and his language reminds me of his character in The Departed many, many years later. 

Additons or suggestions? Agree, disagree? Feel free to leave a comment.