Incredible Soundtrack #23: Drive (Martinez)

The music attached to a film creates the environment, I believe, moreso than the literal environment depicted through the visuals...

Though I have not written an analysis, I have stated my stance regarding Drive before. I don't think the film is as good as people make out - it's well made, granted, but it isn't flawless. The soundtrack on the other hand is definitely one of the high points. The film would be ruined without it - seriously, without the soundtrack the film would never get such strong supporters.

Martinez's soundtrack is electronic, evoking the cool of the eighties. I personally think that Drive owes it's style to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City rather than any mark of genius accredited to Winding Refn - and a soundtrack identifying the same era clearly is a necessity if you are trying to place the film in the same type of world.

Interestingly, my choice of tracks are by artists other than Cliff Martinez ... but they all feature on the soundtrack so are very much under Martinez's juristiction

1. Nightcall by Kavinsky and Lovefoxxx - Apparently, Winding Refn chose this song himself  after looking through Johnny Jewel's back-catalogue (Jewel was apparently a 'mixer' for the soundtrack)



2 - Under the Spell by Desire - Akin to Nightcall, this was another amazing track from Johnny Jewel.



5 - Tick of the Clock by The Chromatics - This song was used only recently in an advert for a camera. As soon as it played I knew it. I think Matrinez's entire soundtrack owes something to this song. Moody, steady - very-much like a patient, skilled driver. Again, this is a track which Johnny Jewel is credited for.

A-Z #45: City of Angels

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#45 - City of Angels 

Why did I buy it?

We come across another film I have managed to 'gain' when combining my own collection with Sarah's. City of Angels is a remake of Wim Wenders classic film Wings of Desire. Though I have only seen the former, I am keen to hunt down the latter at some point.

Why do I still own it?

We have to define what a good romance is. I think City of Angels qualifies because like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind it is set within a context that does not exist - angels do not exist. But, by the same token, the unrequited love of one person over another is expressed in this film in a sincere and respectable way. Unlike Andrew Lincoln falling for Kiera Knightley in Love, Actually the love here is not a case of simply 'getting over it' (which, as soon as Knightley got it on with Lincoln's best friend, he should have moved on rather than simply holding a candle until post-wedding - !!! - he perves on her from a distance, eventually confronting her himself, corssing the line, by professing his love through false carol-singers. Nb, I do actually like Love, Actually), City of Angels is also a desire to be close to someone and to feel the person with you, close to you. I need to watch the original, I know that, but until I do - City of Angels stands tall amongst the romances in the collection.

Should I get the original Wings of Desire? Should I sell this copy of the much-more-literal City of Angels?