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4 Good Movies with Awesome Soundtracks: Shoot ’em up, Jerry Maguire, Reality Bites and Vanilla Sky

Posted on April 16, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Both movies and music have been my addictions. It is always great fun to watch a good movie or a solid album. But sometimes, these two come together to double the pleasure. Below are some of the best soundtracked-movies.

Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)

Shoot 'Em Up starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci and Paul Giamatti
Shoot ‘Em Up starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci and Paul Giamatti. Sex, guns and rockn’roll! Image from: http://www.firstshowing.net

Not one of the most serious movies you will watch. It is non-stop action but it is so cool in its irrational and impossible scenes. But it works. Clive Owen at his best form as the mysterious Smith. Co-starring Monica Belluci. Wondering what the movie is about? Here’s the review. Wondering more about the soundtrack?

Featuring:

Kickstart my heart by Motley Crue

Ace of Spades, Motorhead

Breed, Nirvana

If you want blood, you got it- AC/DC

Oh of course, this isn’t it. They are just the songs I have loved long before the movie. Yes, the soundtrack is all about rock: grunge, rock, hard rock, alternative and classic rock. More on the movie and trailer: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/shoot-em-up/

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. Co-starring Kelly Preston and Jay  Mohr. Watch out for the most adorable kid on screen: Jonathan Lipnicki. Image from: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/

Tom Cruise has been one of my favorite actors. Because more often than not, I know I can trust him to make good movies.  And Jerry Maguire is my absolutely favorite Tom Cruise. It is also one of my favorites in general. It is funny, poignant, emotional, original and just lovely!!! Which reminds me I haven’t done an individual post on J.M. Shame on me.

Soundtrack featuring:

Pocketful of Rainbows, Elvis Presley

Oh Well, Fleetwood Mac

World on a String, Neil Young

Magic Bus, The Who

Freefallin’, Tom Petty

Burning Sky, Bad Company

And my absolute favorite: Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden. The video is below. Includes scenes from the movie.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx_x6jMCxAY[/pro-player]

Movie Trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFs-E-FSkJU&feature=related[/pro-player]

Reality Bites (1994)

Reality Bites starring Ethan Hawke, Winona Ryder, Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn

 

Delightful romcom, smelling 1990s. I love the 90s, the movie and well, obviously the ost. Now this movie id delightful in its own little way with characters trying (or refusing) to fit in.  Ethaw Hawke’s character is singing  in a band so there are also songs sung by him. More on the movie and photos: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/reality-bites-always/

Featuring:

Rock’n’ Roll Part II, Gary Glitter

Locked Out, Crowded House

Story Of My Life, Social Distortion

Something So Strong, Crowded House

School’s Out, Alice Cooper

All I Want is You, U2

Absolute favorite: My Sharona by The Knack. The video is below:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1T71PGd-J0[/pro-player]

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Vanilla Sky starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell

 

Another Tom Cruise movie and just like it written and directed by Cameron Crowe.

Too complicated to tell the story (again one of my fav. Cruise-its post will come) but in a nutshell:

David Aames (Cruise) is handsome, rich and in demand and despite to the inconvenience to the board members, he is the head of the business he inherited from his parents. And he has a friend with benefits- hot Julie (Cameron Diaz).  But  something remarkable happens to David when he meets Sofia (Penelope Cruz) at a party and falls head over heels. Of course this doesn’t go down with Julie -who has wanted David to be more than her bed buddy. An accident ruins David’s face and psychology. From that moment on, the audience has a lot to digest and interpret. Based on the Spanish movie also starring Penelope Cruz. But I dare say, this one is better. Great movie, great soundtrack.

Featuring:

Everything In Its Right Place, Radiohead

Vanilla Sky, Paul McCartney

All the Right Friends,REM

Last Goodbye, Jeff Buckley

Sweetness Follows, REM

Fourth Time Around, Bob Dylan

I Might Be Wrong, Radiohead

Wild Honey, U2

Absolute favorites: Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys and Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

Movie trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHtF8PADoN0[/pro-player]

 

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors, Rock n' Roll (and Music in general) Tagged With: best movie soundtracks, Cameron Diaz, Clive Owen, listing of movie soundtracks, monica belluci, movie soundtracks, Penelope Cruz, Renee Zellweger, soundtracks, Tom Cruise, Winona Ryder

Stardust, The Air I Breathe, Playing by Heart, The Good Shepherd, Hairspray & He’s Just Not That Into You: 6 Good Movies with Brilliant Casts

Posted on April 10, 2010 Written by ripitup

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If you are anything like me, you have some actors whose projects really entertain you. But sometimes those actors come together to star in a film. So for instance what’s better than seeing Michelle Pfeiffer acting with Robert De Niro? Adding Mark Strong to the list. And you provide the comic relief with Ricky Gervais. Beauty? Siena Miller. New talent? Charlie Cox. Before you know it, you have one hell of a cast. Here’re my 6 favorite ensemble casts:

1) STARDUST

 

Stardust movie poster featuring: Claire Danes, Ricky Gervais, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Peter O' Toole, Sienna Mille, Mark Strong and Charlie Cox

 

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Claire Danes, Siena Miller, Charlie Cox, Ben Barnes, Ricky Gervais, Mark Strong and Henry Cavill.

 

Magical, thrilling, romantic and visually wonderful story of a young man (Charlie Cox) after a star (Claire Danes), the star co-operating so that she can go home, princes after a crown necklace and the witches after the star’s heart. For many more details, photos and trailer of Stardust:

https://pinartarhan.com/blog/20-reasons-to-love-stardust/

 

2) Playing By Heart

Playing by Heart starring Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Phillippe, Gillian Anderson, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Stewart, Dennis Quaid
Playing by Heart starring Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Phillippe, Gillian Anderson, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Stewart, Dennis Quaid. There’s also Ellen Burstyn and Jay Mohr. I love this movie and the cast. Photo: http://www.moviegoods.com

Starring:Angelina Jolie, Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Stewart, Gillian Anderson, Gena Rowlands, Ellen Burstyn, Jay Mohr, Ryan Phillippe.

It is romantic, sweet and at times really funny.  You can check out the plot here.

 

3) The Air I Breathe

The Air I Breathe. Starring: Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brendan Fraser, Forest Whitaker, Emile Hirsch, Julie Delpy, Kevin Bacon

 


Starring: Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker, Julie Delpy, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Emile Hirsch, Sarah Michelle Gellar.

If you like any of these actors and enjoy intersecting stories, you will enjoy this one. Sure, the undertone is very dramatic and it is slightly depressing but it is hopeful. Love, hatred, depression, anger, revenge, fun, loyalty,….. You name the emotion and you will find the story. No event is unrelated here. Andy Garcia is the villain. Kevin Bacon plays a really nice guy. Refreshing, right?

4) The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro,William Hurt, Alec Baldwin, Lee Pace, Billy Crudup, John Turturro

 

 

Starring: Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Lee Pace, William Hurt, John Turturro, Billy Crudup and Alec Baldwin.

1960s. CIA agent Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) is faced with a crisis as some crucial information might be leaked to enemies. As the agents try to figure out who is responisble and who the info was given to, we start learning about Edward’s past with flashbacks going into the late 30s. We learn about what made he who he is from his childhood to his days at Yale, from the ww2 and onward. The cast is by far one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. It might be due to the fact that De Niro is the director. Great film. It is a drama thriller.

5) He’s Just Not That Into You

He's Just Not That Into You starring Jennifer Connely, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johannson, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long

Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johannson, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long

Don’t wait by the phone, don’t make excuses. If he is not calling you, he is just not that into you. Based on the refreshing relationships book by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo. Extendend review for both the movie and the book can be found here.

6)  Hairspray

Hairspray starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes
Hairspray starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes. Fun, colors, the hair and more fun…Photo: drkruznutty.files.wordpress.com

Now, you may have watched an Hairspray film made in 1988, written and directed by John Waters. And it is not that its cast is unknown, featuring names like Sonny Bono and Deborah Harry. However, you might realize that it was rated 6.8 votecd by over 8.000 people. However the Hairspray film that I’ll brag about I from 2007 and it is rated 7.2, voted over 40.000. So yes, we are facing a remake rated higher than the original.And I have no intentions of seeing the original.

Because John Travolta is a terrific actor and a singer and he is playing a woman! The wife of Christopher Walken! Absolute hilarity! And you have seen the cast, right? Yes, Michelle Pfeiffer makes a kick-ass bitch. James Marsden is a great actor, yeah- but here he shows us that he is an amazing singer too. And br ready to forgive Zac Efron for the Highschool Musical series. Yeah he still plays a guy in high school but the guy can sing rocknroll. Just forget about his pop idol/teenage-girl magnet reputation. If a guy can sing rocknroll well, he will have my respect. I also vote for the jet black hair.

If you aren’t entertained by this film-regardless of how you feel about musicals- I am sure what will put a smile on your face. Directed by Adam Shankman (A Walk to Remember).


Feel free to add your favorite ensembles. In the meantime, here’s a list of posts on these actors:

ANGELINA JOLIE:

Beyond Borders

Lara Croft Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life

The Most Gorgeous Women in Haollywood

Lee Pace:

Possession

The Fall

Soldier’s Girl

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

James Marsden:

Enchanted

24th Day

The Box

Julie Delpy:    

Before Sunrise

Before Sunset

Bradley Cooper:

The Wedding Crashers

The Hangover

Alias

Yes Man

Zac Efron:

17 Again

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Andy Garcia, Angelina Jolie, Ben Barnes, Bradley Cooper, Brendan Fraser, Charlie Cox, Forest Whitekar, Gillian Anderson, Henry Cavill, Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, Lee Pace, Madeleine Stowe, Matt Damon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ricky Gervais, Robert De Niro, Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Scarlett Johannson, Sienna Miller, Zac Efron

Marley & Me starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston

Posted on April 6, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Marley & Me with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson
Marley & Me with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. Co-starring Eric Dane, Alan Arkin and Kathleen Turner. Poster from: impawards.com

John Grogan (Owen Wilson) is a very happy man.He has just married to the love of his life, Jennifer (Jennifer Aniston) and has moved to Florida where they both jobs at different newspapers. While Jennifer seems to covering the types of news that matter (according to John) and his buddy at the office – Sebastian (Eric Dane)- is actually being a real reporter, John is stuck with boring and annoying stuff. However, he is holding on. He loves his wife and he has no intention to go from one girl to another like Sebastian. He actually decides he wants kids and what better than a little puppy to warm both him and Jen for the job? The puppy- Marley-is the cutest thing ever. But he soon proves to be the most hyperactive and neurotic dog ever and managing him becomes more exhausting as the couple starts having kids…

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lShipoEMI6Q[/pro-player]

This is one sweetheart of a movie. I had read a viewer comment that criticized the movie for being too ordinary. Seriously? I am not sure what part of the poster/trailer/plot suggested it anything to be other than a family comedy/romance? And ordinary is a relative term isn’t it? After all, we are talking about love, relationships, pets, family and careers. But yes, obviously do not expect to be surprised. It is the actual tale of John Grogan. The movie has been based on his book.

Both Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson are lovely. And as a girl, I have never complained about seeing Eric Dane (Mark Sloan, a.k.a McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy) on screen. The guy really fits the role of a womanizer. Co- starring are Alan Arkin as Sebastian and John’s editor and Kathleen Turner as a dog trainer in a small role. The last time I saw Arkin on the screen, he was playing the much older and selfish husband of Robin Wright Penn in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. Here, he is pretty much the editor of my dreams. Watch the film and you will know what I mean. But what on earth happened to Kathleen Turner? What happened to the gorgeous woman from Romancing the Stone? There is getting old…Then there is getting old like Mel Gibson. And then apparently there is aging like Turner. Oh, boy. Just compare her old self and you will pardon my shock.

7.0 on IMDB. Fair enough. Charming as hell.

Other Jennifer Aniston Posts

Love Happens

The Bounty Hunter

He’s just not that into you

Derailed

Friends

Marley and Me on amazon.com

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Alan Arkin, comedy, dogs, Eric Dane, Jennifer Aniston, John Grogan, Kathleen Turner, Marley and me, movies about dogs, Owen Wilson

Moon starring Sam Rockwell

Posted on April 4, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Moon starring Sam Rockwell
Moon starring Sam Rockwell. Image via: christybharath.files.wordpress.com

Some time in the future, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is stationed on the moon. The world’s energy problem has been solved with helium-3 and it is massively available on the moon. Sam is alone in his station except for his talking computer Gerty (voice by Kevin Spacey). He is approaching the end of his 3 year-contract with Lunar Industries and he can’t wait to go home to his wife and baby daughter.However, he starts having problems. He starts imagining things. And outside the station, he has an accident. When he wakes up back at the station, he is in for a massive surprise….

I wish I could write more but anything else will be giving spoilers. The truth is, it is safe to say the movie really begins after Sam wakes up in the infirmary. The first scenes of the film are used to show the surroundings, get to know Sam and his mission. While it is not boring, the pace is slow. But after Sam wakes up, it is one intriguing revelation after another.

Sam Rockwell is almost the only actor and he has done fascinating job at keeping your interest and winning your empathy.

I’m not the biggest sci-fi fan, but when a movie is good, you have to give its due. See it.

Directed by Duncan Jones. Screenplay by Nathan Parker.

8.0 on IMDB, voted by over 40.000 people. Yeah, I am not the only one who liked it.

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: drama, Duncan Jones, Kevin Spacey, Moon, moon movie, Nathan Parker, Sam Rockwell, sci fi, thriller

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