Fin

Occasionally movies have us excitedly awaiting the curtain for all the right reasons. Here are some of my favourite closing credits.

ROMEO + JULIET

Song: Exit Music (For a Film)

When given the brief of penning the music for the end credits of Baz Luhrmann's 1996 Romeo + Juliet, Radiohead came up with this sarcy title. The ronseal of credit songs- does what it says on the tin. Thom Yorke has cited the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet as the inspiration for 'Exit Music': "I saw the Zeffirelli version when I was 13 and I cried my eyes out, because I couldn't understand why, the morning after they shagged, they didn't just run away. The song is written for two people who should run away before all the bad stuff starts. A personal song."

The director of the movie, Baz Luhrmann, revealed in the DVD commentary that he believes it is one of the greatest film exit songs ever written. I concur.

Moreover, the song can be credited with saving the life of goth rocker Marilyn Manson who when contemplating suicide whilst standing on the edge of a cliff soon changed his mind on hearing the song.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

Song: Singin' in the Rain

As well as being played over the closing credits, the song features in an earlier scene in which the protagonist sang it whilst committing rape. The juxtaposition of using such a happy well-loved song in one of the most disturbing movies ever made is a stroke of genius, and once viewed in this sinister light will never be heard in the same way again.

CARLITOS WAY

Song: You are so beautiful to me

A dreamy ending sequence that beautifully communicates the frustration felt at Carlito's failed escape attempt. A dying Carlito stares up at a billboard of a Caribbean beach and a dancing woman frozen in shot. As the music starts the billboard comes to life and the woman who is revealed to be Gail starts dancing as he slowly closes his eyes. Heartbreaking. And a brilliant example of how music can be used to effectively advance the themes of a plot.

Feeling Shirty

Black Work Trousers

Black Cardigan

New Jeans

New Shoes

New Glasses

These are all things that I need to buy,

yet this is what I bought today:

As soon as a saw it, I recalled that scene in 'One Fine Day' where Michelle Pfeiffer has to wear her sons dinosaur t-shirt under her business suit.

I bloody love t-shirts. I especially love them on people who you don't expect; people who are usually all dolled up. Like these lot:

It's off to work we go...

Music has long proved an antidote to the mundanities of the working week so it's only right that it should offer the occasional commentary on our working lives.

There is of course a great irony to be found in the millionaire popstar lamenting the plight of the working man. A cynical attempt to relate to the record-buying everyman? A nostalgic nod to their former pre-fame lives? Either way, there are some great work-related songs out there that really stick it to the man!

Sounding suspiciously upbeat after a nightshift, The Beatles 'Hard Days Night' maintains that it's all worth it because when they get home "everything seems to be right". Thankfully, the aptly named "Boss" keeps it real in 'Dancing in the Dark': "I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say. I come home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way. I ain't nothing but tired, man I'm just tired and bored with myself." That's more like it.

In 'No Surprises' Radiohead confront middle class resignation to the monotony of "a job that slowly kills you". In exchange for the 'pretty house' and the 'pretty garden' we'll "take the quiet life. A handshake of carbon monoxide." Talking Heads similarly question whether the payoff has been worth it in 'Once in a Lifetime' which deals with the sacrifice of youthful dreams and ideals in favour of conventional notions of success and happiness and its resulting mundanities: "same as it ever was". We have worked hard and as a result have 'everything' yet nothing we ever really wanted in the first place: "You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile. You may find yourself in a beautiful house with a beautiful wife. You may ask yourself, well how did I get here?"

Less a sympathetic sing-a-long but rather a lyrical showing off from MGMT in 'Time to Pretend' as rockstars who have swapped the daily grind to "live fast and die young". "Yeah, it's overwhelming. But what else can we do. Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute". Talk about rubbing our noses in it!

Right, best be off to bed. Work in the morning.

This week's play (work?!) list:

It's always the quiet ones

Most places I find myself I somehow manage to always be branded "the quiet one" and have at times been made to feel as though this is a bad thing; being authentically myself. But as I get older and no more able to fake this adult confidence I feel that it is something to cherish.

So, here's to the quiet ones "Perform your magic, your incantations, your strange songs" you know who you are.

Say Goodnight Kevin

Maybe it represents a longing for a more innocent time, or is simply the result of watching too much American TV but I have always wanted a really 80's looking boys bedroom.

You know that scene in 'Home Alone' where he gets banished to the attic room? I never really understood how that was punishment. It was the coolest room ever!

With it's built up sofa-bed, naff graphic bed covers and American flag it looks like such a safe haven and somehow effortlessly cool- what every bedroom should be.




I often wonder how 80's film decor managed to be so exquisitely 80s and cool. Do you think they purposely tried to place cool objects in the hope of them then becoming iconic? Or did they simply decorate the room as was considered normal for that time? In 20 years time will we look back and say "Oh look, that rooms so minimalist and cool and of the noughties" I doubt it!

Here's my 80's Boys Bedroom Wishlist:

Analog TV



Michael Jackson Door Poster
Actually, courtesy of Lauren and Mikey I already have this :)





Stacked Board Games



Check Bed Covers

Forget what happened then, and let me live again

I want you back