Wexner Arts JULY- AUGUST 2009 : Page 2

The best marriages of music and image in film leave indelible marks in our memory. Think of Bernard Herrmann’s shrieking strings in Psycho’s shower scene or the hypnotic piano coda to Eric Clapton’s “Layla” in Goodfellas. Whether from original scores, familiar compositions and songs, or even the live playing that accompanied silent movies, effectively chosen music can heighten emotion, propel action, create tension, establish historical authenticity, or enhance the director’s intentions in many other directions. Organized by Wexner Center Film Curator David Filipi, Soundtrack Available features movies notable for their creative and thoughtful use of popular music as a cinematic element.Many spawned soundtrack albums whose impact equaled that of the films themselves. Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973) Saturday Night Fever (John Badham, 1977) Thu, julY 2 7 pm | 2nd film 9 pm Scorsese’s Mean Streets stars Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro as small time hoods in New York’s Little Italy. Songs include the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” (110 mins., 35mm) Drive-inWex Two films from this series— American Graffiti on July 23 and O Brother, Where Art Thou? on August 20—are being presented as free outdoor screenings in our Wex Drive-In series. Come at 8 pm to claim your spot and get ready with drinks (cash bar), snacks, and free popcorn and Jeni’s ice cream. The films themselves will begin at dusk. (In the event of rain or other bad weather, these films will screen in the theater at 9 pm.) Wex Drive-In presented with major support from Orange Barrel Media. Additional support provided by ZenGenius and Reed Arts. In-kind support provided by jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Pam’s Market Popcorn. Promotional support for Soundtrack Available provided by CD 101, Columbus underground.com, Surly Girl Saloon, and used Kids Records. Promotional support for Wex Drive-In also provided by The Other Paper and WOSu: Public Media. John Travolta and his white suit helped disco spread to every corner of the country in Saturday Night Fever. The best-selling soundtrack featured The Bee Gees’ "Staying Alive" and "How Deep is Your Love?” (119 mins., 35mm) Purple Rain (Albert Magnoli, 1984) Beat Street (Stan Lathan, 1984) Thu, julY 9 7 pm | 2nd film 9 pm Purple Rain stars Prince as a mis- understood Minneapolis musician struggling to gain acceptance of his fresh brand of music (sound familiar?). Featuring “When Doves Cry” and “I Would Die 4 U.” (111 mins., 35mm) Starring Rae Dawn Chong and featuring end-to-end break dancing and DJing, the influential Beat Street captures the spirit of the early days of New York City’s hip-hop culture. The film, which spawned two soundtracks, includes Grandmaster Melle Mel’s “Beat Street Breakdown” and Afrika Bambaataa’s “Frantic Situation.” (105 mins., 35mm) Velvet Goldmine (Todd Haynes, 1998) The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola, 1999) Thu, julY 16 7 pm | 2nd film 9:10 pm Based largely on David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona (but with- out Bowie’s participation) Velvet Goldmine perfectly captures the spirit of the British glam rock scene in the early 1970s. Songs include Bryan Eno’s “Needle in the Camel’s Eye” and Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love.” (123 mins., 35mm) Sofia Coppola’s first feature, The Virgin Suicides tells the story of five suburban sisters who all inexpli- cably commit suicide. Air provided two tracks on the film’s score, and additional songs include 1970s’ hits such as Heart’s “Magic Man” and ELO’s “Strange Magic.” (97 mins., 35mm) Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993) Thu, julY 23 | 7 pm Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is a pitch-perfect beer and smoke filled cruise through the last day of school in a small Texas town in 1976. Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” and Kiss’s “Rock and Roll All Nite” are just two of the 1970s’ hits that help set the scene. The film led to the release of two soundtrack albums. (102 mins., 35mm) Wex Drive-in American Graffiti (George Lucas, 1973) Thu, julY 23 | Dusk Wexner Center Plaza FrEE DJ Wolfman Jack spins the records that set the mood in American Graffiti, a hit-filled coming-of-age film set amid the sock hops and drive-ins of Modesto, California, in the pre–Vietnam era. Songs include Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and The Platters’ “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” (110 mins., 35mm) Rushmore (Wes Anderson, 1998) Manhattan (Woody Allen, 1979) Thu, julY 30 7 pm | 2nd film 8:40 pm Wes Anderson is a master at using eclectic soundtracks to situate his characters in worlds of undetermined time and place. Scored by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, Rushmore follows the unproductively focused Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) as he attempts to navigate life at his beloved private school. Songs include Cat Stevens’s “Here Comes My Baby” and the Stones’ “I Am Waiting.” (93 mins., 35mm) Inspired by his love of George Gershwin’s music, Manhattan follows Allen’s typically neurotic persona as he juggles relationships with the women in his life includ- ing his 17-year-old girlfriend (Mariel Hemingway) and lesbian ex- wife (Meryl Streep). The Gershwin standards include “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Embraceable You.” (96 mins., 35mm) onScreen july

onScreen

The best marriages of music and image in film leave indelible marks in our memory. Think of
Bernard Herrmann’s shrieking strings in Psycho’s shower scene or the hypnotic piano coda to
Eric Clapton’s “Layla” in Goodfellas. Whether from original scores, familiar compositions and
songs, or even the live playing that accompanied silent movies, effectively chosen music can
heighten emotion, propel action, create tension, establish historical authenticity, or enhance the
director’s intentions in many other directions. Organized by Wexner Center Film Curator David
Filipi, Soundtrack Available features movies notable for their creative and thoughtful use of popular
music as a cinematic element. Many spawned soundtrack albums whose impact equaled that
of the films themselves.
Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973) Saturday Night Fever (John Badham, 1977) Thu, julY 2 7 pm | 2nd film 9 pm

Scorsese’s Mean Streets stars Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro as small time hoods in New York’s Little Italy. Songs include the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” (110 mins., 35mm) John Travolta and his white suit helped disco spread to every corner of the country in Saturday Night Fever. The best-selling soundtrack featured The Bee Gees’ "Staying Alive" and "How Deep is Your Love?” (119 mins., 35mm)


Purple Rain (Albert Magnoli, 1984) Beat Street (Stan Lathan, 1984) Thu, julY 9 7 pm | 2nd film 9 pm

Purple Rain stars Prince as a misunderstood Minneapolis musician struggling to gain acceptance of his fresh brand of music (sound familiar?). Featuring “When Doves Cry” and “I Would Die 4 U.” (111 mins., 35mm) Starring Rae Dawn Chong and featuring end-to-end break dancing and Djing, the influential Beat Street captures the spirit of the early days of New York City’s hip-hop culture.

The film, which spawned two soundtracks, includes Grandmaster Melle Mel’s “Beat Street Breakdown” and Afrika Bambaataa’s “Frantic Situation.” (105 mins., 35mm)

Velvet Goldmine (Todd Haynes, 1998) The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola, 1999) Thu, julY 16 7 pm | 2nd film 9:10 pm

Based largely on David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona (but without Bowie’s participation) Velvet Goldmine perfectly captures the spirit of the British glam rock scene in the early 1970s. Songs include Bryan Eno’s “Needle in the Camel’s Eye” and Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love.” (123 mins., 35mm) Sofia Coppola’s first feature, The Virgin Suicides tells the story of five suburban sisters who all inexplicably commit suicide. Air provided two tracks on the film’s score, and additional songs include 1970s’ hits such as Heart’s “Magic Man” and ELO’s “Strange Magic.” (97 mins., 35mm)

Dazed and Confused

Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is a pitch-perfect beer and smoke filled cruise through the last day of school in a small Texas town in 1976.

Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” and Kiss’s “Rock and Roll All Nite” are just two of the 1970s’ hits that help set the scene. The film led to the release of two soundtrack albums.

(102 mins., 35mm)

American Graffiti

DJ Wolfman Jack spins the records that set the mood in American Graffiti, a hit-filled coming-of-age film set amid the sock hops and drive-ins of Modesto, California, in the pre–Vietnam era. Songs include Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and The Platters’ “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” (110 mins., 35mm)

Rushmore

Wes Anderson is a master at using eclectic soundtracks to situate his characters in worlds of undetermined time and place. Scored by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, Rushmore follows the unproductively focused Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) as he attempts to navigate life at his beloved private school. Songs include Cat Stevens’s “Here Comes My Baby” and the Stones’ “I Am Waiting.” (93 mins., 35mm)

Inspired by his love of George Gershwin’s music, Manhattan follows Allen’s typically neurotic persona as he juggles relationships with the women in his life including his 17-year-old girlfriend (Mariel Hemingway) and lesbian exwife (Meryl Streep). The Gershwin standards include “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Embraceable You.” (96 mins., 35mm)

Urban Cowboy

John Travolta ditched his white polyester suit and learned to two-step for Urban Cowboy, a Texas romance, set mainly in Gilley’s bar, whose sudden fame led to a proliferation of mechanical bulls around the country and beyond. The hit country soundtrack included Johnny Lee’s “Lookin’ For Love” and Anne Murray’s “Could I Have This Dance.” (135 mins., 35mm)

The music of Simon & Garfunkel entered the mainstream upon the release of The Graduate, which stars Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson, the movies’ definitive cougar. Songs include “Mrs.

Robinson” and “Sounds of Silence.” (108 mins., 35mm)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Loosely based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, Tarantino’s Jackie Brown stars blaxploitation icon Pam Grier in the title role as an airline stewardess who helps the ATF bring down arms smuggler Samuel L. Jackson. The inspired soundtrack includes Johnny Cash’s “Tennessee Stud” and Foxy Brown’s “(Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm.” (154 mins., 35mm)

Penned by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is an insightful comedy portraying teen culture in the San Fernando Valley of the early 1980s. Among the soonto- be-stars in its cast are Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Forest Whitaker. Songs include Jackson Browne’s “Somebody’s Baby” and the Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat.” (92 mins., 35mm)

Easy Rider

The quintessential American motorcycle/road movie, Easy Rider follows bikers Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda as they try to make it from Los Angeles to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras. The film made a star out of then-struggling Jack Nicholson and helped get Albert Brooks out of a speeding ticket in Lost in America. The counter-culture staple’s songs include the Band’s “The Weight” and Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” (95 mins., 35mm)

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

The Coen brothers’ Depression-era comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Led to a resurgence in the popularity of American folk music. Loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey, the film follows three escaped convicts (George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro) as they try to retrieve a hidden fortune from a past heist. Songs include Alison Krauss’s “Down to the River to Pray,” Krauss and Gillian Welch’s “I’ll Fly Away,” and Ralph Stanley’s “O Death.” (102 mins., 35mm)

Magnolia

Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, and Tom Cruise, Magnolia takes place during one seemingly uneventful day in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley and follows the randomly intersecting lives of a handful of characters as they all reach crisis points in their lives. Most of the songs in the film were written and performed by Aimee Mann who received an Oscar nomination for “Save Me.” (188 mins., 35mm)

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