Big Night – OST

Over the years, I’ve noticed details in movie trailers that can tell you if a movie is going to suck or not.  They’re little details that most people never notice, but they happen all the time.

1. The Trailers on TV Suddenly Switch Marketing Tactics: I see this one quite a bit these days.  The first trailers for “Hancock” promoted it as a comedy.  When that didn’t go over too well, they started marketing it as an action film… instead of as the big piece of shit it was.  It means the film isn’t being received well.

2. Reviews: Trailers love touting good reviews, but the key is to see who gave the review.  Most great films will put the name of the publication in big bold print like “Rolling Stone Magazine calls it The Best Film of The Year!”  But if the movie sucks, they put the reviews in big letters and the source in illegible tiny letters underneath…like “This Film is a Triumph!” Jeff Craig – Sixty Second Previews.  This is usually because the reviewer sucks and gets paid to give good reviews to crappy films.

(Also avoid any film reviewed by Jeff Craig who apparently thinks the mere act of projecting moving images on a wall is ‘A Triumph!”)

Another variation on this scam is to declare things like “This is the Movie to see this season!” and deliver them as if they were reviews, but no credit is given…mostly because no one made that statement in a review.  A marketing hack did.

3. It Goes Straight to DVD:  Anytime I have to go to the video store with my parents I have to explain this concept.  “I didn’t know they made a fourth sequel to American Pie!” my Dad will say. And I’ll say “That’s because they were too ashamed to tell you.”

4. The Soundtrack Features a New Hit Song By Somebody: I don’t know why this usually is the case, but if they promote a movie with a song, then the movie is probably lacking…and the soundtrack is really lacking. 

A good soundtrack is less concerned with hit songs and more concerned with songs that complement the setting and mood of the film, and nowhere is that more apparent than on the soundtrack to the 1996 film “Big Night.” 

If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend it.  It follows two Italian brothers (played by Stanley Tucci and the always awesome Tony Shalhoub) trying to keep their struggling Italian restaurant afloat without compromising their values.  Their dreams seem close to fulfillment when a competitor promises to send Louis Prima to the restaurant for dinner, and a lavish feast is prepared.  I won’t spoil the rest for you, but if you like Italian food, this movie has got some serious food for visual masturbation.  And if you like Italian music, then you’re in for a real treat.

The problem with most movies that go for a retro vibe in their soundtracks is that they tend to simply devolve into piles of kitsch and uninspired top 40 rehashing (Forrest Gump, I’m looking in your direction.)  But “Big Night” seems to avoid this pitfall and come up with some really nice pieces.

Sure the Louis Prima numbers are no brainers with hits like ‘Oh, Marie’ and ‘Bouna Sera,’ but it’s the authentic old country sound of Claudia Villa’s ‘Stornelli Amorisi’ and Matteo Salvatore’s ‘Il Pescivnedolo’ that really brighten up the set. Toss in some inspired swinging jazz work by composer Gary DeMichele and you have a soundtrack for your next pasta night…or wine drinking stupor.

To be honest, I think that playing this soundtrack while cooking actually makes your food taste better.  I could be wrong, but why take that chance?

Lone Star – Original Soundtrack

There’s actually two different kinds of soundtracks out there.  Some are original scores to the film by a certain composer (Lord of the Rings,) and the rest are collections of actual songs either new or old.  Musical scores are okay, but really when’s the last time you pulled out the score from Blade Runner to throw on at a party(aside from you, Pete)?  And then there’s music soundtracks which, for the most part, are usually for shit. 

The labels and studios seem intent on using the movie soundtrack format to promote new songs from horrible artists, i.e.: anything that has a sticker on the CD that says “Featuring the New Hit Single from Crazytown!” Or you get a creatively defunct top 40 classics mix, ala Forrest Gump that you could hear just by turning on the local oldies station. 

A good soundtrack, on the other hand should both accentuate the mood of the film, help drive the story, and be a little creative in it’s selection.  Notable examples of this are the brilliant soft-rock of The Virgin Suicide’s soundtrack, any of the Tarantino soundtracks (he’s like the soundtrack king,) or most recently Juno (which has me on a serious folk kick right now.)

Of all the soundtracks I own though, few hit the target quite like the Lone Star Soundtrack.  The movie takes place in Rio County Texas near the Mexican border, and like the location,  the collection of music walks a multifaceted line between the two countries.  With it’s mix of norteno, country, blues, and folk it puts you not just into the film, but into a feeling. Like sitting on a porch in the hot summer night and listening to the radio coming from a nearby bodega.

You have to love the amazing harmonica of Little Walter on tracks like ‘Boogie,’ or the mournful wail of Little Willie John on ‘My Love is.’  Apparently using the word “Little” in your name was much more popular back in the day than it is now.  Also there are standout tracks from Lucina Wiliams, Fito Olivares, Lydia Mendoza as well as some magificent loose score work by Duke Levine.

Some of the sound quality is a bit scratchy here, but in a way that I think adds to the listening experience.  That and they used a lot of old stuff with questionable source formats like 45s.

Just so you know, this is a John Sayles movie…and John Sayles is a badass.  He writes, directs, produces and edits all his own movies.  That means no one fucks with his shit and it turns out exactly how he wants it.  And I have a feeling this soundtrack was the same way.

Below, you’ll find a video for Fito Oliveras version of ‘Juana la Cubana’ which is also in the film.  Ignore the visuals, because the sound will give you a good idea of the flavor. (but you don’t have to ignore the dancing girls!)