Musical musings: The Hypnotist

This evening, I watched THE HYPNOTIST, a not particularly remarkable slice of Nordic noir from director Lasse Hallström, based on the novel of the same name by Lars Kepler. The film itself may have been underwhelming, but I did appreciate the score by Oscar Fogelström, in particular the piece that played over the closing credits, available here:

Musical musings: Under the Skin

Jonathan Glazer's UNDER THE SKIN is a bizarre and hypnotic film that I'm not altogether sure I actually like. It's certainly unforgettable, though, with a terrific performance by Scarlett Johansson and a view of Glasgow that's totally different from anything I've ever seen before. (It helps, I suppose, that we're seeing it through the eyes of an extra-terrestrial, to whom all human behaviour seems alien.) It's a film I definitely intend to revisit before the end of the year, so I can form a more definite opinion of it before drawing up my annual Top 10.

One thing's for sure, a huge part of what makes the film so eerie and unnerving is the fabulous score my Mica Levi. I normally dislike atonal stuff (I once got into virtual fisticuffs on a message board for rather glibly suggesting that the score to the American remake of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, didn't actually constitute music), but for some reason I adore this. The track above, "Death", is my favourite of the bunch.

Lindsey time

I discovered Arizonan musician Lindsey Stirling completely by accident while surfing YouTube one day. Described on her web site as a "dancing dubstep violinist", she combines a traditional Celtic folk sound with dance and electronica, leaping and prancing around the stage like a crazy ballerina. She's quite something to behold:







Oh, and she was told she'd never amount to anything by Piers Morgan, which automatically makes me predisposed to liking her.

Funnies: angry Natalie

If you ever wanted to hear Natalie Portman scream "Suck my dick!" now's your chance. It's an oldie but a goodie: the LEON and BLACK SWAN star's infamous Saturday Night Live rap from 2006 (circa V FOR VENDETTA, hence the very fetching short hair).

Musical musings: Tomorrow

The official video for "Tomorrow", the first single from The Cranberries' 2011 album "Roses" (their first since reforming), and in my opinion by far the best track on the disc.

And just for good measure, here's Dolores:

Musical musings: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The main title track to Alberto Iglesias's score to TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, Tomas Alfredson's superlative 2011 adaptation of the John le Carré novel.

While I love this film (and the novel, and the Alec Guinness miniseries) for its twisty plotting and complex characterisation, not to mention the superb performances by its talented cast, it's the atmosphere that keeps sucking me back in. Literally every frame seeps with weary cynicism and the sense that the glory days of the characters and the world they inhabit are long gone, and Iglesias's languid score plays a huge part in conveying this to the viewer. If I had to choose an adjective to describe it, it would be "autumnal".

If and when Alfredson's SMILEY'S PEOPLE adaptation finally gets off the ground, I sincerely hope he brings back Iglesias to do the score.