Writing a paper and watching a movie

So my roommate has Romeo + Juliet (1996), and since I haven't been a big fan in the past, I figured I would put it in as background noise.

Except, it's way too frenetic to ignore. And my goodness, young Leonardo DiCaprio has such a lovely face. (is it a little late to get on the Leo bandwagon? Wait. It's no longer 1997?) I'm doing a terrible job at writing this paper.

Anyway, some film epiphonies: Leonardo DiCaprio does best when he plays an innocent, well-intentioned guy caught up in a tragic situation that's beyond his control. Also, is Mercutio not the best part of every production of Romeo and Juliet? (I love you Harold Perrineau!)

Mercutio and Romeo's face: the best elements of this movie.

100 Favorite Songs: 51-55

I can't come up with a cohesive or funny statement about this section other than all the songs are awesome.

51. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)

Best duet ever? Probably.


Plus, these two were adorable performing together.


52. “Why Georgia” by John Mayer (2003)

I like to associate this song with driving around in a Volvo when I first got my license. I like to disassociate this song with John Mayer in real life.


I also can't stand looking at his face when he sings, so here are some lyrics.


53. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel (1986)

I love the mood and rhythm of this song; it's incredibly romantic without being saccharine. I think I just love earthy '80s songs.

Here he is performing the song with Youssou N'Dour:


I love everything about this performance. Everything.


54. “Young Lust” by Pink Floyd (1979)

I think I meant to choose a second Pink Floyd song from another album besides The Wall, but too bad. I just love David Gilmour too much.


"Oooo, I need a dirty woman." So fun to sing.


55. “Another Night” by Real McCoy (1993)

Dance parties of my childhood were filled with the sounds of Real McCoy in tape cassette single form.


It just never gets old.

Theory

Fandango (1985) was the Garden State of an earlier generation. It has a killer soundtrack, effective if over-earnest acting, a coming-of-age tale, and a mystical woman that everything seems to hang around. Can anyone prove or disprove this theory?

However, I enjoyed Fandango much better, if only because it replaces the slow-paced ennui with film student vigor. It's the story of 5 roommates after college graduation in 1971 going on an epic road trip to have one last hurrah and find some closure. It has some overly long scenes and was never terribly involving, but it's just so sincere you have to like it.

And mostly, it had me at "Badge":


Did I mention Judd Nelson and Kevin Costner?

100 Favorite Songs: 46-50

More evidence that I really did just make this list off the top of my head: a double dose of Journey.

46. “There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet ” by Panic! At the Disco (2005)

Remember when this band was still happening? And how terrible that title has always been? But then the song is just really fun to sing along to? Also, the phrase "I'm the new cancer"? Awesome.

This was the least ridiculous performance I could find of this song. I'm giving you lower quality and Ryan encouraging jazz hands so you don't have to suffer Brendon dancing with skanky Victorian girls.


47. “You Never Give Me Your Money” by The Beatles (1969)

Such a gorgeous beginning with a weirdly vocalized middle (yeah, that's Paul) and ridiculous nursery rhyme end. And you know I can't resist vocal harmonies.


I'm a bigger fan of the latter portion of the Beatles' career. You?


48. “Wedding Bell Blues” by 5th Dimension (1969)

Originally a Laura Nyro song, the 5th Dimension had a big hit with this catchy song. Mostly, I just love Marilyn McCoo's voice.

Incidentally, the guy Marilyn's singing to is named Billy, and the two married in 1969.


49. “Lights” by Journey (1978)

I discovered my love of this song on a choir trip in high school to San Francisco (coincidence?). One of my roommates on the trip and I had a Journey dance party since the local classic rock radio station was no doubt having a Block Party Weekend. In other words, a great night.

Is Yevgeny Plushenko the reincarnation of Steve Perry? Discuss.

50. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey (1981)

You'd think you could get sick of a song you've listened to hundreds of times, but "Don't Stop Believin'" never gets less powerful.

They sound great live despite the bassist's molester mustache.

2 more Scorseses, this time reviewed with 5 questions each

Mostly because I'm tracking my Scorsese watching with this blog. Also, Leonardo DiCaprio and SO MUCH BOSTON ACCENTEDNESS.

1. Shutter Island (2010)

1. Is Martin Scorsese allergic to editing movies to under two hours?
2. And why didn't he cut down any of the languid middle scenes that were 1) boring, 2) not at all misleading (which was their primary goal), and 3) not furthering the plot?
3. Speaking of editing, why were there so many editing continuity errors?
4. Will Jackie Earle Haley ever not play a total creepy creep in a movie?
5. Should Scorsese stick with realism?

Nice suits, boys.

2. The Departed (2006)

1. How solidly entertaining was this movie?
2. Was the reason I liked this movie so much because I liked Infernal Affairs so much?
3. Does any one miss the anxious masculinity replete in other Scorsese movies, but is skimmed over if present at all in this one?
4. Why are tightly scripted thrillers like this so rare?
5. Can you name a more perfectly cast movie?

Gun holsters and rolled-up sleeves.

100 Favorite Songs: 41-45

Poppy rock.

41. “I Want You to Want Me” – Cheap Trick (1977)

Apparently it took a live album recorded in Japan for this song to become a big hit, but its addictiveness finally caught on in the States. And let's be honest, how many of us know it because of 10 Things I Hate About You? The TV show*?


How does the guitarist with the hat's outfit not look dated?

42. “Life in a Northern Town” – The Dream Academy (1985)

Hey! A song from the 80s! What can I say, I'm a sucker for vaguely tribal chant-singing. And apparently the oboe.


Who is the woman that introduces the band?

43. “Celebrate Me Home” – Kenny Loggins (1976)**

It really shouldn't shock anyone that I love cheesy pop music. Especially when it's blue-eyed soul. I must warn you that a lot of this performance is a sax attack of the late 80s/early 90s kind.

OMG scatting.

44. “If Only” – The Kooks (2006)

Much like Boston, The Kooks' songs all sound like variations of the same awesome piece of music. That's not a complaint so much as a nod to beautiful consistently. "If Only" as a 2 minute representation of this glorious trend.


So British.

45. “Killer Queen” – Queen (1974)

This song is so opera and so fun to sing.

To my sister: how do you feel about Freddie in this get-up?

Can you grope a microphone stand?

*Which it actually love, despite first impressions. Give it to episode 3.

**I think American Idol uses this song in their results episodes. I choose to ignore that that show exists, so this choice is totally legit.