Barbie is the most nominated film for the 2024 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, landing three nominations, including two in the best song for film category for “What Was I Made For?” and “I’m Just Ken.”
Barbie is nominated for best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million and scored two nods for best song written and/or recorded for a film for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ “What Was I Made For?” and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s “I’m Just Ken,” performed by Ryan Gosling.
The music supervisors with the most individual nominations are Mike Ladman and Mara Techam, each with five nominations, whose work in advertising includes collaborations with brands like Levis, The New York Times, Hennessy and others.
The 14th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards are set to take place in-person and virtually at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theatre on Sunday, March 3.
A full list of nominees follows.
Barbie is nominated for best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million and scored two nods for best song written and/or recorded for a film for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ “What Was I Made For?” and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s “I’m Just Ken,” performed by Ryan Gosling.
The music supervisors with the most individual nominations are Mike Ladman and Mara Techam, each with five nominations, whose work in advertising includes collaborations with brands like Levis, The New York Times, Hennessy and others.
The 14th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards are set to take place in-person and virtually at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theatre on Sunday, March 3.
A full list of nominees follows.
- 1/22/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The winners of the 13th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards were revealed Sunday night at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
Anton Monsted won best music supervision for a film budgeted over $25 million for Elvis, while Lauren Marie Mikus and Bruce Gilbert won the award for a film budgeted $25 million or under for Everything Everywhere All at Once. The latter film also won best song written and/or record for a film for “This Is a Life.” Rob Lowry took home two awards for his work on Cha Cha Real Smooth and Do Revenge.
On the television side, Nora Felder won for best music supervision for a television drama for the fourth season of Stranger Things, while Kier Lehman won in the comedy/musical category for Insecure season five. “Perfect Day” from Better Call Saul season six won best song written and/or recorded for TV.
At the awards ceremony,...
Anton Monsted won best music supervision for a film budgeted over $25 million for Elvis, while Lauren Marie Mikus and Bruce Gilbert won the award for a film budgeted $25 million or under for Everything Everywhere All at Once. The latter film also won best song written and/or record for a film for “This Is a Life.” Rob Lowry took home two awards for his work on Cha Cha Real Smooth and Do Revenge.
On the television side, Nora Felder won for best music supervision for a television drama for the fourth season of Stranger Things, while Kier Lehman won in the comedy/musical category for Insecure season five. “Perfect Day” from Better Call Saul season six won best song written and/or recorded for TV.
At the awards ceremony,...
- 3/6/2023
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Elvis lead the nominees for the 2023 Music Supervisors Guild Awards.
Each film earned three nominations in the same categories: best music supervision for film budgeted over 25 million, best song written and/or recorded for a film and best music supervision in a trailer – film.
Artists who contributed to the Black Panther sequel and Elvis movie soundtrack, Rihanna and Doja Cat, were also nominated for awards this year, as were performers and songwriters Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Diana Ross and David Byrne.
High-profile films and TV shows that earned two nominations apiece include A Jazzman’s Blues, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Atlanta, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Better Call Saul, Stranger Things, P-Valley and The Afterparty.
The winners in categories spanning film, TV, video games, advertising and trailers will be revealed at an in-person and...
Each film earned three nominations in the same categories: best music supervision for film budgeted over 25 million, best song written and/or recorded for a film and best music supervision in a trailer – film.
Artists who contributed to the Black Panther sequel and Elvis movie soundtrack, Rihanna and Doja Cat, were also nominated for awards this year, as were performers and songwriters Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Diana Ross and David Byrne.
High-profile films and TV shows that earned two nominations apiece include A Jazzman’s Blues, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Atlanta, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Better Call Saul, Stranger Things, P-Valley and The Afterparty.
The winners in categories spanning film, TV, video games, advertising and trailers will be revealed at an in-person and...
- 1/23/2023
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
On Wednesday night, a worker-run Twitter account broke the silence on a roughly two and a half year-long organizing effort to unionize music supervisors nationwide.
Declaring that music supervisors — the creatives who select the music and/or facilitate the creation of music that appears in films and TV shows and negotiate for its use — were attempting to form a union, the account @MusicNeedsSupes said, “We’re one of the few in Film and TV that don’t get workers rights under our craft.” The account exhorted users to “stand with our community” after the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which bargains on behalf of major streamers and studios with labor groups, had “refused our ask to grant equal rights.”
The tweet referred to a communication from the AMPTP earlier on Wednesday, declining to voluntarily recognize the group, according to major entertainment crew union IATSE,...
On Wednesday night, a worker-run Twitter account broke the silence on a roughly two and a half year-long organizing effort to unionize music supervisors nationwide.
Declaring that music supervisors — the creatives who select the music and/or facilitate the creation of music that appears in films and TV shows and negotiate for its use — were attempting to form a union, the account @MusicNeedsSupes said, “We’re one of the few in Film and TV that don’t get workers rights under our craft.” The account exhorted users to “stand with our community” after the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which bargains on behalf of major streamers and studios with labor groups, had “refused our ask to grant equal rights.”
The tweet referred to a communication from the AMPTP earlier on Wednesday, declining to voluntarily recognize the group, according to major entertainment crew union IATSE,...
- 6/6/2022
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Guild of Music Supervisors held their 11th annual awards virtually today, celebrating outstanding achievement in the craft of music supervision in film, television, documentary, games, advertising and trailers.
Quincy Jones received this year’s Icon Award while Maureen Crowe, the founding President of the Guild of Music Supervisors, accepted the Legacy Award.
Music legend Stevie Wonder made a surprise visit and gave a heartfelt tribute to the accomplishments of Jones.
Pop star Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, made a cameo appearance to present an award at today’s teleconference show.
The complete winners list for the 11th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards is listed below.
Film
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Tom MacDougall – Soul *Winner*
Jonathan Leahy – Bill & Ted Face The Music
Becky Bentham – Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Julia Michels – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Angela Leus – Trolls World...
Quincy Jones received this year’s Icon Award while Maureen Crowe, the founding President of the Guild of Music Supervisors, accepted the Legacy Award.
Music legend Stevie Wonder made a surprise visit and gave a heartfelt tribute to the accomplishments of Jones.
Pop star Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, made a cameo appearance to present an award at today’s teleconference show.
The complete winners list for the 11th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards is listed below.
Film
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Tom MacDougall – Soul *Winner*
Jonathan Leahy – Bill & Ted Face The Music
Becky Bentham – Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Julia Michels – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Angela Leus – Trolls World...
- 4/12/2021
- by Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
“Soul,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Promising Young Woman,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” were the big film winners Sunday at the 11th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards.
“Soul” took best supervision for a film budgeted over $25 million, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for under $25 million, “Promising Young Woman” for under $10 million, “The Cuban” for under $5 million, and “Hear My Voice” took best song honors from “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
In TV, “Watchmen” won for drama and best song (“The Way It Used To Be”), “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” scored for movie, and there was a three-way tie for comedy or musical split between “High Fidelity,” “Insecure,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
The documentary awards went to “Crip Camp” and the docuseries “The Last Dance.”
In addition, the legendary Quincy Jones won the Icon Award and was paid a lovely tribute by Stevie Wonder,...
“Soul” took best supervision for a film budgeted over $25 million, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for under $25 million, “Promising Young Woman” for under $10 million, “The Cuban” for under $5 million, and “Hear My Voice” took best song honors from “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
In TV, “Watchmen” won for drama and best song (“The Way It Used To Be”), “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” scored for movie, and there was a three-way tie for comedy or musical split between “High Fidelity,” “Insecure,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
The documentary awards went to “Crip Camp” and the docuseries “The Last Dance.”
In addition, the legendary Quincy Jones won the Icon Award and was paid a lovely tribute by Stevie Wonder,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Oscar contenders “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Promising Young Woman” and Pixar’s “Soul” triumphed in their respective categories at the 11th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards.
The ceremony celebrating outstanding achievement in the field of music supervision was held virtually, honoring the unsung heroes of film, television, documentaries, games, advertising and trailers. Despite not being recognized by AMPAS, the wins helped shine a spotlight on the music supervisors who contributed to Academy Award nominated films.
Tom MacDougall snagged best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million for “Soul”, while the award for under $25 million went to Dawn Sutter Madell for her work on “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Billie Eilish and Finneas made a surprise appearance to present Best music supervision for film budgeted under $10 million to Susan Jacobs for “Promising Young Woman.”
In the television category, the best music supervision for a television comedy or musical award resulted in a three-way tie,...
The ceremony celebrating outstanding achievement in the field of music supervision was held virtually, honoring the unsung heroes of film, television, documentaries, games, advertising and trailers. Despite not being recognized by AMPAS, the wins helped shine a spotlight on the music supervisors who contributed to Academy Award nominated films.
Tom MacDougall snagged best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million for “Soul”, while the award for under $25 million went to Dawn Sutter Madell for her work on “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Billie Eilish and Finneas made a surprise appearance to present Best music supervision for film budgeted under $10 million to Susan Jacobs for “Promising Young Woman.”
In the television category, the best music supervision for a television comedy or musical award resulted in a three-way tie,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The music supervisors for “Soul,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Promising Young Woman” won awards at the 11th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, which took place in a virtual ceremony Sunday evening.
Tom MacDougall won for “Soul” in the Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million category. Dawn Sutter Madell won for “Ma Rainey” in the category for films under $25 million, Susan Jacobs won for “Promising Young Woman” for films under $10 million and Dondrea Erauw won for “The Cuban” for films budgeted under $5 million.
Daniel Pemberton and Celeste’s Oscar-nominated song “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” won in the Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film category, in which it was not competing against any of the other Oscar song nominees.
In the television categories, winners included the music supervisors of “Watchmen,” “High Fidelity,” “Insecure,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Masked Singer...
Tom MacDougall won for “Soul” in the Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million category. Dawn Sutter Madell won for “Ma Rainey” in the category for films under $25 million, Susan Jacobs won for “Promising Young Woman” for films under $10 million and Dondrea Erauw won for “The Cuban” for films budgeted under $5 million.
Daniel Pemberton and Celeste’s Oscar-nominated song “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” won in the Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film category, in which it was not competing against any of the other Oscar song nominees.
In the television categories, winners included the music supervisors of “Watchmen,” “High Fidelity,” “Insecure,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Masked Singer...
- 4/12/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Nominees for the 11th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors (Gms) Awards have been revealed. Recognizing the craft of music supervision in film, television, games, advertising and trailers, previous winners have included such top-of-their-field music supervisors as Mary Ramos (“Once Upon A Time In Hollywood), Robin Urdang (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Kier Lehman (“Queen & Slim”).
Among the film nominees for the 2021 edition of the Gms Awards, which was pushed to April in order to align with the rescheduled Oscars, are frontrunners like “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Soul” and “Promising Young Woman.” Television shows that scored nods include “Watchmen,” “Better Call Saul” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Songwriters, artists and music supervisors will be recognized together for the category of best song written and/or recorded for film.
As previously announced, Quincy Jones will receive the Icon Award. Maureen Crowe, the founding president of the Guild, will receive the organization’s prestigious Legacy Award.
Among the film nominees for the 2021 edition of the Gms Awards, which was pushed to April in order to align with the rescheduled Oscars, are frontrunners like “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Soul” and “Promising Young Woman.” Television shows that scored nods include “Watchmen,” “Better Call Saul” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Songwriters, artists and music supervisors will be recognized together for the category of best song written and/or recorded for film.
As previously announced, Quincy Jones will receive the Icon Award. Maureen Crowe, the founding president of the Guild, will receive the organization’s prestigious Legacy Award.
- 2/25/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
[Note: The following contains music-based spoilers for Season 1 of “High Fidelity.”]
It would have been very easy for the Hulu adaptation of “High Fidelity” to stick to a narrow set of musical ideas to help tell its story. But at the end of the show’s opening season, not only did series co-creators Veronica West and Sarah Kucserka look back on a show that had stretched its musical taste in a number of different directions, it had done so on a global scale.
“These people sit in a record store all day every day. They’re listening to everything. To make it feel like there’s one genre of music or, or one time period of music that is all that we’ve listened to, would feel inauthentic,” West told IndieWire. “It was very cool that at the end of the season, we had a song from every single continent.”
The search for far-reaching songs spanning time zones around the world — “except Antarctica,...
It would have been very easy for the Hulu adaptation of “High Fidelity” to stick to a narrow set of musical ideas to help tell its story. But at the end of the show’s opening season, not only did series co-creators Veronica West and Sarah Kucserka look back on a show that had stretched its musical taste in a number of different directions, it had done so on a global scale.
“These people sit in a record store all day every day. They’re listening to everything. To make it feel like there’s one genre of music or, or one time period of music that is all that we’ve listened to, would feel inauthentic,” West told IndieWire. “It was very cool that at the end of the season, we had a song from every single continent.”
The search for far-reaching songs spanning time zones around the world — “except Antarctica,...
- 2/18/2020
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Hulu’s updated version of the 2000 John Cusack-led, Stephen Frears-helmed, Nick Hornby-authored classic “High Fidelity” is the type of show that can — unironically — play the perfect song for every moment. And the team brought in to oversee that very delicate process was Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe and Alison Rosenfeld. The three veteran music supervisors who make up the core of a boutique music supervision and editing company called Aperture Music (founded by Raval and Wolfe over 20 years ago) have worked together on films as varied as the Oscar-winning “Green Book” and the rom-com “Trainwreck,” and TV shows like “Girls” (for which they were Emmy-nominated) and AMC’s “Preacher.” Because of their eclectic library of projects, it would seem that they were the perfect pick for a new show — created by Sarah Kucserka and Veronica West and starring Zoë Kravitz as the unlucky-in-love Brooklyn record shop owner Rob...
- 2/5/2020
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
“A Star Is Born” took home multiple wins at the 9th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, held tonight at the theater at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event celebrates the highest achievements in music supervision, recognizing exemplary work in 18 categories across movies, television, games, advertising, and trailers (read Variety‘s Gms Awards preview here.)
See the full list of winners below.
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Julia Michels and Julianne Jordan – “A Star Is Born”
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under 25 Million
Tom Wolfe and Manish Raval – “Green Book”
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $10 Million
Margaret Yen and Alison Litton – “Vox Lux”
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $5 Milli on
Joe Rudge – “Eighth Grade”
Best Song/Recording Created for a Film
“Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”
Music Supervisors: Julia Michels and Julianne Jordan
Artists: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Songwriters: Stefani Germanotta,...
See the full list of winners below.
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Over $25 Million
Julia Michels and Julianne Jordan – “A Star Is Born”
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under 25 Million
Tom Wolfe and Manish Raval – “Green Book”
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $10 Million
Margaret Yen and Alison Litton – “Vox Lux”
Best Music Supervision for Film Budgeted Under $5 Milli on
Joe Rudge – “Eighth Grade”
Best Song/Recording Created for a Film
“Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”
Music Supervisors: Julia Michels and Julianne Jordan
Artists: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Songwriters: Stefani Germanotta,...
- 2/14/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
The official soundtrack to “Green Book” has surpassed one million streams on global music streaming platforms. The motion picture starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali is up for five Academy Awards this season, including best picture, lead actor, supporting actor, original screenplay and film editing.
This milestone marks Milan Records’ highest streamed jazz soundtrack to date, featuring an original score by composer Kris Bowers. Since January 2019, the soundtrack has increased from 10,000 streams per day to an average of 20,000 stream per day.
“I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to work on this film and to learn about Dr. Donald Shirley and his brilliance through his music,” Bowers said. I had an incredible time working with Mahershala and Pete to bring that music to life, and the cast’s subtle and beautiful performances made it such a joy to compose the score for.”
“It’s been a hugely rewarding...
This milestone marks Milan Records’ highest streamed jazz soundtrack to date, featuring an original score by composer Kris Bowers. Since January 2019, the soundtrack has increased from 10,000 streams per day to an average of 20,000 stream per day.
“I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to work on this film and to learn about Dr. Donald Shirley and his brilliance through his music,” Bowers said. I had an incredible time working with Mahershala and Pete to bring that music to life, and the cast’s subtle and beautiful performances made it such a joy to compose the score for.”
“It’s been a hugely rewarding...
- 2/13/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- Variety Film + TV
“A Star Is Born,” “Black Panther” and “Mary Poppins Returns” are among the films that have received multiple nominations from the Guild of Music Supervisors, which announces the nominees for its 9th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards on Thursday.
All three of those films were nominated in the Best Music Supervision for a Film Budgeted Over $25 Million category, alongside “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Peter Rabbit.” They were also nominated for individual songs: “A Star Is Born” for Lady Gaga’s “Shallow,” “Black Panther” for Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars” and “Mary Poppins Returns” for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.”
The other nominated songs are Dolly Parton’s “Girl in the Movies,” from “Dumplin’,” and Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” the only song nominated by the Gms that is not on the Academy’s short list of...
All three of those films were nominated in the Best Music Supervision for a Film Budgeted Over $25 Million category, alongside “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Peter Rabbit.” They were also nominated for individual songs: “A Star Is Born” for Lady Gaga’s “Shallow,” “Black Panther” for Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars” and “Mary Poppins Returns” for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.”
The other nominated songs are Dolly Parton’s “Girl in the Movies,” from “Dumplin’,” and Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” the only song nominated by the Gms that is not on the Academy’s short list of...
- 1/10/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Hysterical and over-the-top parental trio John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz will do anything to foil their daughters’ prom night sex pact in Blockers, the uproarious hit coming to Digital and the all-new digital movie app Movies Anywhere on June 19, 2018, and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on July 3, 2018 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as the “perfect comedy for the current era” by Vanity Fair, Blockers is a gender-swapped spin on the classic teen sex comedy, filled with outrageous antics from the parents as their daughters take control of their epic prom night. The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital feature unrated bonus content with even more wild shenanigans including deleted scenes, gag reel, line-o-rama and more!
Now you can own the Blockers Blu-ray . We Are Movie Geeks has 4 copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie co-starring Leslie Mann?...
Now you can own the Blockers Blu-ray . We Are Movie Geeks has 4 copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie co-starring Leslie Mann?...
- 7/3/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Hysterical and over-the-top parental trio John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz will do anything to foil their daughters’ prom night sex pact in Blockers, the uproarious hit coming to Digital and the all-new digital movie app Movies Anywhere on June 19, 2018, and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on July 3, 2018 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as the “perfect comedy for the current era” by Vanity Fair, Blockers is a gender-swapped spin on the classic teen sex comedy, filled with outrageous antics from the parents as their daughters take control of their epic prom night. The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital feature unrated bonus content with even more wild shenanigans including deleted scenes, gag reel, line-o-rama and more!
Making her directorial debut, Kay Cannon (writer of the Pitch Perfect series), along with the producers of Neighbors and This Is the End, bring laugh-out-loud moments in the outrageous comedy Blockers. When three parents...
Making her directorial debut, Kay Cannon (writer of the Pitch Perfect series), along with the producers of Neighbors and This Is the End, bring laugh-out-loud moments in the outrageous comedy Blockers. When three parents...
- 6/18/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The use of The Clash’s 1982 hit single, “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” in “Stranger Things” is a great example of why there’s a new Emmy category this season honoring the creativity of the music supervisor. The Duffer Brothers inserted the song into their ’80s sci-fi script to emotionally connect the Indiana family that’s separated by the Upside Down dimension. However, if Emmy-nominated music supervisor Nora Felder hadn’t convinced The Clash of its importance, the Duffers would’ve had to find a replacement.
Fortunately, the “Stranger Things” showrunners (Matt and Ross Duffer) were never aware there was even a problem obtaining the licensing rights. “It was my job to protect them,” said Felder Thursday night during a Q&A panel discussion. “They were worried about trivializing the song and needed to see how it was going to be used in scenes, and for the first...
Fortunately, the “Stranger Things” showrunners (Matt and Ross Duffer) were never aware there was even a problem obtaining the licensing rights. “It was my job to protect them,” said Felder Thursday night during a Q&A panel discussion. “They were worried about trivializing the song and needed to see how it was going to be used in scenes, and for the first...
- 8/18/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The new Music Supervisor category this Emmy season finally honors the supervisor’s creative contribution to narrative storytelling and music aesthetic: Licensing songs that are appropriately iconic and emotionally resonant, while touting some of the hottest new talent.
Here are the nominees: Thomas Golubic (“Better Call Saul” — “Sunk Costs”), Susan Jacobs (“Big Little Lies” — “You Get What You Need”), Manish Raval, Jonathan Leahy, Tom Wolfe (“Girls”— “Goodbye Tour”), Zach Cowie, Kerri Drootin (“Master of None” — “Amarsi Un Po”), and Nora Felder (“Stranger Things” — “Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street”).
The results included three female supervisors (Jacobs, Drootin, and Felder) and demonstrated the brand power of HBO (“Big Little Lies,” “Girls”) and Netflix (“Master of None,” “Stranger Things”). But in the end, it came down to a battle of dueling playlists.
“Better Call Saul” — “Sunk Costs”
In the third season of the “Breaking Bad” prequel, Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) gets...
Here are the nominees: Thomas Golubic (“Better Call Saul” — “Sunk Costs”), Susan Jacobs (“Big Little Lies” — “You Get What You Need”), Manish Raval, Jonathan Leahy, Tom Wolfe (“Girls”— “Goodbye Tour”), Zach Cowie, Kerri Drootin (“Master of None” — “Amarsi Un Po”), and Nora Felder (“Stranger Things” — “Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street”).
The results included three female supervisors (Jacobs, Drootin, and Felder) and demonstrated the brand power of HBO (“Big Little Lies,” “Girls”) and Netflix (“Master of None,” “Stranger Things”). But in the end, it came down to a battle of dueling playlists.
“Better Call Saul” — “Sunk Costs”
In the third season of the “Breaking Bad” prequel, Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) gets...
- 7/21/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Last year marked the 15th anniversary of Donnie Darko, and Arrow Films is making sure that the film celebrates in style. They've teamed up with director Richard Kelly for a 4K restoration of the beloved cult movie, and following its UK theatrical release that began late last year, the 4K presentation is now coming to big screens in the Us (and on a new Blu-ray release this April). Recently, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Kelly to reflect on the making of Donnie Darko, restoring it in 4K, potentially returning to the world of Southland Tales, and the intriguing multiverse connection between his movies.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, Richard. How did the restoration and the theatrical re-release of Donnie Darko come about? Did Arrow Films approach you, and was this something that you had been wanting to do anyway?
Richard Kelly: Yes,...
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, Richard. How did the restoration and the theatrical re-release of Donnie Darko come about? Did Arrow Films approach you, and was this something that you had been wanting to do anyway?
Richard Kelly: Yes,...
- 3/30/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The seventh annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards will take place Feb. 16 at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles.
The awards recognize outstanding music supervisors in 14 categories, representing movies, television, games and trailers. Among the supervisors receiving multiple nominations are Steven Gizicki, Julia Michels, Julianne Jordan, Joel C. High, Dave Jordan, Lindsey Wolfington, JoJo Villanueva, Becky Bentham, Heather Guibert, Pj Bloom and Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe and Jonathan Leahy.
Gary LeMel, the former president of music at Warner Bros. film studio, will receive the second Music Supervisors Legacy Award. During his 23 years at WB, LeMel...
The awards recognize outstanding music supervisors in 14 categories, representing movies, television, games and trailers. Among the supervisors receiving multiple nominations are Steven Gizicki, Julia Michels, Julianne Jordan, Joel C. High, Dave Jordan, Lindsey Wolfington, JoJo Villanueva, Becky Bentham, Heather Guibert, Pj Bloom and Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe and Jonathan Leahy.
Gary LeMel, the former president of music at Warner Bros. film studio, will receive the second Music Supervisors Legacy Award. During his 23 years at WB, LeMel...
- 2/1/2017
- by Melinda Newman, Billboard
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In addition to being one of the best comedies on television, Girls is also a must-watch for music fans, as the series regularly debuts new tracks from beloved artists. Last season, Beck, Jenny Lewis and Miguel all lent then-unreleased cuts to Lena Dunham's HBO show, and for Girls' fourth season, music supervisor Manish Raval has lined up new songs from St. Vincent, Grimes and Family of the Year, according to Billboard.
Season Four of Girls will also feature well-known cuts from Charles Mingus, Chet Baker and Patsy Cline,...
Season Four of Girls will also feature well-known cuts from Charles Mingus, Chet Baker and Patsy Cline,...
- 1/16/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Apparently, Rihanna is not a fan of HBO’s hit show Girls. The singer denied the show’s request to feature Rihanna’s song “Talk that Talk” on an episode, Girls Music Supervisor Manish Raval revealed in a recent interview. Icona Pop’s “I Love It” was used instead. Rihanna: Icona Pop thanks you. While no explanation was given...Read more»...
- 1/9/2014
- by Barbara DeFranco
- Celebuzz.com
Could it be that Rihanna isn't a fan of Girls? The music supervisor for the hit HBO series Manish Raval revealed to Radio.com that the Barbadian beauty's song "Talk That Talk" was eyed for a major scene during Season 2. Specifically, the scene where Hannah, sporting a bright yellow mesh top sans bra, and her roommate Elijah (Andrew Rannells), attend a party while high on cocaine. Raval explained that Icona Pop's tune "I Love It" was used instead, and now the upbeat track is a smash hit and is known for its use in this notable sequence. "You know, honestly, I don't know," Raval said when asked if he knew the reason behind the crooner's decision to reject the offer....
- 1/9/2014
- E! Online
HBO's Girls has provided a number of memorable music moments over the past two seasons, including Hannah and Marnie dancing to Robyn and a cocaine-fueled Hannah and Elijah dancing to Icona Pop's "I Love It." But the latter scene, which helped "I Love It" become a hit last year, almost featured a different song. Story: 'Girls' Cast, Producers Talk Getting Their Act Together Rihanna's "Talk That Talk" was music supervisor Manish Raval's previous choice, but the singer's team wouldn't let the HBO show use her song. "They didn't give a reason, we didn’t ask for a reason,"
read more...
read more...
- 1/9/2014
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lena Dunham’s HBO show “Girls” is known for its great music — who can forget Hannah Horvath snorting cocaine to the then-unknown “I Love It” by Icona Pop in season two — and its third season promises to be just as good. Kicking off this Sunday (Jan. 12), season three will reportedly feature brand new songs by Miguel, Beck, Jenny Lewis, Lily Allen and Christina Perri. The show’s music supervisor Manish Raval told Radio.com that he worked closely with Dunham and the executive producers to incorporate new music into the scripts, sending them weekly mixtapes and reaching out to artists...
- 1/9/2014
- by Whitney Phaneuf
- Hitfix
Girls music supervisor Manish Raval recently said that the series' third season will highlight new music by a variety of artists, some of whom wrote music specifically for the show. "It's the same sound, same vibe, but one thing that's different this season is we've had the luxury of getting people to contribute brand new songs for us," he told Radio.com. "We had Miguel write us a new song." The series also picked up previously unreleased songs by Beck, Lily Allen, Jenny Lewis and Christina Perri.
See Where Lena Dunham...
See Where Lena Dunham...
- 1/9/2014
- Rollingstone.com
A buried tidbit in this Q&A with Girls music supervisor Manish Raval: Icona Pop's "I Love It" was only used in the cocaine episode because Rihanna wouldn't let the show use "Talk That Talk." So … Icona Pop owes a good chunk of their success to Rihanna, basically. Also of note: Miguel, Lily Allen, Beck, and Jenny Lewis all contributed new songs to season three. You only watch Girls for the music, right?...
- 1/9/2014
- by Amanda Dobbins
- Vulture
Sorry, New Directions: "Girls" is moving in on the TV music scene.
Though "Glee" was once known for easily landing spots in the Top 100 on a weekly basis, Billboard reports that the Fox musical series is struggling and the music "Girls" is effortlessly topping the charts .
When Icona Pop's "I Love It," which is on the show's soundtrack, blasted during Season 2's third episode, it jumped to Number 69 on the charts. And Oasis' "Wonderwall" -- which Lena Dunham's character sang in a bathtub -- saw a 75 percent sales increase after Episode 4.
"Music is such a huge part of my creative process,” "Girls" creator Lena Dunham said in a statement when the "Girls" soundtrack was released on January 8. “I make playlists to write by and listen to as I head to set in the morning, and I experiment in editing with songs that the characters would love and that accurately reflect their struggles.
Though "Glee" was once known for easily landing spots in the Top 100 on a weekly basis, Billboard reports that the Fox musical series is struggling and the music "Girls" is effortlessly topping the charts .
When Icona Pop's "I Love It," which is on the show's soundtrack, blasted during Season 2's third episode, it jumped to Number 69 on the charts. And Oasis' "Wonderwall" -- which Lena Dunham's character sang in a bathtub -- saw a 75 percent sales increase after Episode 4.
"Music is such a huge part of my creative process,” "Girls" creator Lena Dunham said in a statement when the "Girls" soundtrack was released on January 8. “I make playlists to write by and listen to as I head to set in the morning, and I experiment in editing with songs that the characters would love and that accurately reflect their struggles.
- 2/8/2013
- by Leigh Weingus
- Huffington Post
"Girls" fans, rejoice! It was just announced that Lena Dunham's HBO show will be getting a soundtrack.
Due out from record label Fueled by Ramen on Jan. 8, “Girls – Volume 1,” features music from the show and debuts a few exclusive tracks. Standout songs on the album include a new single "Girls" from Santigold, Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" of "Girls" season one fame, and Michael Penn's "On Your Way," a previously unavailable track written exclusively for the "Girls" finale.
"Music is such a huge part of my creative process,” Lena Dunham, the creator of "Girls" said in a statement. “I make playlists to write by and listen to as I head to set in the morning, and I experiment in editing with songs that the characters would love and that accurately reflect their struggles. 'Girls' music supervisor Manish Raval and I are crazy about everything from the...
Due out from record label Fueled by Ramen on Jan. 8, “Girls – Volume 1,” features music from the show and debuts a few exclusive tracks. Standout songs on the album include a new single "Girls" from Santigold, Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" of "Girls" season one fame, and Michael Penn's "On Your Way," a previously unavailable track written exclusively for the "Girls" finale.
"Music is such a huge part of my creative process,” Lena Dunham, the creator of "Girls" said in a statement. “I make playlists to write by and listen to as I head to set in the morning, and I experiment in editing with songs that the characters would love and that accurately reflect their struggles. 'Girls' music supervisor Manish Raval and I are crazy about everything from the...
- 12/10/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
This review was written for the theatrical release of "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story".After a barrage of downer movies filled with gore, war and other bleak subject matter, finally there's a holiday release that's all about making spirits bright.
"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" is a pitch-perfect musical comedy that at long last moves the talented John C. Reilly up the billing ladder from second banana to top banana.
Sprinting through the decades like Forrest Gump with a gee-tar, Reilly's blissfully oblivious Dewey Cox and the Jake Kasdan film (co-written with some guy called Judd Apatow) is just plain, undemanding fun.
Along the way it takes playful jabs at familiar music biopics, especially "Walk the Line", against a soundtrack of terrific original tunes that channel everyone from Johnny and June, Roy Orbison and Dylan to the Beatles and beyond.
The unmistakably adult-oriented results -- this is one comedy that really earns its R rating -- will nevertheless play to a wide-reaching demographic from the younger-skewing fans of Apatow's summer treats "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" to boomers who will get a kick out of all those '60s and '70s pop culture references.
Audiences should find themselves laughing hard well into the new year.
Utilizing that familiar screen bio bookend device of starting just before the end and then flashing all the way back to the central character's earliest memories, "Walk Hard" dutifully traces Dewey's formative years as a young boy (Conner Rayburn) growing up poor in '40s-era Springberry, Ala.
The fateful die is cast one day when Dewey accidentally cuts his older brother, Nate (Chip Hormess), in half real bad while play-dueling with their dad's collectible machetes.
With the family physician unable to save Nate, declaring it "a particularly bad case of somebody being cut in half," the already guilt-ridden Dewey will forever be reminded by his father (Raymond J. Barry) that the wrong son died.
Determined to make something of himself, Dewey, who discovers an aptitude for playing a mean blues guitar, later puts a band together along with drug-dabbling drummer Sam (never funnier "Saturday Night Live" alum Tim Meadows), bass player Theo (Chris Parnell) and guitarist Dave Matt Besser), ultimately impressing the suits at Planet Record studios (a trio of Hasidic Jews, played by Harold Ramis, Phil Rosenthal and Martin Starr) with their signature song, "Walk Hard".
Soon Dewey and the boys are cranking out hit records as fast as his wife, Edith (Kirsten Wiig), is popping out babies, but life yields its share of temptations, most notably in the form of the lovely Darlene (Jenna Fischer of "The Office"), his virtuous new backup singer.
Along the way, Dewey gets swept up in the protest movement (taking up the cause of women and midgets), '60s psychedelia (meeting up with the Beatles in India, with an unbilled Paul Rudd and Jack Black respectively playing a bickering Lennon and McCartney), Brian Wilson-style excess and, ultimately, redemption.
While this type of parody can be hard to sustain, director and co-writer Kasdan, who demonstrated a nice satiric touch with "The TV Set", keeps things humming along quite efficiently.
Granted, there's a bit of a lull in the middle -- one too many rehab sequences -- but "Walk Hard" quickly gets back up to speed, propelled by Reilly's fearless, tour-de-farce performance, not to mention those wacky cameos: Frankie Muniz as Buddy Holly? Jack White as Elvis? Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Jewel, Ghostface Killah and Eddie Vedder as themselves?
Add in those Christopher Guest-worthy song parodies contributed by composer Mike Andrews, Dan Bern, Mike Viola ("That Thing You Do!") and even the legendary Van Dyke Parks, and you've got yourself a holiday "Walk" that's refreshingly on the wild side.
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY
Columbia Pictures
Columbia presents in association with Relativity Media
a Nominated Films production
Credits:
Director: Jake Kasdan
Screenwriters: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan
Producers: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Clayton Townsend
Executive producer: Lew Morton
Director of photography: Uta Briesewitz
Production designer: Jefferson D. Sage
Music: Michael Andrews
Music supervisors: Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe
Costume designer: Debra McGuire
Editors: Tara Timpone, Steve Welch
Cast:
Dewey Cox: John C. Reilly
Darlene Madison Cox: Jenna Fischer
Sam: Tim Meadows
Edith Cox: Kirsten Wiig
Pa Cox: Raymond J. Barry
L'Chai'm: Harold Ramis
Ma Cox: Margo Martindale
Theo: Chris Parnell
Dave: Matt Besser
Schwartzberg: David Krumholtz
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" is a pitch-perfect musical comedy that at long last moves the talented John C. Reilly up the billing ladder from second banana to top banana.
Sprinting through the decades like Forrest Gump with a gee-tar, Reilly's blissfully oblivious Dewey Cox and the Jake Kasdan film (co-written with some guy called Judd Apatow) is just plain, undemanding fun.
Along the way it takes playful jabs at familiar music biopics, especially "Walk the Line", against a soundtrack of terrific original tunes that channel everyone from Johnny and June, Roy Orbison and Dylan to the Beatles and beyond.
The unmistakably adult-oriented results -- this is one comedy that really earns its R rating -- will nevertheless play to a wide-reaching demographic from the younger-skewing fans of Apatow's summer treats "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" to boomers who will get a kick out of all those '60s and '70s pop culture references.
Audiences should find themselves laughing hard well into the new year.
Utilizing that familiar screen bio bookend device of starting just before the end and then flashing all the way back to the central character's earliest memories, "Walk Hard" dutifully traces Dewey's formative years as a young boy (Conner Rayburn) growing up poor in '40s-era Springberry, Ala.
The fateful die is cast one day when Dewey accidentally cuts his older brother, Nate (Chip Hormess), in half real bad while play-dueling with their dad's collectible machetes.
With the family physician unable to save Nate, declaring it "a particularly bad case of somebody being cut in half," the already guilt-ridden Dewey will forever be reminded by his father (Raymond J. Barry) that the wrong son died.
Determined to make something of himself, Dewey, who discovers an aptitude for playing a mean blues guitar, later puts a band together along with drug-dabbling drummer Sam (never funnier "Saturday Night Live" alum Tim Meadows), bass player Theo (Chris Parnell) and guitarist Dave Matt Besser), ultimately impressing the suits at Planet Record studios (a trio of Hasidic Jews, played by Harold Ramis, Phil Rosenthal and Martin Starr) with their signature song, "Walk Hard".
Soon Dewey and the boys are cranking out hit records as fast as his wife, Edith (Kirsten Wiig), is popping out babies, but life yields its share of temptations, most notably in the form of the lovely Darlene (Jenna Fischer of "The Office"), his virtuous new backup singer.
Along the way, Dewey gets swept up in the protest movement (taking up the cause of women and midgets), '60s psychedelia (meeting up with the Beatles in India, with an unbilled Paul Rudd and Jack Black respectively playing a bickering Lennon and McCartney), Brian Wilson-style excess and, ultimately, redemption.
While this type of parody can be hard to sustain, director and co-writer Kasdan, who demonstrated a nice satiric touch with "The TV Set", keeps things humming along quite efficiently.
Granted, there's a bit of a lull in the middle -- one too many rehab sequences -- but "Walk Hard" quickly gets back up to speed, propelled by Reilly's fearless, tour-de-farce performance, not to mention those wacky cameos: Frankie Muniz as Buddy Holly? Jack White as Elvis? Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Jewel, Ghostface Killah and Eddie Vedder as themselves?
Add in those Christopher Guest-worthy song parodies contributed by composer Mike Andrews, Dan Bern, Mike Viola ("That Thing You Do!") and even the legendary Van Dyke Parks, and you've got yourself a holiday "Walk" that's refreshingly on the wild side.
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY
Columbia Pictures
Columbia presents in association with Relativity Media
a Nominated Films production
Credits:
Director: Jake Kasdan
Screenwriters: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan
Producers: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Clayton Townsend
Executive producer: Lew Morton
Director of photography: Uta Briesewitz
Production designer: Jefferson D. Sage
Music: Michael Andrews
Music supervisors: Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe
Costume designer: Debra McGuire
Editors: Tara Timpone, Steve Welch
Cast:
Dewey Cox: John C. Reilly
Darlene Madison Cox: Jenna Fischer
Sam: Tim Meadows
Edith Cox: Kirsten Wiig
Pa Cox: Raymond J. Barry
L'Chai'm: Harold Ramis
Ma Cox: Margo Martindale
Theo: Chris Parnell
Dave: Matt Besser
Schwartzberg: David Krumholtz
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 12/17/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a barrage of downer movies filled with gore, war and other bleak subject matter, finally there's a holiday release that's all about making spirits bright.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is a pitch-perfect musical comedy that at long last moves the talented John C. Reilly up the billing ladder from second banana to top banana.
Sprinting through the decades like Forrest Gump with a gee-tar, Reilly's blissfully oblivious Dewey Cox and the Jake Kasdan film (co-written with some guy called Judd Apatow) is just plain, undemanding fun.
Along the way it takes playful jabs at familiar music biopics, especially Walk the Line, against a soundtrack of terrific original tunes that channel everyone from Johnny and June, Roy Orbison and Dylan to the Beatles and beyond.
The unmistakably adult-oriented results -- this is one comedy that really earns its R rating -- will nevertheless play to a wide-reaching demographic from the younger-skewing fans of Apatow's summer treats Knocked Up and Superbad to boomers who will get a kick out of all those '60s and '70s pop culture references.
Audiences should find themselves laughing hard well into the new year.
Utilizing that familiar screen bio bookend device of starting just before the end and then flashing all the way back to the central character's earliest memories, Walk Hard dutifully traces Dewey's formative years as a young boy (Conner Rayburn) growing up poor in '40s-era Springberry, Ala.
The fateful die is cast one day when Dewey accidentally cuts his older brother, Nate (Chip Hormess), in half real bad while play-dueling with their dad's collectible machetes.
With the family physician unable to save Nate, declaring it "a particularly bad case of somebody being cut in half," the already guilt-ridden Dewey will forever be reminded by his father (Raymond J. Barry) that the wrong son died.
Determined to make something of himself, Dewey, who discovers an aptitude for playing a mean blues guitar, later puts a band together along with drug-dabbling drummer Sam (never funnier Saturday Night Live alum Tim Meadows), bass player Theo (Chris Parnell) and guitarist Dave Matt Besser), ultimately impressing the suits at Planet Record studios (a trio of Hasidic Jews, played by Harold Ramis, Phil Rosenthal and Martin Starr) with their signature song, Walk Hard.
Soon Dewey and the boys are cranking out hit records as fast as his wife, Edith (Kirsten Wiig), is popping out babies, but life yields its share of temptations, most notably in the form of the lovely Darlene (Jenna Fischer of The Office), his virtuous new backup singer.
Along the way, Dewey gets swept up in the protest movement (taking up the cause of women and midgets), '60s psychedelia (meeting up with the Beatles in India, with an unbilled Paul Rudd and Jack Black respectively playing a bickering Lennon and McCartney), Brian Wilson-style excess and, ultimately, redemption.
While this type of parody can be hard to sustain, director and co-writer Kasdan, who demonstrated a nice satiric touch with The TV Set, keeps things humming along quite efficiently.
Granted, there's a bit of a lull in the middle -- one too many rehab sequences -- but Walk Hard quickly gets back up to speed, propelled by Reilly's fearless, tour-de-farce performance, not to mention those wacky cameos: Frankie Muniz as Buddy Holly? Jack White as Elvis? Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Jewel, Ghostface Killah and Eddie Vedder as themselves?
Add in those Christopher Guest-worthy song parodies contributed by composer Mike Andrews, Dan Bern, Mike Viola ("That Thing You Do!") and even the legendary Van Dyke Parks, and you've got yourself a holiday Walk that's refreshingly on the wild side.
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY
Columbia Pictures
Columbia presents in association with Relativity Media
a Nominated Films production
Credits:
Director: Jake Kasdan
Screenwriters: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan
Producers: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Clayton Townsend
Executive producer: Lew Morton
Director of photography: Uta Briesewitz
Production designer: Jefferson D. Sage
Music: Michael Andrews
Music supervisors: Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe
Costume designer: Debra McGuire
Editors: Tara Timpone, Steve Welch
Cast:
Dewey Cox: John C. Reilly
Darlene Madison Cox: Jenna Fischer
Sam: Tim Meadows
Edith Cox: Kirsten Wiig
Pa Cox: Raymond J. Barry
L'Chai'm: Harold Ramis
Ma Cox: Margo Martindale
Theo: Chris Parnell
Dave: Matt Besser
Schwartzberg: David Krumholtz
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is a pitch-perfect musical comedy that at long last moves the talented John C. Reilly up the billing ladder from second banana to top banana.
Sprinting through the decades like Forrest Gump with a gee-tar, Reilly's blissfully oblivious Dewey Cox and the Jake Kasdan film (co-written with some guy called Judd Apatow) is just plain, undemanding fun.
Along the way it takes playful jabs at familiar music biopics, especially Walk the Line, against a soundtrack of terrific original tunes that channel everyone from Johnny and June, Roy Orbison and Dylan to the Beatles and beyond.
The unmistakably adult-oriented results -- this is one comedy that really earns its R rating -- will nevertheless play to a wide-reaching demographic from the younger-skewing fans of Apatow's summer treats Knocked Up and Superbad to boomers who will get a kick out of all those '60s and '70s pop culture references.
Audiences should find themselves laughing hard well into the new year.
Utilizing that familiar screen bio bookend device of starting just before the end and then flashing all the way back to the central character's earliest memories, Walk Hard dutifully traces Dewey's formative years as a young boy (Conner Rayburn) growing up poor in '40s-era Springberry, Ala.
The fateful die is cast one day when Dewey accidentally cuts his older brother, Nate (Chip Hormess), in half real bad while play-dueling with their dad's collectible machetes.
With the family physician unable to save Nate, declaring it "a particularly bad case of somebody being cut in half," the already guilt-ridden Dewey will forever be reminded by his father (Raymond J. Barry) that the wrong son died.
Determined to make something of himself, Dewey, who discovers an aptitude for playing a mean blues guitar, later puts a band together along with drug-dabbling drummer Sam (never funnier Saturday Night Live alum Tim Meadows), bass player Theo (Chris Parnell) and guitarist Dave Matt Besser), ultimately impressing the suits at Planet Record studios (a trio of Hasidic Jews, played by Harold Ramis, Phil Rosenthal and Martin Starr) with their signature song, Walk Hard.
Soon Dewey and the boys are cranking out hit records as fast as his wife, Edith (Kirsten Wiig), is popping out babies, but life yields its share of temptations, most notably in the form of the lovely Darlene (Jenna Fischer of The Office), his virtuous new backup singer.
Along the way, Dewey gets swept up in the protest movement (taking up the cause of women and midgets), '60s psychedelia (meeting up with the Beatles in India, with an unbilled Paul Rudd and Jack Black respectively playing a bickering Lennon and McCartney), Brian Wilson-style excess and, ultimately, redemption.
While this type of parody can be hard to sustain, director and co-writer Kasdan, who demonstrated a nice satiric touch with The TV Set, keeps things humming along quite efficiently.
Granted, there's a bit of a lull in the middle -- one too many rehab sequences -- but Walk Hard quickly gets back up to speed, propelled by Reilly's fearless, tour-de-farce performance, not to mention those wacky cameos: Frankie Muniz as Buddy Holly? Jack White as Elvis? Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Jewel, Ghostface Killah and Eddie Vedder as themselves?
Add in those Christopher Guest-worthy song parodies contributed by composer Mike Andrews, Dan Bern, Mike Viola ("That Thing You Do!") and even the legendary Van Dyke Parks, and you've got yourself a holiday Walk that's refreshingly on the wild side.
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY
Columbia Pictures
Columbia presents in association with Relativity Media
a Nominated Films production
Credits:
Director: Jake Kasdan
Screenwriters: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan
Producers: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Clayton Townsend
Executive producer: Lew Morton
Director of photography: Uta Briesewitz
Production designer: Jefferson D. Sage
Music: Michael Andrews
Music supervisors: Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe
Costume designer: Debra McGuire
Editors: Tara Timpone, Steve Welch
Cast:
Dewey Cox: John C. Reilly
Darlene Madison Cox: Jenna Fischer
Sam: Tim Meadows
Edith Cox: Kirsten Wiig
Pa Cox: Raymond J. Barry
L'Chai'm: Harold Ramis
Ma Cox: Margo Martindale
Theo: Chris Parnell
Dave: Matt Besser
Schwartzberg: David Krumholtz
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 12/17/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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