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Listen To This: 'Inception' Music Easter Egg

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 29th 2010 6:45PM
Filed under: Action, Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Warner Brothers, Fandom, Trailers and Clips, Trailers and Clips, Cinematical
It seems the official past time of this particular summer movie season is deciphering Christopher Nolan's mind-bending heist flick, Inception. Critics and fans have been weighing in and dissecting every little detail in hopes of figuring it all out, and as our own Peter Hall discovered, it's not as easy as it looks. Nolan's films have always demanded repeated viewings (that's probably what I love about them), and Inception is no different. The movie is packed with layers upon layers of meaning and psychological concepts, but thanks to the sharp ears of a fellow obsessive, we could have another clue to solving Nolan's puzzle ... or maybe we just found one hell of an Easter egg.

Now if you haven't seen Inception, you're going to want to bookmark this one for later, because things might get a little spoilery in a minute. Within the story, our gang uses Edith Piaf's classic Non, je ne regrette rien as an audio cue that tells them it's time to 'wakey, wakey', and at the time I just assumed that the in-joke was the title of the tune ("No, I Regret Nothing") in the context of the narrative. But it's very possible that the song is much more than that. After a closer look, it appears that Zimmer's theme sounds an awful lot like Piaf's song (just slowed down) because that's exactly what Zimmer wanted it to sound like (the composer even said as much in a recent interview). In fact, the two pieces of music sound so similar that there is already a debate surrounding whether or not Zimmer could be ineligible for an Oscar nomination.
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Scenes (Songs) We Love: Cameron Crowe's 'The Wild Life'

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 28th 2010 2:18PM
Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Universal, Fandom, Scenes We Love, Cinematical


You may have noticed that I have a big soft spot for Cameron Crowe. Maybe it's because I saw Fast Times at Ridgemont High at such an impressionable age, or maybe because Lloyd Dobler forever set an impossible standard for romantic nice guys, or it could be as simple as that we have the same taste in music. But whatever it is, I still think he's one of the best writer/directors working today. Which is why today's Scenes (Songs) We Love, is dedicated to one of Crowe's lesser-known films (so lesser-known in fact, that Universal has yet to release an 'official' DVD), the 1984 dramedy, The Wild Life and its theme, provided by '80s girl group, Bananarama.

The Wild Life was written by Crowe and directed by Art Linson, who had also produced Fast Times (and most recently, the band biopic, The Runaways), and the movie centered around LA suburban teens on the brink of adulthood. Most of the action centers around Eric Stoltz as a recent high school graduate, his younger brother Jim (who you might recognize from the '80s classic, Weird Science), and a Vietnam vet played by Randy Quaid. Even Mr. and Mrs. Crowe (better known as rock goddess, Nancy Wilson) make small appearances as a cop and the wife of another philandering officer of the law.

When it comes to '80s pop hits, I was never all that into Bananarama. Of course, with the exception of Cruel Summer and this song. So you know how highly I think of this track if I'm willing to overlook that god-awful cover of "Venus" *ducks*, but on the bright side, at least we can all agree that this is some classic '80s pop. Now, if we could just do something about that DVD release.
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Quick List: Women Who Kick Ass

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 24th 2010 9:03PM
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, New Releases, Fandom, Angelina Jolie, Lists, Movie News, New Releases, Cinematical


The espionage thriller Salt starring Angelina Jolie opened this weekend, and like so many other women out there, I was holding my breath that this time Jolie would show that when it comes to action, it doesn't matter if it's a man or woman, it only matters that they can kick some serious a**. So judging by some of the reviews (you can see Eric's take here), the movie may not be a surefire hit, but sisters, we may be able to stop holding our breath because Jolie could still do the impossible: she could be the head of the first female-led action franchise.

There is nothing more satisfying to me as a female moviegoer than to watch a fellow sister clean house. If movies are wish fulfillment, then growing up in a culture where I've been told I'm not as strong or as my male counterparts, the image of a woman who is smart and resourceful, and doing a little physical damage is a dream come true.

Recently, Wired Magazine put together a list of the 'Female Ass Kickers' that are near and dear to the heart of any geek, and it's a pretty comprehensive list of ladies. But I started to think about some of the other kinds of movies that contain some pretty cool chicks that don't reside (solely) in the 'geek ghetto'. So even though every big-screen tough girl owes a debt to Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley, I looked a little further to find the women who have wowed me by being some of the biggest bad-a**es around -- so let's get started...
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Scenes (Songs) We Love: Urban Cowboy

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:18PM
Filed under: Drama, Romance, Paramount, Fandom, Stars in Rewind, Features, Scenes We Love, Cinematical


If you're of a certain age, then you probably remember the 80's Country Revival. The music, the hats, the belt buckles were all back in style, and since the movies were never an art form that failed to capitalize on a trend, and in 1980, John Travolta strapped on some spurs for Urban Cowboy, and the subject of of today's Scenes Songs We Love is Boz Scaggs' contribution to the flick's highly successful soundtrack, Look What You've Done to Me.

The 1980 romantic drama was directed by James Bridges with a script by Irving Azoff and Robert Evans'. The story centered on the tumultuous love affair of a modern day cowboy and girl played by Travolta (as the hot-headed Bud) with Debra Winger as Sissy. The film also starred Scott Glenn as Sissy's abusive rebound guy, and there were appearances by country greats like Bonnie Raitt, Charlie Daniels, and Mickey Gilley. The film even manages to work in a few social points about the hard life of an oil rig worker in between all of the fussin' and a-feuding -- hell, there's even a mechanical bull tournament.
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Esquire and I Nominate Some Brand New Bonds

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 20th 2010 10:33AM
Filed under: Action, Casting, Fandom, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels, Cinematical


The long sad story of MGM is finally over and the big casualty was Bond, James Bond. It seems an awful shame for Daniel Craig's turn as the super-agent to end with such a whimper. But if there is one thing you can count on in this world from Bond fans it's resilience. I mean, it wasn't easy to come to terms with that pigeon double-take in Moonraker, but we did it. Well, now we have Esquire coming to terms with the possible loss of Daniel Craig by proposing four new candidates for a license to kill.

So who made the cut? The magazine decided to do a little division by nationality, and we have The 'English Bond' represented by Christian Bale. Guy Pearce made the short-list for the Aussie set, and finally AD-man Don Draper, aka Jon Hamm steps in as The American Bond. But the big winner was everyone's action go-to guy, Sam Worthington and was voted as the top contender for Bond...and I couldn't disagree more.

Bond has been many things over the years; comical, dashing, and lately, even a little sociopath. But while I'm all for new interpretations of Bond, I just think Worthington is missing that certain something. The Australian actor has been attached to just about every film to come down the pipe these days at one point or another, so if Esquire dismissed Bale from the running thanks to 'Franchise Fatigue', I think Worthington is suffering from a similar affliction. But like they say; we need solutions, not problems, so that's why I decided to nominate a few Bonds of my own. Read
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What's Your Movie Morality?

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 13th 2010 7:33PM
Filed under: Action, Drama, Noir, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Cinematical


Occasionally I'm faced with a difficult choice at the box office, and I find myself wanting to take a stand at the ticket counter and say to myself: "Self, you are not about to hand over $12.95 for this" -- and I seriously consider doing the unthinkable: I refuse to watch a movie on purpose. Of course, this is about as close as I get to a personal moral code with my movie going habits, but it did get me thinking about what I call: Movie Morality. To explain: it's not a heavy political, ethical, or socio-religious thing. It's just sometimes, before I shell out my cash, I have a moment of contemplation and think: if we vote with our wallet, should I be thinking long and hard about where I place my vote?

My reasoning to avoid a movie can come from a pretty benign place. Take for example The A-Team, a movie that was generously described as brainless, and that's next to a TV show from the 80s so you know things are bad. But also as relatively harmless, and as the so-so reviews piled up, I just thought, "I've had enough checking my brain at the door and I'm tired of Hollywood being proud of stupid movies, and I think I'll wait awhile". But, sometimes the source of my reluctance can be a little more disturbing; take for example, the most recent recorded 'outbursts' of a certain Hollywood jackass? Can I bring myself to pay to watch someone on-screen who as a human being may turn my stomach? I'm not sure.
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Scenes (Songs) We Love: "Smokestack Lightning" from 'Cadillac Records'

By Jessica Barnes (Subscribe to Jessica Barnes's posts), Posted Jul 13th 2010 4:32PM
Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Fandom, Home Entertainment, Features, Scenes We Love, Cinematical


The stars must have been in perfect alignment when Phil and Leonard Chess started the world renowned label, Chess Records in 1950. How else could you explain a roster of talent that included: Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Chuck Berry, and the incomparable Muddy Waters? In Darnell Martin's 2008 film, Cadillac Records, the truth and myth make for lively music biopic, but if you are looking for historical accuracy, you are going to be a little disappointed. The movie might have a touch of fairy tale, but there is just enough of the truth peppered in to make it a truly satisfying fairy tale, and it's a respectable tribute to some of history's greatest musicians. Cadillac starred Adrien Brody as founder Leonard Chess, with Beyonce Knowles as James, Jeffrey Wright as Waters, Mos Def as Berry, and last but not least; Eamonn Walker as the subject of today's Scenes (Songs) We Love: Howlin' Wolf.
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