Our special pre-Oscars retrospective continues...a dementedly detailed account of the music that populated the films of 2008. Today
we'll tackle 38 through 48 on the list, where Forgetting Sarah Marshall Director Nicholas Stoller along with Music Supervisor Jonathan Karp showed humor and imagination by eschewing overplayed originals and instead using Hawaiian-language covers of well known break-up songs like "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "Everybody Hurts." They also get points for including traditional Hawaiian music (by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and others), which helped to give the film a much deeper sense of place than most romantic comedies. Bonus points for using the neo-Tiki lounge stylings of a personal favorite of mine, Ursula 1000.
In this batch, I also like that the horror movie The Strangers played against type through soundtrack, favoring sweet, folksy tracks from the likes of Gillian Welsh and Joanna Newsom instead of the more predictable hard rock and/or metal sounds that dominates this genre.
38. The Happening, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Score by James Newton Howard.
39. Role Models, directed by David Wain. Score by Craig Wedren. Other music staff listed here. Non-score tracks include "Beth" by Kiss (this is the song Paul Rudd sings to Elizabeth Banks at the end of the film), "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra (beach & games scene), "Detroit Rock City" by Kiss (battle scene), "Chedda" by Big City (party scene), "Best Believe" by Pete Rock (with Redman and L.D.) (second party scene track), "88" by Cool Kids, "Call Me the Breeze" by Lynard Skynard, "Broken and Bent" and "Ladislas of Leisure" by Peter Sallet, "Love Gun" by Kiss (first credits song), "Love Take Me Down (to the Streets)" by Amy Miles and Charles Gansa (second credits song).
40 . Forgetting Sarah Marshall, directed by Nicholas Stoller. Score by Lyle Workman (Superbad, 40 Year Old Virgin). Music supervision by Jonathan Karp (Pineapple Express, Superbad). Non-score tracks include "Dracula's Lament" performed by Jonathan Segel, "You Can't Break a Heart and Have It" by Frank Black, "Love You Madly" by Cake, "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" by The Smiths, "Inside of You" and "We've Got to Do Something" by Infant Sorrow, "Get Me Away from Here I'm Dying" by Belle & Sebastian, "Animal Instincts" by The Transcenders and JD7 D'Star, "Baby" by Os Mutantes, "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. and performed by the Coconutz, "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" by Lee Hazelwood and performed by Coconutz, "F******g Boyfriend" by The Bird and The Bee, "Jungle Love" performed by Morris Day and The Time, "Intensified" by Desmond Dekker and The Aces, "More Than Words" by Extreme and performed by Aloha Sex Juice, "The Secret Sun" by Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos, "Nothing Compares 2 U," by Prince and performed by Sinead O'Connor, and another version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" performed by Coconutz with Daniel Ho (plays during credits). Still other tracks include "Agua de Beber" by Astrud Gilberto. "Aloha Ka Manini" and "Henehene Kou Aka" "Ka Huila Wai" and "'Ulili E" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, "Amber" by 311, "Character" by Van Hunt, "Colour Me" by Dot Allison, "Heavy Lifting" by Ambulence Ltd., "Ka A'noi" by Martin Pahinui, "Mai Ha'l la Hai" by Brothers Cazimero, "My Little Grass Shack" by Hawaii Tattoo, "Non Fermati Mai" by Classe 1900, "Playa Azul" by Los Amigos Invisibles, "Samba 1000" by Ursula 1000, "Stone Love" by Pepper, "Treasure" by Zuco 103.
41. I am Legend, directed by Francis Lawrence. Score by James Newton Howard (The Dark Night, Sixth Sense). No music supervisor listed. Non-score tracks included a handful of Bob Marley hits including "Little Birds," "I Shot the Sherrif," "Stir it Up," and "Redemption Song."
42. Baby Mama, directed by Michael McCullers. Score by Jeff Richmond (30 Rock, Mean Girls). Music supervision by Kathy Nelson (Pulp Fiction, Enemy of the State). Non-score tracks include "Mistletoe" by Colbie Caillat, "December" by Ed Roland performed by Collective Soul, "Stay Up Late" by Talking Heads, "Party Nights" by E Sloane, "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, "This Street" by Marshall Crenshaw, "Red, Red Wine" written by Neil Diamond / performed by UB40, "Hot Cookin'" by G Love, "She Bangs" performed by Ricky Martin, "Careless Whisper" by Wham!, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" performed by Cyndi Lauper, "Throne of Bone" by Rob Laufer, "Bad Reputation," by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, "Hey Ladies" by Beastie Boys, "Back Again," by Mr. Cheeks, "Welcome to My Party," by Shut Up Stella, "Get Busy" by Sean Paul, "The Lady in Red" by Chris De Burgh, "Starry Eyed Surprise" by Oakenfold, "100 Days, 100 Nights," by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, "Fingerprints" by Katy Perry, "Jump This Joint," by Tom Hall, "Jump This Joint" by Flattop Tom, "Be Gentle With Me" by The Boy Least Likely To, "Don't Speak," by Gwen Stefani, "Miles Behind Me," by Hotel Lights, "Family," by Zach Gill and Jack Johnson, "Be My Baby" by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich / performed by The Ronettes.
43. Burn After Reading, directed by Ethan Coen. Score by Carter Burwell (Fargo, Being John Malkovich). Other music staff listed here. Licensed tracks include "CIA Man" by The Fugs.
44. Saw V, directed by David Hackl. Score by Charlie Clouser (Resident Evil: Extinction).
45. The Strangers, directed by Bryan Bertino. Score by tomandandy (Arlington Road). Non-score tracks include "The Sprout and the Bean" by Joanna Newsom, "My First Lover" by Gillian Welch, "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard, "At My Window Sad and Lonely" written by Woodie Guthrie performed by Billy Bragg, "Hopeful" by Jennifer O'Connor, "Ariel Ramirez" by Richard Buckner, and "At My Window Sad and Lonely (Jeff Tweedy Guitar Solo Version)" written by Woodie Guthrie performed by Billy Bragg.
46. The Forbidden Kingdom, directed by Robert Minkoff. Score by Bill Brzeski (Ellen, As Good As It Gets).
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