Jazz in film

[scottb]

I've rented a couple movies lately that had some reference to jazz.

First was Collateral where Tom Cruise is a hitman and he offs this trumpet playing club owner who was magically playing Spanish Key just like Miles but he only needed a bass player, a drummer and a sax man who didn't even have the horn anywhere near his mouth! I know the movies are make believe but at least use music that the band depicted COULD be playing. Either change the song or get more people up on the stage.

The second movie was Anchorman where Will Ferrel breaks out with a crazy jazz flute solo at a club. Why did he have to play jazz? Why not polka or bluegrass? Why do they always have to pick on jazz?

Edited February 1, 2005 by scottb

[cannonball-addict]

The Terminal - Benny Golson appears playing I Remember Clifford.

Lost in Translation - sleazy bar trio in Tokyo hotel where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen (HOTTIE!!!!) are staying.

Catch Me If You Can - Spielberg flick about fraudulent check writer - several jazz tunes including some Ella on the soundtrack and some killer alto saxophone playing by studio cat Dan Higgins on the theme music composed by (You Guessed It) John Williams.

It seems to me Nancy Wilson appeared in some movie some years ago as did Rosemary Clooney.

-_- -_-

[cannonball-addict]

The second movie was Anchorman where Will Ferrel breaks out with a crazy jazz flute solo at a club. Why did he have to play jazz? Why not polka or bluegrass? Why do they always have to pick on jazz?

Pick on jazz? That was promoting jazz brother!

[AllenLowe]

Actually, I was amazed by how much the music in Catch Me If You Can sounded like Teo Macero -

[sal]

In "Eyes Wide Shut", Tom Cruise heads out to a club to see his friend play, who is a jazz pianist.

[ghost of miles]

In THE ROAD TO PERDITION, Fletcher Henderson/Hawk's "Queer Notions" is playing in the diner when Tom Hanks has his creepy confrontation with Jude Law.

[sal]

If we're talking about jazz in the soundtrack (I thought we were just talking about jazz as subject matter), then there's a huge list. One of the most memorable to me is Roman Polanski's "Knife In the Water". Great film filled with great music.....and availiable on a great Criterion Collection DVD! I remember picking this title up about a year ago based on feedback from this board. Another big thanks to ubu, and everyone else who talked me into buying that one!

[clifford_thornton]

I loved that Will Ferrell scene - fucking hilarious!!!

As for films, well, there's always Michael Snow's "New York Eye & Ear Control" starring the music of Albert Ayler and featuring John Tchicai in a starring role.

Depictions of Tchicai, Ayler, Peacock, Murray and the whole gang on film - beautiful, classic stuff. And it's not really a 'documentary' but a piece of film that walks the line between structural and post-structural concerns. Great date flick!

[garthsj]

Just this past week I showed "D.O.A." (1949) in my class, Social Aspects of Film. This is one of the great Film Noirs, starring Edmond O'Brien as the "murdered" Frank Bigelow hunting for his killer. There is a great scene in a jazz club where the frantic music is a clear indicator that something "crazy" is about to happen. (Frank's drink is spiked with "luminous poison"!) Even as a kid I was fascinated by this rather long scene of jazz musicians sweating, mugging, and generally acting like every stereotype of a 1940's dope-fiend hipster you can conjure up. There is even some gratuitous hipster banter with a very "cool chick" at the bar .... so you mavens out there ... who were these musicians? (I know ... but I am just testing the famed expertise on this board) ...

Garth.

[ghost of miles]

Not to mention Elisha Cook Jr.'s turn as a sweaty drummer in PHANTOM LADY!