One of the UK’s most critically acclaimed films of 2013, Good Vibrations is based on the true story of Terri Hooley who in the 1970s founded the iconic record store and label ‘Good Vibrations’ in Bomb Alley, Belfast (Ireland) as war rocked the city.
During his time as a record store and label manager Hooley discovered and championed The Undertones, whose single ‘Teenage Kicks’ is arguably one of the greatest pop records ever recorded. The film is very much in the tradition of 24 Hour Party People and its spirit captures the passion of this exciting moment in music history.
Always a little behind with film releases, we here in Australia are finally getting the opportunity to see Good Vibrations as it screens in Palace Cinemas around the nation. As we all know a great soundtrack can make a great film, and to celebrate the release of this Good Vibrations, we asked the film’s producer Bruno Charlesworth to run us through the six films he believes feature the greatest soundtracks of all time.
Blade Runner
Composer: Vangelis
Year: 1982
“Absolutely the best thing Vangelis ever did, the bloated synth sounds made perfect sense in the dystopian future world. Lyric, overblown and yet weirdly affecting. ‘80s soundtrack, in a tie between American Gigolo by Giorgio Moroder ,this just wins by a nose. Sturm und Drang with a Moog.”
Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Composer: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
Year: 2007
“Haunting and elegiac . slow, heartfelt and full of tension, the sense of the wastelands and strange lilting melodies. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis create soundscapes that fuse the west with maudlin zephyrs that blow and scud over the prairies.”
Reservoir Dogs
Music Director: Quentin Tarantino
Year: 1992
“Have to have a Quentin soundtrack. The memory of the radio sounds of K-Billy and the opening riff of The George Baker Selection’s Little Green Bag. Fist pumping opening and often copied but never bettered!”
The Good The Bad and The Ugly
Composer: Ennio Morricone
Year: 1966
“So hard to choose between the Morricone scores. This sounds clichéd now but was revolutionary at the time. Another Western grandiosity that stills causes the heart to race. Why do the Europeans doing Americana make it sound so damn fine.”
A Man And A Woman
Composer: Francis Lai
Year: 1966
“Another 1966 film, chosen more by chance than design. The French joie de vivre, the self mocking European sophistication of bubblegum ‘60’s French pop posing as drama. Launched a thousand bad scent commercials but don’t blame Francis Lai for that.”
Under The Skin
Composer: Mica Levi (aka Micachu)
Year: 2014
“Still grappling with this film but Mica Levi’s bleeping scratching tweets and monotones make the sense of alienation in the film almost unbearable, aural dysmorphia . Tinnitus with a drum click track.”
Good Vibrations is in cinemas nationally now. For your chance to win a copy of the film’s soundtrack on CD and double pass to see Good Vibrations visit our competitions page.
