Anything Else But This
Maybe I was a tad harsh in my Juno soundtrack for the Weekly. Among other things, I declared that I’d rather be sentenced to a Groundhog Day–like eternity with Richard Simmons, clad in an American-flag unitard, leading senior citizens in the Soulja Boy dance rather than listen to it again. I also said that I’d prefer be forced to read a 943-page David Foster Wallace essay on A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila, or receive the torture treatment prescribed by Method Man on 36 Chambers (the one involving getting my asshole sewn shut and being fed until I look like Juno.) But the truth is that if there is a hell, I imagine that this record will be the soundtrack. Well, that and Man Man.
LA Weekly: Review of the Juno Soundtrack
Download (I’ll spare you the Moldy Peaches):
MP3: Belle & Sebastian-”Piazza, New York Catcher”
MP3: The Kinks-”20th Century Man”
Stumble It!
January 18th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Great write-up over there - I thought your vitriol was on point. I’ve read enough “Juno” reviews with the words “indie” and “quirky” in it to completely diminish any desire to see it. Ditto for the soundtrack.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:34 am
I like David Foster Wallace bucko, and you know what? You can shove it..hmmpphh
January 18th, 2008 at 8:24 am
“piazza, new york catcher” > the entire recorded output of the moldy peaches.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I saw this movie a few weeks ago on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The movie itself is pretty good–not something you have to catch in the theater and definitely not worthy of all the award nomiations. Jason Bateman’s pretty amazing.
It’s like Garden State meets Napoleon Dynamite, and the songs on there continue that “almost weird but catchy enough to go platinum” blueprint laid out by Garden State.
I’d personally rather listen to it than having my nuts laid out on a dresser and hit with a spiked fuckin’ bat.
BLOAW!!!
January 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
If I was a parent I would maybe take my kids to see it hoping that they’d pick up an interest in Sonic Youth. Other than that the film is totally dull up until Bateman throws a curveball in the latter half.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:42 am
You’re right that this soundtrack is fucking terrible, but badminton rules.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
You lay waste to the good name of Man Man?! Scoundrel!
January 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I wouldn’t want the film’s soundtrack on it’s own, but it really worked well within the movie.
Bonus points for anyone who saw the movie and caught all of Juno’s “factual” errors and Cut Chemist’s brief ass cameo.
I never thought I’d say this after seeing “Hard Candy” and hating “X Men 3″ but Ellen Page can get it.
One.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I actually think the use of Expectations fit the movie and moment perfectly. At least it was well thought out and not just another compilation of someone’s favorite songs.
But yeah, the movie seems to have skyrocketed out of control with the reviews.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
[…] Here’s another interesting post I read today by Passion of the Weiss […]
January 20th, 2008 at 1:17 am
You just described how I feel listening to any Quasimoto project….
January 21st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
i am actually writing a post called “one-line reviews”. the review for juno is as follows: “succeeds at being decent despite annoying lead female whats-her-name”.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Weiss.
You are like that Jock in Juno who is expected to but doesn’t fall, openly, for the cheerleaders but secretly wants the gothy/librarian/nerdy types but is too fraidy cat to admit it.
Glad I re-found your blog tho. *wink.
Even if I don’t agree with your opinion it is nice to read something by someone WITH a f*cking opinion.
Seeing as I watched four movies this weekend,
Juno was peeped last night,
with Abortion/pregnancy being a theme…seeing your post is a reminder that Imma have to write about THAT sh-t too.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
YES! FINALLY YOU INSULTED MAN MAN…i’ve been waiting.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
ha.
“hey man, I kind a like it.”
“what do you know about music, hamster penis!?”
I’m with Dart, it definitely fits the movie. But I can’t front, I did marinate with some MOoldy Peaches after peepage to get a feel. What Michael Cera captures through acting, they capture with their anti-folk music. If you threw some nice drums on that piece, and put the record on 45, ish might be kinda slammin’ man.
Body slam him, Jeff!
March 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Backlash is boring.