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I think I heard of The Double (2013) from listening to The Film Vault podcast. Jesse Eisenberg stars in this quirky, highly stylized absurdist film as Simon, a self conscious employee semi-stalking a co-worker (Mia Wasikowska) when a doppleganger shows up. A bit “Joe Versus The Volcano”-ish in terms of a near future dystopian office setting. Though based upon a Dostoyevsky novella it feels more like a Paul Austre story. Interesting film.
On the musical side J. Mascis, the Dinosaur Jr. founder and frontman, puts in a Cameo as The Janitor. His first “role” since 2001 when he played a band member. I really enjoyed his song “Wide Awake” from his latest offering Tied To A Star which features a duet with Cat Power, someone we need to hear more from.
Got me thinking of more Musician Cameo’s in feature films, primarily those roles where they are not strictly cast as a band member (and certainly not playing versions of themselves such as Alice Cooper in Wayne’s World (1992)). I like Chris Isaak as the Swat Commander in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) or Lenny Kravitz as Cinna in the first two Hunger Games or Keith Richards as Captain Teague in two of The Pirates of the Caribbean films or Huey Lewis as a teacher in Back to the Future (1985) or Dwight Yoakam in Slingblade (1996) and Panic Room (2002). David Bowie and Madonna both had leading roles in feature films as well. Many more.
Charlie Sexton, Austin musician and on-again off-again guitarist in Bob Dylan’s band, had a bit role in Boyhood (2014) playing Jimmy, a musician of course but also a roommate to Ethan Hawke’s character (Mason Sr.) and an uncle of sorts to Mason Jr., whom the film follows across it’s 12 year span. Ethan Hawke has had a very music-centric movie career in fact. In Boyhood alone he put on an excellent music performance singing “Split The Difference (Daddy’s Lullaby)” which encapsulates Mason Sr’s estranged relation with his kids.
Also in the movie Hawke’s character is shown eulogizing The Beatles as he presents his son with the “Black Album”, a playlist of solo performances by Beatles members that when played together lift each performance up to the “re-united” band level. Wilco also gets a “shout out” as Hawke’s character breaks down “Hate It Here” from Sky Blue Sky and Linklater utilizes the song in the soundtrack as a time stamp. Wilco’s music was featured previously in the Hawke directed Chelsea Walls (2001). Key moment was Robert Sean Leonard singing “Lonely 1”.
But, beyond a doubt the first and best music performance in a film by Ethan Hawke was in Reality Bites (1994) where he portrays Troy Dyer singing “I’m Nuthin'” with his fictional band Hey, That’s My Bike.
Ben Stiller’s directorial debut about a small group of friends trying to find their way in life after high school graduation. Chock full of references to pop culture and especially TV commercials of the 80’s. Often shot with MTV style camerawork that makes this film feel a little dated yet nostalgic for youth at the same time. Bought the Soundtrack CD back in the day, had a mix of U2, The Knack, Lisa Loeb, & Ethan Hawke.
- Subject: 4.0
- Camera: 3.5
- Style: 4.0
- Soundtrack: 4.0
- Overall: 4.0
- Total: 3.90