MovieChat Forums > Leaving Las Vegas (1996) Discussion > i LOVE this film but HATED the soundtrac...

i LOVE this film but HATED the soundtrack

posted 12 years ago by midnight_cinephile
44 replies | jump to latest

Let me start by saying that this is one of my fave films and in my top 20 of all time.
figgis did a great job with all of it except the music

I know many will disagree with me
but the up tempo jazzy-ness and sting's tunes just do not work for me at all
it felt too polished and smooth for such a dark film
I realize he might have been trying to juxtapose a contrast in mood but I would have done things a lot differently.
specifically-more haunting and darker tune selection/instrumentation

what I would have done;
reverb soaked slide guitars
sparse acoustic blues guitar motif that repeats and or a solo piano piece like the one in 'DIVA"

other songs i would have used-
"sleepwalk"
a plethora of drone type stuff
"downtempo beats
"i only have eyes for you"
"grand pappy du plenty "

[–] jonycthemachine 10 years ago

Soundtrack wasn't terrible it just felt like there was music constantly playing throughout the film. Messed with the pacing a bit because we never got a chance to relax and really be absorbed in a quiet scene with no music.

[–] kleary1 10 years ago

It's interesting because there seems to be a pretty even split (in other threads as well) between loving the soundtrack and hating it. I would have to agree with the people who found the soundtrack a little too loud and a little intrusive. Especially the use of "I'm gonna love you"--I just found it annoying and it totally took me out of the moment which I imagine was the opposite of its intention. Now, that doesn't mean I don't like the soundtrack--if you just had it on your iPod or something. The songs in and of themselves were fine, and some were even really good. I just didn't like their use in the film.

An offbeat analogy would be the songs some of my instructors use in spin classes. Just because you like a song, it doesn't mean it belongs in the spin class mix. Just because you don't particularly care for a song doesn't mean it wouldn't be a great spin class song. It's the rhythm and pace that matter, how it enhances what you're supposed to be doing on the bike that matters, not the actual song. It drives me crazy when all the old timers in class want to hear Led Zepplin, when some kind of house or techno pop music works so much better (and I'm an old-timer...). Well, THAT'S a crazy digression, but it was the same thing for me in this film. A song would come on and I'd think OH NO, not that again. Distracting.

[–] movieAenima 10 years ago

I agree with you

[–] jamesl9 10 years ago

The music was absolutely awful. Just awful. Really weakens the film.

[–] aminwrx 10 years ago

Just saw the movie on hbo go today, and I think the music matches the movie perfectly!

[–] eelb 9 years ago

Why? Because you don't have any taste for that type of music?

[–] Cliche_J 9 years ago

I thought Mr. Cage was doing very well as his portrayal of a sad alcoholic. However I had trouble finishing the movie because I couldn't stand the score any longer. The director really messed up on that one. Should of hired someone else.

[–] eelb 9 years ago

Like who for example? Just curious.

[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

The score and soundtrack is one of my favorite things about this masterpiece, forget the performances or the excellent writing, the music and the cinematography is what made it for me

[–] ladsontour69 8 years ago

yer i didnt like the music either