Prague-based movie reviews, news and other trash
Dutch composer, musician and lute player extraordinaire Jozef van Wissem (Only Lovers Left Alive) was recently in Prague and Brno to play a couple of concerts as a part of the accompanying programme of Czech Republic’s Future Gate sci-fi film festival.
It certainly wasn’t the most exciting year ever in the soundtrack world, but 2018 was at least the year that musicians-turned-composers really got to shine. From Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and Arcade Fire’s Colin Stetson, to Jóhann Jóhannsson’s… Jóhann Jóhannsson and… Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, here are my personal picks for soundtracks of the year. Keep in mind, this list only includes original film scores released in the year 2018. Scroll down for the Spotify playlist. Enjoy!
Bohemian Rhapsody is a formulaic band movie that struggles to get Queen’s story off the ground in an original and captivating way, but the Live Aid finale almost makes the whole thing worthwhile – it’s that and Rami Malek’s stupendous performance that save this film.
Synth gurus Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein will perform their Stranger Things soundtrack live at the Film Music Prague festival next February.
So, it’s been almost two years since I started this humble little movie blog and it occurred to me, after a couple of glasses of wine, that I’ve never written anything deeply personal. That’s absurd because film is such a personal medium. Everything I watch takes me to a specific place, along with the music that accompanies. It’s also only fitting that I should finally write about the genius that is Clint Mansell because I recently witnessed his music played live at Film Music Prague – it was indeed a night to remember. So here it goes. Cue: a deep breath and another glass of red.
Renowned contemporary film composer Clint Mansell will have a concert presented by Film Music Prague next April.
Along with the best films of the year, which is still undergoing some intense thought, come the best soundtracks. Being a massive soundtrack nerd, this was A LOT of fun to write. Keep in mind however, this is a list comprised of original scores from film and television series released in the Czech Republic during the year 2017. You won’t find Baby Driver on this list, but give it a spin all the same. For those of you too impatient to read and who would rather get straight to the point, scroll down to check out my carefully selected ‘Best of’ Spotify playlist. Happy listening!
Poi E is a charming and truly inspirational documentary about a song that transformed not just the Maori community, but the entire country of New Zealand. However, rather than presenting a run-of-the-mill biographical history of the song, the film focuses on the spirit of the people behind it.
The crazed and controversial German industrial outfit Rammstein will have their ground-breaking 2012 Paris concert shown in special screenings on March 23 at 20:30 in Kino Aero, Kino Svetozor, and Bio OKO.
