The Best Soundtracks Ever Part 2
Grosse Pointe Blank
Released 1997
This could be the shortest post ever.
Joe Strummer composed the original score for Grosse Pointe Blank.
It rocked.
The End
What? I have to write more, OK then.
The film opens with Johnny Nash singing ‘I can see clearly now’ whist assassin John Cusack trains his sniper sites on an unlucky cyclist. At the same time Joan Cusack reads him an invite to his school reunion via his headset and Dan Akroyd shoots the other team of baddies.
That is a pretty good opening scene in my book.
Assassinations aside the film is mostly about the trauma and memories invoked for one Martin Q. Blank by an invitation to his 10 year class reunion. Since he left school in 1986 this gives us 2 varied soundtrack albums. The songs played during the reunion scenes are accurate but not all the films choices stick strictly to the 80’s. The Guns ‘N’ Roses version of Live And Let Die for example was recorded in the early 90’s.
As a trainee counsellor I watch Blanks relationship with his therapist (who is determinedly trying NOT to be his therapist) with new eyes. But 15 years ago I wanted to be DJ Minnie Driver. Small town radio is very glamorous in the eyes of an 18 year old girl from the North of England. She puts The Specials on so she can talk to black sheep, prom night ditcher Blank and it is the original two tone labelled vinyl. Oh be still my beating heart. Plus she uses her show to settle the scores of her past.
For the ska fan we have the (English) Beat and The Specials. We have Queen and David Bowie, Pete Townsend, The Clash and Joe Strummer providing rockier vibes. The flipping Pixies are here. The Pixies should be featured in many more films. Just saying. There is a-ha, Grandmaster Flash and Faith No More plus The Pogues stagger in from the bar. The convenience store turns into a fire ball with the Ace Of Spades rocking in the back ground.
If you don’t like this sound track then I can only assume you don’t like music.
At all.
